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Nishimura & Asahi, founded in 1966 by the late Toshiro Nishimura, is a renowned full-service international law firm in Japan. It has grown globally to 20 locations, staffed with more than 1,700 professionals, including lawyers. This past year, the firm welcomed four new partners: Sean Conaty, Ngoc Phuc Nguyen, Tetsu Aizawa and Hiroyuki Kansaku.

With more than 35 years in arbitration, Nishimura & Asahi ranks as one of the leading Japanese firms in international arbitration. The firm collaborates extensively with its overseas offices in Bangkok, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia (via Walalangi & Partners), Taiwan and New York.

Recently, Nishimura & Asahi represented a Japanese automotive supplier in an ICC arbitration and litigation in Romania and Germany, addressing non-payment issues with a German firm.

In the banking and financial sector, the firm advised Toshiba Corporation and was instrumental in the largest private equity transaction in Japan¡¯s history. It was a take-private deal worth above JPY1.5 trillion (USD9.68 billion), involving more than 250 subsidiaries and a public auction. The deal also included an LBO financing worth JPY1.64 trillion.

The firm is known for its expertise in capital markets. This year, it acted as legal counsel for Vertex Technology Acquisition Corporation (VTAC) in a SPAC merger. This merger listed 17LIVE Group on the Singapore Exchange, and was Singapore¡¯s first SPAC acquisition of a private company.

Nishimura & Asahi advised VTAC on Japanese law, including due diligence and transaction documents. Its advice focused on regulations and compliance, especially concerning the Payment Services Act.

Anderson Mori & Tomotsune (AMT), traces its roots to 1952 and to three Japanese law firms ¨C Anderson Mori, Tomotsune & Kimura, and Bingham Sakai Mimura Aizawa. Since the 1950s, the firm has been known for its international focus, financial acumen, and strength in bankruptcy and crisis management. With multilingual attorneys in the majority, the company specialises in cross-border negotiating and drafting. It offers full-service legal support.

AMT played a pivotal role as a legal adviser in Hillhouse¡¯s JPY106 billion (USD714 million) takeover bid for Samty Holdings. Specifically, Raku Raku, a partner at Anderson Mori who also serves as the representative of its Singapore office, led the team advising Hillhouse. AMT was integral to navigating the legal aspects of the acquisition process.

AMT was also one of the legal advisers to Bain Capital in its USD694 million majority acquisition of Red Baron Group, Japan¡¯s largest used bike dealer. Alongside Ropes & Gray, AMT provided legal support to Bain Capital in navigating the complexities of this acquisition. Its advisory role included addressing legal challenges and ensuring compliance with relevant Japanese laws and regulations throughout the transaction process.

Mori Hamada & Matsumoto (MHM) is a Tokyo-based and full-service law firm founded in December 2002 by the merger of Mori Sogo and Hamada & Matsumoto. It has more than 630 lawyers, including University of Tokyo professors and a former prosecutor-general.

Among its roster of legal experts are lawyers licensed in the US, the UK, China and several Southeast Asian countries.

In January, MHM strategically partnered TNC, a Philippine law firm, to provide Asean local law advice and expand services to global clients.

This partnership includes joint training and knowledge sharing to strengthen practice areas relevant to their clients¡¯ interests in the Philippines. It is led by MHM partners Mikio Sonoda and Atsushi Inoue.

Recently, MHM, along with Nishimura & Asahi, advised on Dai-ichi Life Holdings¡¯ acquisition of Benefit One for JPY292 billion. This deal was done through a tender offer from Pasona Group. Pasona has agreed to sell its 51% stake in Benefit One to Dai-ichi Life, following Dai-ichi¡¯s offer of JPY2,173 per share, ending its previous share tender agreement with M3.

In July 2024, MHM formed an exclusive partnership with Harvey, a global generative AI platform in the legal industry. This provides the firm with unique access to technologies for enhancing legal services such as document review and due diligence. Additionally, the firm has allied with LegalOn Technologies to incorporate legal content into the LegalOn Cloud platform.

