The A-List: Top Japan Lawyers 2025

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Based on research conducted by Asia Business Law Journal, the following are Japan’s top 100 lawyers, plus our legal icons.

Click HERE to read the editorial report that accompanies the A-List.

Biographies and contact details, where provided, were written by the lawyers themselves and have not been independently verified.

Mitsue AIZAWA
TMI Associates
Civil rehabilitation & corporate reorganisation; bankruptcy & special liquidation; voluntary liquidation & ADR for business turnaround; commercial litigation; unfair competition
Takashi AKAHANE
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
PPP, private finance initiatives & concession; project finance; asset management & investment funds; structured finance; real estate finance
Izumi AKAI
Sullivan & Cromwell
Capital markets; M&A; real estate; corporate
Hiroki AOYAMA
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Banking & finance; real estate; securitisation & structured finance
Dale ARAKI
K&L Gates
M&A; emerging growth & venture capital; technology transactions & sourcing
Shinichi ARAKI
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Capital markets; corporate governance; financial regulations; M&A; corporate
Naoya ARIYOSHI
Nishimura & Asahi
Banking & finance; compliance; e-commerce, fintech, blockchain & cryptos; securitisation & structured finance; financial regulation
Hiroo ATSUMI
Atsumi & Sakai
Banking & finance; capital markets & structured finance; general corporate; project finance; real estate
Rupert BURROWS
Mayer Brown
Infrastructure; M&A; outbound investment; power & energy; project finance
Dale CALDWELL
Morrison Foerster
Banking & finance; inbound investment; infrastructure; M&A; power & energy
Alan CANNON
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
IPOs; debt; capital markets; corporate; M&A
Aled DAVIES
Milbank
Project; energy & infrastructure finance; mining & metals; oil & gas; renewable energy
Mark DAVIES
King & Spalding
M&A; power & energy; private equity, venture capital & funds; project finance; energy transition (hydrogen & ammonia)
Stephen DECOSSE
Morrison Foerster
Inbound investment; M&A; outbound investment; private equity, venture capital & funds; TMT
Naoaki EGUCHI
Baker McKenzie
Acquisition finance; banking & finance; consumer goods & retail; energy, mining & infrastructure; financial institutions
Akira EHIRA
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Banking & finance; inbound investment; outbound investment; private equity, venture capital & funds; securitisation & structured finance
Peter W FROST
Linklaters
Banking & finance; capital markets
Yoshinobu FUJIMOTO
Nishimura & Asahi
Corporate & commercial; corporate governance; joint ventures; litigation; M&A
Kenichi FUJINAWA
M&A; corporate governance; risk, crisis management & compliance; Asia, North America & Latin America
Koji FUJITA
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Corporate; M&A; labour & employment; taxation
Motoyasu FUJITA
Linklaters
Banking & finance; bankruptcy & insolvency; capital markets; securitisation & structured finance; derivatives, repos & securities lending
Soichiro FUJIWARA
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Bankruptcy & restructuring; M&A; corporate governance; corporate & commercial disputes
George GIBSON
Norton Rose Fulbright
Banking & finance; infrastructure; outbound investment; power & energy; project finance
Ryan GOLDSTEIN
Quinn Emanuel
Arbitration & ADR; competition & antitrust; IP; litigation; TMT
Jon GRAY
Davis Polk & Wardwell
Capital markets; securities regulatory; general corporate
Keiji HATANO
Sullivan & Cromwell
Capital markets; joint ventures; M&A; outbound investment; financial regulations
Kaoru HATTORI
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
General corporate; antitrust & competition law advice; antitrust litigation & investigation; merger control; international trade
Yushi HEGAWA
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Corporate & commercial; corporate governance; litigation; succession planning (family office); taxation
Takao HIGUCHI
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
General corporate; banking; project finance; restructuring; insolvency
Osamu HIRAKAWA
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
