Dr Joseph Segev, Adv (RIP)
Firm Founder

Attorney Dr. Joseph Segev (RIP), founded the firm bearing his name in 1972 and for over 50 years represented the firm's clients in all courts, earning a reputation as one of Israel's top litigators.

Legal Studies and Founding the Firm

Dr. Segev completed his law degree at Tel Aviv University and pursued a Ph.D. at the prestigious London School of Economics (LSE). His doctoral thesis focused on directors' liability, a subject he later litigated in practice, leading to the establishment of landmark precedents in the Israeli Supreme Court.

Upon completing his Ph.D., he returned to Israel to intern at S. Horowitz & Co. and, after completing his internship, opened his own firm specializing in civil-commercial litigation in all its forms.

Dr. Segev's Legacy

Dr. Segev left a unique imprint on the firm's management of complex and large-scale litigation cases. His approach combined creative legal thinking, rooted in a deep understanding of legal principles and precedents, with the development of unconventional and innovative solutions, along with an exceptional attention to detail and absolute command of facts and evidence. Additionally, Dr. Segev refined the art of cross-examination, becoming a feared presence for witnesses.

Dr. Segev is considered the father of "result-based litigation" among Israel's senior lawyers. Unlike most leading firms in Israel, which handle cases on an hourly rate basis, Dr. Segev believed that success-based fees create an alignment of interests with the client and lead to more legal successes and the best outcomes for both the client and the attorney.

Accordingly, the firm's largest cases were handled accepting a contingency fee, which represents a personal investment which over the years produced an array of exceptional results for the firm's clients.

Dr. Segev trained many of Israel's top litigators today. "Graduates" of Segev's firm are considered highly sought-after attorneys in all areas of law, especially litigation.

Throughout the years, Dr. Segev maintained our firm as a small, high-quality boutique firm, emphasizing success-based fees regardless of the number of hours invested in a case. He dedicated considerable time to training and mentoring the firm's lawyers, and when they grew and set off on their own, he would continue to refer clients to them and maintain professional connections with his firm's "alumni".

Cases and Precedents Led by Dr. Segev

Dr. Segev led numerous legal battles against large corporations and key figures in the Israeli economy, including representing shareholders of "Yediot Ahronot" (ידיעות אחרונות) in a dispute against controlling shareholder Arnon (Noni) Mozes; representing geologist Yossi Langotski, the father of Israel's gas discoveries, in a major lawsuit against businessman Beny Steinmetz regarding rights in the "Tamar" gas field; and representing the Israeli startup "Gett" in a dispute with German automotive giant "Volkswagen" over a $300 million investment.

Simultaneously, Dr. Segev was appointed as the liquidator of large companies in the Israeli market that had collapsed and developed special expertise in managing liquidation claims. Among these were the liquidation of the Citrus Marketing Board (מועצת פרי הדר), which he operated with sales valued at $350 million, managing tens of millions of dollars in claims; the liquidation of one of Israel's largest poultry slaughterhouses, "Hod Avaz" (הוד אווז), while managing lawsuits against Tnuva (תנובה) and others over the takeover of the poultry industry; the liquidation of the brokerage firm P.I.T., owned by the Hakimi family, during which Dr. Segev led an international investigation, exposing the theft of tens of millions of dollars, and managed the claims to recover the stolen funds; and the liquidation of Tao Tsuot, controlled by Ilan Ben-Dov, during which he conducted investigations of senior officials at Bank Leumi, including the chairman and CEO, on suspicion of fraudulent company management, and filed lawsuits against Bank Leumi and Ilan Ben-Dov, which concluded with a settlement amounting to approximately 115 million shekels.

The highlight of his actions as a liquidator was his appointment as the liquidator of the North American Bank (בנק צפון אמריקה) and the management of a lawsuit against the bank's board of directors for their liability for the bank's entire debts. The lawsuit resulted in a landmark ruling that imposed personal liability on the directors for the bank's debts, amounting to $550 million, a ruling later upheld by the Supreme Court. The judgment in the North American Bank case remains a cornerstone of corporate law and is considered a guiding precedent regarding the fiduciary duty and duty of care of directors in companies.

Dr. Segev's Personal Life

Dr. Segev was married to Meira Segev (RIP), his life and professional partner, who passed away in 2000. Yossi and Meira were involved in social initiatives and community contributions. Among other things, Attorney Meira Segev, served as the chairwoman of the Department for the Status of Women in the WIZO organization.

Alongside his long legal career, Yossi's great love was the sea – he was a skilled skipper and captain who sailed across most parts of the world, including crossing the Atlantic Ocean in 2005 with his second wife, Oyuna Segev.

Yossi passed away in the summer of 2023 after a long battle with a serious illness. He is survived by his wife, Oyuna Segev, his three children, Architect Ayal Segev, Attorney Boaz Segev, and Dr. Dana Segev, and three grandchildren.

Dr. Segev, coined the motto – "The strength to go all the way" – which continues to guide our firm even after his untimely passing.

Written in his honor by Adv. Guy Noff, Adv. Amit Ashur and Adv. Boaz Segev.