Established in 2000 by merging Nagashima & Ohno and Tsunematsu Yanase & Sekine, Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu has grown to become a comprehensive law firm with 559 lawyers. It has also expanded its global footprint with offices in New York, Singapore, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Jakarta and Shanghai.

In January 2024, Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu appointed Soichiro Fujiwara as the new managing partner. The firm has also expanded its tax practice by adding Hitoshi Sumisawa, a former commissioner of Japan¡¯s National Tax Agency, as a special adviser. Sumisawa joined a group of special advisers at the firm, including former supreme court justices Hiroyuki Kanno and Yuko Miyazaki.

Yoshihiro Takatori, a seasoned international dispute resolution expert, has also joined Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu as a special adviser.

Mina Hoshizawa, compliance manager and legal counsel at Bayer Japan, a German multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, acknowledges Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu¡¯s work. ¡°NO&T lawyers are highly professional yet empathetic for their clients going through tough times. I am always confident in introducing them to senior leaders in my company,¡± says Hoshizawa.

A&O Shearman was established in May 2024 by the merger of Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling. It specialises in energy transition, life sciences, private capital, finance, technology and more. The firm navigates US, English and international law to offer tailored support to clients.

The firm provides legal advice to more than one-third of businesses listed on the New York Stock Exchange and one-fifth of those on the Nasdaq exchange. It also serves top organisations on other major exchanges including the LSE, Euronext, Euronext Paris, Frankfurt Stock Exchange, Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, Dubai Financial Market and the Tokyo and Hong Kong stock exchanges.

Recently, A&O Shearman advised on a USD7.8 billion joint venture between Vanguard International Semiconductor Corporation (VIS) and NXP Semiconductors to build a new semiconductor facility in Singapore. NXP received legal advice from A&O Shearman on antitrust and IP, while VIS was represented by Allen & Gledhill. This partnership is set to enhance production capabilities for mixed-signal, power management and analogue products across several industries.

Founded in 1849, Davis Polk & Wardwell is one of the original elite law firms in New York. The firm specialises in managing critical cross-border transactions involving Japanese companies and the marketplace.

The Tokyo branch excels in capital markets and M&A, and offers services in restructuring, finance transactions and antitrust matters. Its Japan legal team also handles litigation, global enforcement and investigations, providing legal solutions domestically and internationally.

Recently, Davis Polk and two other law firms helped in facilitating Nippon Paint Holdings¡¯ USD2.3 billion acquisition of chemical producer AOC, owned by Lone Star Funds. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2025, pending regulatory approval. While Davis Polk represents Nippon Paint with a comprehensive cross-border team, other firms are advising Lone Star and AOC on the deal.

The law firm also counselled on Tokyo Metro¡¯s IPO, with the aim of raising JPY319.6 billion (USD2 billion) from its listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in October 2024. Davis Polk provided support to the international managers.

Morrison Foerster is a global law firm operating in Tokyo since 1987. It has a team of 50 foreign attorneys and 50 Japanese bengoshi (attorneys at law). The firm specialises in transactions, investigations and disputes within the country.

With expertise in sectors such as M&A, IP and real estate, Morrison Foerster serves as a key adviser for Japanese corporations like SoftBank and Toshiba. It participated in transactions including the Sprint and T-Mobile merger and Toshiba¡¯s semiconductor business sale.

The firm has announced the addition of Greg Salath¨¦ as a partner in its corporate group in Tokyo. His expertise in private equity, cross-border transactions and serving high-profile clients helps Morrison Foerster elevate its capacity for handling big M&A transactions.

Formed on 1 May 1901, White & Case has offices across the globe. It caters to clients including companies, governments and financial institutions.

In September, Shinsuke Yakura, an expert in international arbitration, left his position at Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe to lead the Tokyo dispute resolution practice at White & Case. Yakura¡¯s expertise in cross-border litigation, arbitration, IP, and compliance matters strengthens White & Case¡¯s ability to support Japanese corporations in international disputes and global clients in contentious matters in Japan.

