The banking and finance team at Anderson Mori & Tomotsune is commended by clients for being ‘reliable‘ and ‘responsive‘, and is described as a ‘go-to‘ practice. The department consists of 50 partners, who are able to provide clients with assistance in matters such as LBO financings, acquisition financings, secured transactions, corporate and syndicated loans, and DIP financing work, as well as support at all stages of the financing life cycle. Key names within the team include Mari Itoh for financial regulatory advice, Satoshi Inoue for leveraged finance, and Daisuke Tate for matters relating to securities. Hiroaki Takahashi is a key contact for structured finance work and Takashi Akahane focuses on project finance and private finance initiatives.

Mori Hamada & Matsumoto‘s practice is lauded by clients for its ‘extensive knowledge‘ and ‘excellent lawyers‘. Leading the 150-strong team of partners and lawyers is Masanori Sato, who is especially adept at advising on issues in the energy and infrastructure sectors; this includes advice on infrastructure funds, sustainable finance, carbon credit transactions, and the privatisation of airports. For syndicated loans and LBOs, Hiroki Aoyama is a key contact, while Takahiro Kobayashi is a name to note for structured finance and securitisation work. Kei Shirakawa is adept at advising on project financing and leveraged financing issues, and Yusuke Suehiro focuses on LBO, project and structured financings.

Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu‘s banking and finance practice, headed up by securities specialist Fumihide Sugimoto, is particularly proficient in advising clients on loans and credit-related transactions, which include syndicated loans, derivatives, aircraft and ship financings, and foreign trades financings. The practice is also able to advise on M&A and banking transactions, for which Hiromi Hattori is a key contact, as well as acquisition finance work, where Jiro Mikami is recommended. Real estate financing is typically dealt with by specialist Mami Ikebukuro, while Keiko Shimizu and Motohiro Yanagawa are the recommended contacts for structured finance mandates.

Nishimura & Asahi‘s banking and finance department is well-placed to advise clients on complex cross-border and domestic transactions, as well as asset finance matters, corporate and syndicated loans, and acquisition financings. Of counsel Katsu Sengoku heads up the team and specialises in ship and aircraft finance, and possesses additional expertise in structured finance work. Other names to note within the team include Adrian Joyce for energy and infrastructure matters, Takashi Saito for subscription finance and syndicated lending issues, and Hideo Horikoshi for his advice to financial sponsors, corporate borrowers, and international financial institutions. Alexander Woody joined the team from White & Case LLP - White & Case Law Offices (Registered Association) in June 2022.

Atsumi & Sakai‘s finance practice encompasses an array of sub-departments, meaning clients are able to access advice for a range of matters. For project finance, Akira Shimazaki is key, while fintech matters are dealt with by Yuri Suzuki. Other notable names within the practice group include Fumiko Oikawa, who handles securitisations; Hiroyuki Nezu, who excels in asset-based lending; and Keita Imaizumi, who focuses on asset financings. Madoka Hashimoto is the main contact for debt capital markets work; Ryosuke Oue and Michiaki Hosoi are experience in renewable energy financings; and Shintaro Hamasu handles M&A and private equity work. Shuji Koyama is noted for real estate finance issues; Hirofumi Hosoda focuses on insurance matters; Akimoto Kawamura specialises in financial regulation, and Eiichiro Hata is recommended for asset management and investment fund issues, while Yutaka Sakai has been notably active in shipping finance work.

City-Yuwa Partners’ team is headed up by Junko Hirakawa and is proficient in advising clients on banking and finance matters including regulatory issues, cross-border transactions, and structured finance matters relating to real estate. Clients rate Reiko Yoshida for being a ‘joy to work with‘, with a ‘truly outstanding‘ level of knowledge on ship finance work. The ‘experienced‘ Masamichi Sakamoto is a key contact for asset finance and real estate finance mandates, while Kenta Ikebe is proficient in project financings. For securitisation matters, trusts, derivatives, and ECA finance, Gen Takizawa is the name to note.

The ‘excellent‘ banking team at TMI Associates is proficient in structured and corporate finance work, securitisations, derivative transactions and insurance mandates. Yoshiyasu Yamaguchi, who leads the practice, is complimented by clients for his ‘expertise in the financial market‘ and brings expertise in banking and capital markets. The practice is especially recommended for real estate securitisation and healthcare business securitisation matters. Hideaki Kurauchi is the key contact for high-value real estate matters, while Yoshikazu Noma is a name to note for domestic and international lease transactions, and Mizuki Koshimoto is experienced in inbound renewable energy transactions.

The 2016-established office of Kaynex Law Offices provides clients with assistance in banking matters such as cross-border transactions, real estate and MBO transactions, and securitisations. Norifusa Hashimoto, co-founder of the firm, leads the banking and finance practice and is experienced in samurai bonds, repackagings, and debt private placements, and also provides general corporate advice.

With offices across Japan in Osaka, Tokyo, and Nagoya, Oh-Ebashi LPC & Partners‘ banking team is able to assist clients in domestic banking matters such as corporate loans, debtor-in-possession financings, and project and acquisition finance work; the group is also proficient in banking disputes. Tomohiro Murakami heads up the team and is recommended for his experience in MBO and LBO financings.

Tsubame Law Offices is particularly recommended for its experience in real estate financing, with co-heads Yasuko Tsuchihashi, Atsuko Kissho, Takumi Fukuda and Yasuhiro Shimada all highly experienced in this area. The practice also offers advice on cross-border projects, transactions, and regulatory issues, as well as acquisitions and financings.