M&A/business restructuring; financial and securities dispute resolution
Masahisa IKEDA
A&O Shearman
Real estate; banking & finance; private equity, venture capital & funds; capital markets; securitisation & structured finance
Seishi IKEDA
Baker McKenzie
Real estate; banking & finance; private equity, venture capital & funds; capital markets; securitisation & structured finance
+81 3 6271 9444
seishi.ikeda@bakermckenzie.com
Akira INOUE
Baker McKenzie
Antitrust, competition & cartels; banking & finance; commercial litigation; healthcare & life sciences; restructuring & insolvency
Hiroki INOUE
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
M&A; private equity & venture capital; acquisition finance; disputes in foreign jurisdictions; insurance
Masahiko (Masa) ISHIDA
DLA Piper
Capital markets; corporate governance; joint ventures; M&A; private equity, venture capital & funds
Miyuki ISHIGURO
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Capital market; corporate
Tadashi ISHIKAWA
Oh-Ebashi & Partners
Corporate and M&A; competition & antitrust; consumer protection; dispute resolution; IP
Gaku ISHIWATA
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
M&A; corporate governance; crisis management; private equity & venture capital
Yoshio ITEYA
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
M&A; dispute resolution; international practice
Kei ITO
Nishimura & Asahi
Banking & finance; compliance; private equity, venture capital & funds; TMT
Maya ITO
Nishimura & Asahi
Banking & finance; infrastructure; power & energy; project finance; real estate
Masakazu IWAKURA
TMI Associates
Corporate & commercial; corporate governance; IP; M&A; TMT
Masatsura KADOTA
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Banking & finance; capital markets; corporate & commercial; M&A; real estate
Kazutoshi KAKUYAMA
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Labour & employment; corporate; government investigations and crisis management
Mitsuhiro KAMIYA
Skadden
Corporate & commercial; corporate governance; inbound investment; M&A; outbound investment
Eiji KATAYAMA
Abe Ikubo & Katayama
IP; bankruptcy & insolvency; patent litigation; unfair competition litigation; corporate
Kozo KAWAI
Nishimura & Asahi
Competition & antitrust; compliance; international trade & bilateral investment treaties; white-collar crime
Hisaya KIMURA
Quinn Emanuel
Complex commercial litigation (including securities litigation); software development dispute litigation; antitrust litigation; labour litigation; international arbitration
Naoki KINAMI
Vanguard Lawyers Tokyo
International finance; corporate; M&A; regulatory; banking & finance
Eiji KOBAYASHI
Mayer Brown
Antitrust & competition; corporate & securities; M&A
Minoru KOBAYASHI
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Real estate finance; REITs; capital markets; structured finance; M&A
+81 3 6775 1052
minoru.kobayashi@amt-law.com
Nobuaki KOBAYASHI
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
M&A; restructuring & insolvency; general corporate; civil & commercial disputes
Takahiro KOBAYASHI
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Banking & finance; infrastructure; power & energy; project finance; securitisation & structured finance
Kohei KOIKAWA
Nishimura & Asahi
Banking & finance; capital markets; corporate & commercial; TMT
Hiroshi KONDO
Baker McKenzie
M&A; private equity investment; venture capital; corporate & commercial; labour & employment
Eiichiro KUBOTA
KUBOTA
Data protection; IP; litigation; TMT
Yoshio KUMAKURA
Nakamura & Partners
IP; antimonopoly; litigation; arbitration; dispute resolution
Shiro KUNIYA
Oh-Ebashi & Partners
Compliance; corporate & commercial; inbound investment; litigation; M&A
Yasuyuki KURIBAYASHI
City-Yuwa Partners
Banking & finance; capital markets; corporate & commercial; joint ventures; licensing & franchising
+81 3 6212 5512
yasuyuki.kuribayashi@city-yuwa.com
Hiroyoshi KUROMARU
TMI Associates
General corporate; corporate governance; IPO; structured finance; project finance
Leng-Fong LAI
Clifford Chance
Financial regulation; capital markets; structured finance; project finance; real estate finance
Kenneth LEBRUN
Davis Polk & Wardwell
Corporate governance; joint ventures; M&A; outbound investment; private equity, venture capital & funds
Atsutoshi MAEDA
