Ariel Ben Bassat

Adv. Ariel Ben Bashat is a partner in the Firm’s Municipal Taxation Department.

Ariel has acquired extensive experience and know-how over the years in the field of administrative law and in the laws relating to local authorities (including the water and sewerage corporations which they control). In particular he has a deep knowledge of the intricacies of municipal taxation theory (road and sidewalk construction levies, public space levies, tolls and sewerage levy, water and sewerage establishment fees, municipal property tax [Arnona], improvement levies, etc).

Adv. Ben Bashat is also highly experienced in the area of administrative and civil litigation in complex, fundamental cases where he has represented some of the leading private, commercial and public entities in Israel, at all the various legal instances, including in arbitration and mediation processes, and is very well acquainted with the leading, influential legal advisors in the field of municipal taxation, at the local authorities.

Ariel has succeeded in saving and recovering hundreds of millions of shekels (cumulatively) for his clients after unlawful charges had been imposed by various authorities. In 2022, he was tasked with handling a charge of approximately one and a quarter billion NIS for development levies – the highest amount ever demanded by a local authority in Israel for a property in its jurisdiction.

In the context of his work and due to his experience, Ariel participated successfully, on behalf of the Association of Chambers of Commerce, in discussions by the Finance Committee, regarding legislative changes to Arnona (the Municipality Ordinance), and at the Interior Affairs and Environmental Quality Committees, on behalf of the Bar Association, regarding attempts to enact a new development tax.

Ariel acquired experience as a senior lawyer at Engelsman & Co., and joined the Firm when the firms merged in 2019.