Transacting in Times of War – Part II: A Conversation with The Phoenix Group – June 2025
Just one day after the U.S. entered the conflict in June 2025, Herrick partner and co-chair of its Israel Practice Group, Yariv Ben-Ari reconnects with Menachem (Meni) Neeman, Deputy CEO and Chief Legal Counsel of The Phoenix Group, Israel’s largest financial institution, for a conversation about leading in the fog of war once again. From navigating legal uncertainty and capital exposure to stabilizing a workforce disrupted by emergency military call-ups, school closures, and Israelis stranded around the world due to closed airspace, Neeman shares how leadership decisions are being made in real time under extraordinary pressure. The two discuss how Israel’s capital markets are defying expectations and how institutional stability is being preserved. Neeman discusses how, even now, new strategic opportunities are emerging. This isn’t just a conversation about managing risk. It’s a study in leadership, endurance and the unshakable resolve of Israel.