Tokyo International Law Office is a boutique law firm established in April 2019. It specialises in M&A, dispute resolution, antitrust and competition, global compliance, crisis management, finance transactions, regulatory laws, and energy and infrastructure projects.

The firm, led by managing partners Mikiharu Mori and Koki Yamada, comprises more than 35 legal professionals.

In the past year, the firm has added key partners. Jean-Denis Marx moved from Baker McKenzie Tokyo after 30 years at the global firm to join Tokyo International Law Office. He has experience in advising foreign companies on investment and operations in Japan including joint ventures, regulatory matters, licensing, franchising and labour law.

In September, the firm hired Makiko Kawamura from Ernst & Young Japan Tax to establish and lead a new tax practice, and Hojung Jun from Baker & McKenzie Tokyo to enhance its construction and project development legal services.

The most recent addition to the team is Earl Rivera-Dolera, who was a partner and head of international arbitration at Frasers Law Company. She joined Tokyo International Law Office to meet the rising demand for international arbitration.

Groombridge Wu Baughman & Stone (GWBS) is a patent litigation boutique law firm that expanded its global presence by opening a Tokyo office in September 2023. This office, in Tokyo¡¯s Marunouchi business hub, was established to represent Japan-based clients in IP disputes in the US. The Tokyo office is led by Maxwell Fox, an American patent litigator with more than 25 years of experience in complex cross-border IP disputes.

The firm boasts several legal victories and representations, including cases for high-profile clients in industries like biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, technology and energy. These include landmark rulings, substantial settlements and notable victories in both trial and appellate courts, emphasising the firm¡¯s prowess in complex patent litigation.

The team¡¯s experience spans industry areas including microfluidic devices, biosimilars, wireless technology, cancer therapy, electronic payment solutions, wind turbine technology and DNA-sequencing technology, showcasing its broad expertise and innovative approaches to legal challenges.

GI&T Law Office, established in 2020, is a Japanese boutique law firm specialising in international dispute resolution, compliance, investigations and employment law. Along with its main hub in Tokyo, the firm boasts an international presence that includes offices in Indonesia, Thailand and China.

In the past year, the firm expanded its team to 10 lawyers, and boosted its diversity and expertise with the addition of two female lawyers in January 2024.

GI&T demonstrated its capabilities in handling complex, high-profile legal challenges when founder Kengo Nishigaki served on the fact-finding committee for the Kobayashi Pharmaceutical¡¯s health hazard case. It was one of Japan¡¯s largest investigations in 2024.

Katsumi Kojima, chair of legal and compliance committee at American Devices and Diagnostics Manufacturers’ Association (AMDD), an industry association in Tokyo, recommends GI&T. ¡°Every year, we ask Nishigaki to conduct US FCPA training for wholesalers,¡± says Kojima.

¡°By incorporating the latest information and feedback from attendees, the training is very well received by the participants. It has become a flagship training programme for our industry association.¡±

Linklaters is a British law firm with offices across the world. It established its Tokyo office in 1987 to offer legal services in capital markets, private equity and financial regulations. In the past three decades, the firm has specialised in structured finance, securitisation, acquisition finance and general corporate.

Recently, in collaboration with Nishimura & Asahi, Linklaters advised Citadel, a global US hedge fund, on its acquisition of Tokyo-based Energy Grid Corporation. This deal marked Citadel¡¯s entry into Japan¡¯s electricity trading market.

The acquisition, for an undisclosed amount, is expected to close in the third quarter of 2024. Linklaters¡¯ legal team is led by London-based Tracey Lochhead, alongside energy and infrastructure partner Hirofumi Taba and corporate partner Yoshiyuki Asaoka. Both are stationed in Tokyo.

Oh-Ebashi LPC & Partners, founded in Osaka in 1981, is a law firm with a solid presence in Tokyo and Osaka.