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Corporate; M&A; finance & financial institutions; real estate; international practice
Hiroshi MAEDA
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Structured finance; banking; project finance; energy; infrastructure & PPP
Eric MARCKS
southgate
Corporate & commercial; joint ventures; M&A; private equity, venture capital & funds; TMT
Lars MARKERT
Nishimura & Asahi
Arbitration & ADR; corporate & commercial; international trade & bilateral investment treaties; Litigation
Masafumi MASUDA
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Compliance; e-commerce, fintech, blockchain & cryptos; IP; litigation; TMT
Hiroaki MATSUNAGA
City-Yuwa Partners
Competition & antitrust; compliance; litigation; white-collar crime; logistics and transportation
+81 3 6212 5652
hiroaki.matsunaga@city-yuwa.com
John MAXWELL
Linklaters
Banking & finance; infrastructure; M&A; power & energy; project finance
Hidetaka MIHARA
Tokyo International Law Office
Capital markets; corporate governance; M&A; real estate
Jiro MIKAMI
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Banking & finance; M&A; power & energy; project finance; real estate
Kenichi MINAMI
Nishimura & Asahi
Bankruptcy & insolvency; restructuring & insolvency; sports practice
Ken MIURA
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Finance; regulatory & regulated transactions; infrastructure & energy; M&A; private equity
Ryota MIURA
Miura & Partners
Compliance; corporate governance; data protection; litigation; M&A
Hiroshige NAKAGAWA
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
International practice; international trade; corporate; M&A; international arbitration and international mediation
Yusuke NAKANO
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Competition & antitrust; corporate & commercial; IP; licensing & franchising; M&A
Nobuo NAKATA
Hibiya-Nakata
M&A (including cross-border, public and private M&A); joint venture
Ryutaro NAKAYAMA
Nishimura & Asahi
Competition & antitrust; corporate & commercial; corporate governance; joint ventures; M&A
Scott NEILSON
A&O Shearman
Banking & finance; infrastructure; outbound investment; power & energy; project finance
Toshimitsu NEMOTO
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Banking & finance; capital markets; M&A; private equity, venture capital & funds
Kengo NISHIGAKI
GI&T Law Office
Fraud investigation; compliance; anti-corruption; litigation; dispute resolution
+81 3 6206 3284
kengo.nishigaki@giandt-law.com
Miho NIUNOYA
Atsumi & Sakai
Environment; infrastructure; power & energy; project finance; real estate
Yoshikazu NOMA
TMI Associates
Banking; real estate; asset & asset management; energy & projects
Yoshimi OHARA
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Dispute resolution; international arbitration & mediation; IP disputes; civil & commercial disputes
Seiji OHNO
Ohno & Partners
Competition & antitrust; IP; licensing & franchising; litigation; TMT
Atsushi OISHI
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Corporate governance; litigation; M&A; private client,taxation
Kazuki OKADA
Vanguard Lawyers Tokyo
Dispute resolution; labour & employment; litigation
Taro OMOTO
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Aviation; banking & finance; capital markets; environment; real estate
Nobuharu ONISHI
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Investment fund
+81 3 5220 1860
nobuharu.onishi@morihamada.com
Masaru ONO
Ono and Partners
Banking & finance; compliance; corporate & commercial; corporate governance; sustainability
Yusaku ONO
Ono & Yatabe Glocal
Investment fund
Yo OTA
Nishimura & Asahi
Capital markets; corporate governance; defence; M&A; taxation
Eriko OZAWA
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Real estate; banking & finance; structured finance; investment funds
Gavin RAFTERY
Baker McKenzie
Banking & finance; e-commerce, fintech, blockchain & cryptos; private equity, venture capital & funds; project finance; sustainability
Yusuke SAHASHI
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Corporate & commercial; inbound investment; joint ventures; M&A; outbound investment
+81 52 533 4870
yusuke.sahashi@amt-law.com
Hideyuki SAKAI
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Restructuring; insolvency & bankruptcy; dispute resolution; international litigation & cross-border disputes; M&A
