Assaf Harel

Assaf Harel is a partner at Gornitzky who leads the firm’s Cyber and Privacy practice.

Assaf advises various clients, from international financial institutions to tech companies and cyber-security companies, on a wide range of cybersecurity, privacy, and tech-related matters. Among others, Assaf assists companies in crafting organizational privacy compliance programs, negotiating data protection agreements (DPAs), conducting due diligence on cyber-security and privacy-related matters, and minimizing the legal exposure from cyber-attacks. Assaf also has vast experience in handling data breaches, ransomware attacks and other cyber-security incidents. In addition, Assaf advises clients on the use and development of artificial intelligence (AI) and on the evolving regulatory framework relating to AI.

Assaf’s practice in the field of healthcare and life sciences includes guiding multi-national corporations, medical startups and entrepreneurs on commercial and regulatory aspects relating to the development and distribution of pharmaceuticals and medical devices, digital health, and medical cannabis. Assaf also provides guidance on various regulatory and compliance matters, including export control, international sanctions and anti-corruption matters.

In addition to his regulatory and compliance practice, Assaf represents local and global clients, including publicly traded companies, private equity funds, entrepreneurs, and strategic investors, in cross-border M&A transactions. Assaf is also experienced in structuring and negotiating commercial transactions, license agreements, joint ventures, IT agreements, and agreements for the development and commercialization of intellectual property.

Prior to joining the firm, Assaf held several key positions as a legal advisor to the Israel Defense Forces. As part of his service as a government lawyer, Assaf advised decision-makers in the highest levels of Israel’s security administration on issues involving international law, administrative law, and national security law. Assaf had a key role in crafting the Israeli government’s legal positions on various national security matters, and he took part in representing the government before the Israeli Supreme Court.

Assaf has been recognized by Chambers as one of the top lawyers in Israel in the field of IT & Data Protection. In recognition of his achievements in that area, in February 2022, the Minister of Justice appointed Assaf to serve as a member of Israel’s Privacy Protection Public Council. Assaf is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/E) and previously served as a member of the International Association of Privacy Professionals’ Research Advisory Board.