The firm¡¯s energy practice is embedded in Japan¡¯s dynamic energy industry, assisting clients through legal transformations. This includes deregulation of electric and gas businesses. It also has experience in dealing with compliance issues, energy-related transactions, and business restructurings, serving both traditional energy suppliers and new market entrants.

Consisting of senior lawyers including partner Mika Okada, who has advised on the launch of fintech businesses that handle public funds for local governments, City-Yuwa Partners has a 10-member team including seven partners who are experienced in assisting clients in fintech matters.

Together, they offer legal support to entities including fintech companies and financial institutions on matters ranging from fund settlement services and crypto assets to online business involving token issuances, as well as crowdfunding.

The firm¡¯s services in fintech also include assisting clients in acquiring relevant permits and licences as well as investing in fintech businesses and business alliances. Through seminars and other platforms, they have also distributed to public discussion on fintech-related regulatory challenges, including anti-money laundering in the area of crypto-assets.

City-Yuwa Partners was established in 2003 from the merger of Yuwa Partners and the law department of Tokyo City Law & Tax Partners, and later incorporated Ohba Ozaki & Shimasue, in 2005. It boasts a diverse team of lawyers, many of whom have worked as former prosecutors, high-ranking government officials and in-house counsel.

John Eastwood, senior partner at Eiger, a full-service law firm serving the Asia-Pacific and Greater China, recognises City-Yuwa Partners¡¯ expertise. ¡°The firm has excellent practitioners and great expertise, and I have worked with them at various points,¡± says Eastwood. ¡°Yoshitada Ogiso at City-Yuwa has exceptional clients and contacts in the Japanese public and private sectors.¡±

So & Sato Law Office¡¯s founding partner, So Saito, a former director of Japan¡¯s crypto exchange bitFlyer and a current corporate auditor of Tokyo-based web-3 wallet and blockchain solution provider, specialises in cryptocurrency, blockchain and fintech laws.

With more than a decade of experience in fintech, and having advised the Japanese government on bitcoin regulations following the bankruptcy of Japan¡¯s bitcoin exchange Mt. Gox, Saito leads a team of lawyers across two offices in Tokyo.

With fintech and blockchain being one of the firm¡¯s core areas of service, Saito and his team have advised both domestic and foreign companies on complying with regulations for initial coin offerings and security token offerings in Japan. They have also been serving as legal counsel to crypto companies and exchanges, including helping crypto asset exchanges in registering as crypto asset exchange service providers with Japan¡¯s Financial Services Agency.

So & Sato Law Office was initially established as So Law Office in 2015 before becoming So & Sato Law Office in 2019. It is a boutique firm with a focus on advising international and domestic corporations, particularly in new business sectors involving innovative technologies. Specialty areas include capital markets, finance, M&A, corporate, fintech, blockchain and investment funds.

Ken Matsui, CEO at ugo, a robotics company in Tokyo, commends So & Sato Law Offices.

¡°So & Sato Law Offices was very dedicated to helping us with the challenges of building a new service and business model for our robotics startup,¡± says Matsui.

¡°They worked with us from the very beginning of the business strategy development stage to consider various ideas and risks and provided us with much advice from an experienced and professional point of view.

Also, since ¡°speed is of the essence¡± for a startup, we as a startup were able to rely on their flexible and speedy response to the legal considerations that could occur on a daily basis, at the same speed as a startup.I expect that the startup ecosystem will become more vibrant as more startups get involved with great law offices like So & Sato Law Offices.¡±

Hogan Lovells is a global law firm known for its legal services across a broad range of practices including corporate, finance, global regulatory, intellectual property, media and technology (IPMT), litigation, arbitration and employment.

Healthcare and life sciences have been active areas of practice for Hogan Lovells¡¯ Tokyo team, which recently advised France-based veterinarian pharmaceutical company Virbac on its acquisition of Japanese financial service group ORIX Corp¡¯s Japanese animal health subsidiary, Sasaeah Holdings, for EUR280 million (USD295 million).

