State Audit, Commissions of Inquiry and Review Committees
Meitar’s State Audit, Commissions of Inquiry and Review Committees practice advises and represents public bodies, corporations, officeholders and senior executives in quasi-judicial fact-finding proceedings, including audits conducted by the Office of the State Comptroller and appearances before state, governmental and public commissions of inquiry and review committees.
These proceedings may involve extensive factual inquiries, examination of individual and systemic responsibility, and findings with far-reaching legal, professional, personal and public consequences—including consequences for the dignity and reputation of the person under review or investigation. Effective legal representation requires preparation from the earliest stages of the proceeding, a deep understanding of the reviewing body’s powers and the rights of audited persons and persons who have received warnings, and command of the full factual and legal record.
The firm represents clients at every stage of the proceeding, including formulating legal strategy; collecting, reviewing and presenting documents and background materials; preparing clients to give testimony and appear before the reviewing or investigating body; responding to questionnaires, draft reports and warning letters; representing clients in hearings and examinations and preparing them for cross-examination; and submitting written and oral arguments. The representation also includes petitions to Israel’s Supreme Court, sitting as the High Court of Justice, concerning the reviewing body’s authority, the fairness of the proceeding, and the protection of the rights of audited persons and persons under investigation, as well as management of the public and media aspects accompanying the proceeding.
The firm’s team has experience representing and advising clients in some of the most complex and sensitive audit and inquiry proceedings conducted in Israel. For example, Attorneys Eyal Rosovsky and Dr. Nachshon Shohat represented clients before the State Commission of Inquiry into the Mount Meron Disaster and currently represent Lieutenant General (res.) Herzi Halevi, as reservists serving in Israel’s Military Defense Counsel, in State Comptroller proceedings concerning the events of October 7 and related legal proceedings.
Colonel (res.) Ofira Elkabetz-Rotshtein, in her service as Chief Military Defense Counsel, initiated, established and led a dedicated representation framework for military personnel in review, audit and inquiry proceedings concerning the events of October 7 and the war. In that role, she led the institutional legal response to State Comptroller proceedings, including submissions to the State Comptroller and the Attorney General, presentation of the Military Defense Counsel’s position to the Knesset, and the formulation and filing of a petition that was granted, addressing the limits of the State Comptroller’s authority, the procedural rights of audited persons, and the relationship between state audit proceedings and a State Commission of Inquiry. She also personally advised senior military commanders in State Comptroller proceedings concerning the October 7 audits. Before and concurrently with that work, under her leadership, the Military Defense Counsel advised and represented clients before the State Commission of Inquiry into naval vessels (the “Submarines Commission”), including by developing legal responses to various issues and preparing witnesses to appear before the commission.
The firm has extensive experience advising public bodies, government-owned companies, local authorities and officeholders in State Comptroller proceedings. The practice draws on Meitar’s capabilities in litigation, constitutional and administrative law, white-collar matters, regulatory and public affairs, media relations and crisis management, enabling the firm to provide comprehensive legal and strategic counsel in sensitive proceedings of public importance.