Yutaka SAKAI
Atsumi & Sakai
Banking & finance; corporate & commercial; project finance; securitisation & structured finance; shipping
Masamichi SAKAMOTO
City-Yuwa Partners
Banking & finance; corporate & commercial; power & energy; project finance; real estate
Reiko SAKIMURA
Clifford Chance
Capital markets
Masanori SATO
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Structured finance; real estate; project finance; infrastructure & energy; M&A and private equity
Tomohiro SATO
Nishimura & Asahi
Infrastructure; power & energy; project finance
Katsu SENGOKU
Nishimura & Asahi
Aviation; banking & finance; securitisation & structured finance; shipping
Hironori SHIBATA
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Banking & finance; capital markets; corporate & commercial; corporate governance; M&A
Asa SHINKAWA
Nishimura & Asahi
Corporate governance; inbound investment; M&A; private equity, venture capital & funds; TMT
Yasufumi SHIROYAMA
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
IP dispute (litigation, arbitration & customs action); IP
Kenneth SIEGEL
Morrison Foerster
M&A; joint ventures; outbound investment; inbound investment; corporate & commercial
Gary SMITH
Morrison Foerster
M&A; joint ventures; outbound investment; inbound investment
Junko SUETOMI
Greenberg Traurig
International trade & customs; dispute resolution; bankruptcy & restructuring of corporation; antitrust; international compliance (anti money laundering, human rights, environments, SDGs, ESG etc)
+81 (0) 3 4510 2200
Junko.Suetomi@gtlaw.com
Fumihide SUGIMOTO
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Corporate governance; capital markets; banking; securitisation & structured finance; compliance
Katsumasa SUZUKI
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Capital markets; corporate governance; litigation; M&A
+81 3 6212 8327
katsumasa.suzuki@morihamada.com
Yuri SUZUKI
Atsumi & Sakai
Banking & finance; corporate & commercial; e-commerce, fintech, blockchain & cryptos; outbound investment; securitisation & structured finance
Reiji TAKAHASHI
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Banking & finance; defence; infrastructure; power & energy; project finance
Chisako TAKAYA
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Labour & employment; litigation; M&A
Yuko TAMAI
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Corporate; general corporate; corporate governance; M&A
Kohtaro TAMURA
Ushijima & Partners
Corporate; corporate dispute; real estate; finance & securitisation; financial regulations & fintech
Hajime TANAHASHI
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Corporate & commercial; corporate governance; joint ventures; M&A; private equity, venture capital & funds
Katsuro TANAKA
TMI Associates
Compliance; IP; litigation; TMT
Kenji TANEDA
Skadden
Corporate & commercial; capital markets; M&A; banking & finance
Hiroyuki TEZUKA
Nishimura & Asahi
Arbitration & ADR; corporate & commercial; litigation
Tomohiro TOHYAMA
TMI Associates
TMT; IT; entertainment & sports; trademarks & brand; commercial disputes
Keiji TONOMURA
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Data protection; IP; M&A; TMT; game & entertainment
+81 3 6889 7460
keiji_tonomura@noandt.com
Harumichi UCHIDA
TMI Associates
M&A; alliances (partnership); TMT; IT; IP
Jun USAMI
White & Case
Corporate governance; joint ventures; M&A; private equity, venture capital & funds; TMT
Shin USHIJIMA
Ushijima & Partners
Compliance; corporate & commercial; corporate governance; litigation; M&A
Matthias VOSS
A&O Shearman
(Retired in Feb 2025)

Banking & finance; projects
Yuzo WADA
Uchida & Samejima Law Firm
Data protection; IP; licensing & franchising; litigation; TMT
Akihiro WANI
Greenberg Traurig
Banking & finance; capital markets; corporate & commercial; securitisation & structured finance; derivatives
Kozo YABE
Midosuji Legal Profession Corporation
Corporate & commercial; e-commerce, fintech, blockchain & cryptos; inbound investment; IP; litigation
Akiko YAMAKAWA
Vanguard Lawyers Tokyo
Anti-corruption & anti-bribery; arbitration & ADR; labour & employment; litigation; white-collar crime
Setsuko YUFU
Atsumi & Sakai
Competition & antitrust; compliance; corporate & commercial; corporate governance; international trade & bilateral investment treaties