Ashok J. Chandrasekhar

Partner

Head International Corporate and Securities Department

Adv. Chandrasekhar is Head of the International Corporate and Securities Department of the firm, and a member of the Executive Committee.

Adv. Chandrasekhar specializes in the representation of clients in the hi-tech sector, and was involved in hundreds of international transactions, representing both corporations and investors in some of the most significant international transactions in the Israeli market, as well as in private equity transactions. He represents acquirers and target companies in cross-border mergers and acquisitions; advises Israeli companies on forming strategic connections with foreign partners; and provides legal advice to many Israeli startups from their early establishment stages to their acquisition, affording continuous legal counsel.

Adv. Chandrasekhar is a world-renowned expert on large-scale technology transactions. For decades, he has been the first contact of choice for Israeli companies being acquired by multinational corporations, and for international corporations seeking to invest in Israel and acquire local companies.

Among Adv. Chandrasekhar’s clients are giant technology corporations, leading and groundbreaking high-tech companies, and a long list of well-known private investors. Adv. Chandrasekhar works on a regular basis with the US market, including Silicon Valley; the European market, including Germany and United Kingdom; and the Far East market.

In the past few years, Adv. Chandrasekhar led a series of major international transactions, including the Google Waze transaction; Axel Springer ‘Yad 2’ transaction; IBM – Trusteer transaction; Facebook – Snaptu transaction; Checkpoint Hyperwise transaction; EFI – Matan transaction; and many more.

Adv. Chandrasekhar has been recognized as one of Israel’s leading capital markets, corporate, M&A, venture capital and hi-tech attorneys by a number of international guides, including Chambers & Partners, The Legal 500 and Best Lawyers. In addition, in 2021 Adv. Chandrasekhar was recognized by Who’s Who Legal as one of the top five M&A attorneys in Israel, ranking him as a Thought Leader in the M&A and Governance category (Israel). In the past, Adv. Chandrasekhar was chosen as one of the 100 most influential people in the Israeli hi-tech industry by the leading Israeli technology website GEEKtime.

Alongside his professional activity, Adv. Chandrasekhar lectures at leading business schools in Israel and the U.S., and has often appeared as panelist at professional events; he also serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University of the People, the world’s first tuition-free, online, non-profit, degree-granting institution.

From 1990 to 1991, Adv. Chandrasekhar served as law clerk to U.S. District Court Judge J.P. Vukasin Jr. of the Northern District of California. From 1991 to 1993, Adv. Chandrasekhar was an associate in the International Transactions Department of Pillsbury, Madison & Sutro (currently known as Pillsbury, Winthrop, Shaw, Pittman).

Education

J.D., New York University, 1990

Managing Editor, NYU Journal of International Law and Politics

B.A., English Literature, Yale University, 1985

Bar Admission

Israel Bar Association, 1995

California Bar Association, 1990

"A specialist in private equity transactions and cross-border mergers."

The Legal 500 | 2022

"A specialist in hi-tech investments who regularly works across the US, Europe, Germany, the UK and Asian markets."

The Legal 500 | 2022

"Has a broad-based corporate practice that includes significant experience acting on high-profile acquisitions and sales in the hi-tech sector."

Chambers & Partners | 2021

"A pleasure to work with."

Chambers & Partners | 2021

"A leading figure in the Israeli hi-tech market, with a particularly distinguished reputation for his capacity to handle cross-border mandates."

Chambers & Partners | 2019

Selected Transactions

Google - Waze
1B USD

Representing Google in the acquisition of Waze for over $1B. The acquisition received world-wide media attention, and was nominated Israel's deal of the year.

Google - Velostrata Ltd.
100-200M USD

Representing Google in the acquisition of Velostrata Ltd. for 100-200M USD (according to media reports).

IBM - Trusteer
600M USD

Representing Trusteer in its acquisition by IBM for over $600M. This is IBM's largest ever acquisition in Israel.

Symantec Corporation - Fireglass Ltd.
250M USD

Representing Symantec in the acquisition of Fireglass for $250M.

Symantec Corporation - Skycure Inc.
280M USD

Representing Symantec in the acquisition of Skycure for $280M.

Axel Springer SE - 'Yad 2'
806M ILS

Representing Axel Springer in the acquisition of the classified portal 'Yad 2' for an estimated 806M ILS.