Filing in Israel? How the PPH Can Accelerate Your Client’s Patent — and How Local Counsel Can Help

For colleagues handling international portfolios, Israel is often a commercially relevant yet procedurally unique jurisdiction. As a technologically advanced market with strong enforcement mechanisms, it can be an important piece of a global IP strategy.
One practical advantage worth highlighting is Israel’s participation in the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH).

Leveraging the PPH in Israel

The Israel Patent Office (ILPO) has been an active participant in multiple PPH agreements, including Global PPH arrangements. If at least one claim has been found allowable by a participating office (e.g., USPTO, EPO, JPO and others), applicants may request accelerated examination in Israel based on those allowed claims.

In practice, this can significantly shorten prosecution timelines and reduce overall pendency. Israel is known for relatively efficient examination even without PPH, but when PPH is available, timelines can become especially attractive for clients seeking quicker grant.

That said, the ILPO maintains independent examination standards. Claims must sufficiently correspond to those allowed abroad, and formal requirements must be met carefully. Strategic claim alignment at the filing stage can prevent unnecessary office actions later.
Why Local Representation Still Matters

Even where substantive drafting has already been completed abroad, Israeli practice includes several nuances:

• Strict formal requirements regarding translations and claim dependencies
• Unique approaches to added matter and support
• Specific examination practices in software, medical devices, and life sciences
• Distinct fee structure and procedural timelines

Local counsel can ensure procedural compliance, manage examiner communications effectively, and advise when minor claim adaptations may smooth prosecution without affecting broader portfolio strategy.

A Practical Model for Collaboration

For foreign firms that prefer to retain drafting control, a streamlined cooperation model works well:

• You provide the finalized specification and claims
• We handle national phase entry or direct filing in Israel
• We manage prosecution, keep reporting concise, and align with your strategic instructions

The goal is not to replace your role — but to act as an efficient, responsive extension of your team within the Israeli jurisdiction.


Asaf Gitelis Advocate
Website: https://www.en.avpatents.com/Patent%2DAttorneys%2Din%2DIsrael.html