Ben Zur & Co. has an extensive public and administrative law practice, representing clients in administrative petitions, proceedings before the High Court of Justice and other tribunals. The firm has led significant cases addressing fundamental questions of freedom of expression, regulation and other areas of public law.
The firm’s clients in major public law proceedings have included the Israel Bar Association, Kav LaOved and the General Federation of Labor in Israel (Histadrut). It also represented the Army Radio employees’ committee and the Histadrut in a petition challenging the station’s closure. Its work for the National Union of Israeli Students has included proceedings concerning the state budget and tuition fees, as well as ongoing advice on internal procedures and elections.
Election law is a particular area of expertise. The firm has provided ongoing advice and representation to Yesh Atid, including in proceedings raising fundamental legal issues. Other representations have included former Defense Minister Maj. Gen. (res.) Yoav Gallant in matters concerning his membership in Likud; the Labor Party in an appeal concerning electoral fraud; and former Minister of Public Security Avi Dichter during his campaign for the leadership of Kadima. The firm has also represented a candidate in proceedings to annul the municipal elections in Bat Yam, the Mayor of Baqa al-Gharbiyye in similar proceedings, and a local authority head in a Supreme Court appeal concerning electoral bribery.
The firm represented former Accountant General Prof. Yaron Zelekha in his challenge to his dismissal from the Ministry of Finance, during which the State Comptroller issued a whistleblower protection order in his favor. It also represented senior Israel Prison Service officer Eli Gavizon in a High Court petition concerning his appointment as Commissioner, and Gilad Erdan, then a Member of Knesset, in a petition against the Chair of the Knesset Finance Committee and the Minister of Finance concerning intervention in internal parliamentary proceedings.
The firm’s public interest work has included representing soldiers harmed by anthrax experiments during their military service, Hapoel Tel Aviv supporters in proceedings concerning freedom of expression in football stadiums, and hundreds of shop owners at Tel Aviv’s New Central Bus Station.
The firm also represents Kav LaOved pro bono in petitions raising fundamental questions concerning migrant workers’ rights. It has represented the Movement for Freedom of Information in petitions seeking disclosure of information of public importance, including Knesset surveillance recordings and the Tel Aviv municipal budget.
In sports-related proceedings, the firm has represented the Beitar faction in disputes with the Israel Football Association, Avner Kopel in his capacity as Chair of the Israeli Basketball Premier League Administration, and Hapoel Tel Aviv Football Club.