Tokyo-based corporate and finance partners Jacky Scanlan-Dyas and Wataru Kamoto were among lawyers who led the firm¡¯s team on the transaction. The Tokyo office has also been engaging in providing cross-jurisdictional advice on healthcare and life science deals, with a recent example being the formation of a US-Japan team, including Tokyo-based associate Sayuri Mori, acting for Japanese drugmaker Daiichi Sankyo on its global collaboration with Merck & Co in the US to develop and commercialise three of its DXd antibody-drug conjugate candidates.

Since its establishment in 1990, Hogan Lovells¡¯ Tokyo office has become a prominent legal firm in Japan, utilising more than 30 years of experience to serve clients locally and internationally. The firm is home to about 40 multilingual and multicultural lawyers, including bengoshi and international law partners with qualifications from jurisdictions including England, Wales, Ireland, New Zealand and California.

Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise) is an international law firm in Japan. It is also one of the oldest, marking its 52nd anniversary in 2024.

Consisting of senior lawyers including partner Naoaki Eguchi, a leader of the Japan Wind Power Association¡¯s offshore wind finance task force, Baker McKenzie Tokyo has been an active legal adviser in Japan¡¯s project finance market.

Having advised on the first project financing in Japan in 1999, the international firm has in the past 25 years acted on numerous projects in the energy space ranging from solar and wind power generation to small hydropower plants. In addition to energy and infrastructure projects, Baker McKenzie¡¯s Tokyo-based project finance team has also represented lenders in the USD1 billion project financing of the Universal Studios Japan theme park in Osaka.

The firm is the largest foreign law joint enterprise in the country. As the Tokyo arm of the worldwide Baker McKenzie network, the firm helps clients navigate domestic and international matters from a global perspective.

The firm has about 170 professionals including Japanese lawyers, registered foreign lawyers and foreign-qualified lawyers, certified public accountants, tax attorneys, patent attorneys, judicial scriveners, administrative scriveners and economists. In June 2024, Baker McKenzie initiated UK Japan Connect, a forum to enhance collaboration between Japan and the UK.

Nakamura & Partners, founded in 1914 by Morio Nakamatsu in Tokyo, is an international patent and law firm specialising in IP services domestically and abroad.

The firm, which began as Nakamatsu Patent & Law, has evolved over the years and is currently represented by partners Kazuhiko Yoshida, Hiroyuki Suda and Kazuo Yamasaki. They are joined by a team of about 180 professionals.

The firm offers a wide range of IP services managed by about 40 partners focusing on patents, trademarks, legal issues and administration support. Nakamura & Partners also provides extensive agency services for industrial property rights, including patent and trademark applications and appeals, and legal advice on IP, international trade and corporate law.

Ryuka IP Law Firm, now Ryuka Partners, was established in 1998 and is headquartered in Shinjuku, Tokyo, with a team of 100 employees. These include 41 Japanese patent attorneys and specialists in electrical engineering, chemistry, mechanics, biotechnology, trademarks and design.
The firm specialises in the prosecution of patents, trademarks and designs, and offers technical expertise in fields including information technology, telecoms and biotechnology, as well as legal services such as patent searches and infringement opinions.

Ryuka is supported by its self-developed Ryuka Translation Assistant software, which helps in delivering cost-efficient and accurate translations.

THE JUDGING PROCESS

Winners of Asia Business Law Journal¡¯s Japan Law Firm Awards 2024 were selected on the votes, references and qualitative information received from in-house counsel and other legal professionals in Japan and around the world.

A voting form was posted on our website, inviting thousands of in-house counsel, lawyers at international law firms and other Japan-focused professionals to vote. At the same time, Japanese law firms were asked to make submissions in support of their candidacy for the awards.

These submissions, combined with research by Asia Business Law Journal¡¯s editorial team, played a supporting role in the judging process.

All Japanese law firms were automatically eligible for inclusion in the awards process. As always, there were no fees or any other requirements for entry.