A&O Shearman’s banking and finance team in Tokyo offers broad expertise that covers acquisition/corporate finance, leveraged finance, microfinance and social investment, and restructuring matters, among others. The team is especially strong handling cross-border project finance mandates, recently advising the lenders in relation to a major iron ore ‘pellet feed’ production plant in Brazil. Energy transition specialists Matthias Voss and Scott Neilson jointly lead the group. Xue Wang, whose expertise also includes energy transition and green energy projects, regularly works with Chinese financial institutions, investors, and project sponsors. Hitomi Komachi is also a key contact with experience in the renewables, LNG, and mining spaces.

Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)’s comprehensive banking and finance service offering encompasses domestic and cross-border acquisition finance, project finance, structured finance, and real estate finance transactions, as well as regulatory matters, particularly those concerning fintech and sustainable finance. Recent highlights for the group include advising several banks in connection with the structuring and registration of the world’s first natively-issued digital cross-border repo transaction using stablecoins issued under Japanese regulations. With over two decades of international legal experience, practice head Shinichiro Kitamura is trusted by both lenders and borrowers, especially financial institutions, to advise on a broad range of matters. Gavin Raftery, co-managing partner of the firm’s Tokyo office, is noted particularly for his fintech and sustainable finance expertise. Kosuke Suzuki has considerable experience in project finance, including renewable energy and overseas infrastructure projects. Tsutomu Kobayashi left the firm in April 2024.

Clifford Chance (Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo)’s banking and finance practice in Tokyo advises a blue-chip client roster on a wide range of matters, including syndicated financings, bilateral and corporate loans, leveraged and acquisition finance, and project finance. Yusuke Abe’s broad expertise covers domestic and cross-border project, ECA, M&A, structured, and real estate finance as well as derivatives. Hans Menski specialises in the financing of projects in the energy, infrastructure, and natural resources spaces. Suguru Kimura is noted for his acquisition, ECA, and project finance experience as well as his financial regulatory expertise.

Milbank’s banking and finance team in Tokyo has a particularly strong reputation for handling multijurisdictional project finance matters in the oil and gas, power, and infrastructure spaces. With major borrower and lender clients, including public finance institutions, ECAs, and Japanese financial institutions, the team is regularly involved in high-end mandates. Practice head Aled Davies regularly advises financial institutions, project sponsors, ECAs, and DFIs, among other clients, on project finance matters. Andrew Pendleton is also noted for his expertise in project finance, including project restructurings. Aaron Mundy has recently advised on major LNG and offshore wind project financings.

Norton Rose Fulbright’s banking and finance team in Tokyo stands out for its shipping and project finance expertise. Practice head George Gibson has over three decades of experience in the financing, acquisition, and disposal of infrastructure and energy-related projects. Paul Coggins leads the firm’s maritime practice, primarily advising commercial banks, ECAs, and sponsors on the financing of ships and offshore units. Akihiko Takamatsu’s varied practice covers asset finance, structured finance, and insolvency matters. Mai Tezuka is also noted for her aviation and maritime finance experience.

Ropes & Gray LLP’s finance team in Tokyo is noted particularly for its leveraged finance experience, which includes novel transactions involving incremental facilities and offshore-to-onshore financing structures. Tsuyoshi Imai specialises in leveraged buyouts, acquisitions, and corporate finance transactions. He leads the group alongside Ben Morris, who regularly works with private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies, asset managers, and other financial institutions in relation to domestic and cross-border leveraged acquisition finance transactions (including public-to-private transactions), margin loans, property finance, debt buy-backs, refinancings, and restructurings.

Praised for its ‘deep understanding of a wide range of financing matters’, White & Case LLP - White & Case Law Offices (Registered Association)’s debt finance team retains a strong foothold in the Japanese market. Practice head Clara Shirota‘s robust sponsor-side practice sees her advise private equity funds and their portfolio companies on a wide range of transactions, with a particular emphasis on leveraged and acquisition finance. Zenya Onishi’s areas of expertise include leveraged and acquisition finance as well as cross-border syndicated loans. Paul Harrison advises both lenders and sponsors on large-scale energy and infrastructure projects.

King & Spalding’s banking and finance team in Tokyo regularly advises major lending institutions and banks across the APAC region, with experience encompassing cross-border project finance, import and export loans, acquisition finance, and asset finance, among other areas. John McClenahan, who has a wealth of experience advising banks, sponsors, and contractors on project finance matters, is managing partner of the firm’s Tokyo office. He oversees the finance practice alongside Mark Davies, who focuses on project and asset finance.

Morrison Foerster’s banking and finance practice routinely acts for sponsors, senior lenders, and mezzanine lenders in a range of cross-border acquisition finance transactions with a Japan nexus. Practice head Keiko Yamazaki is a key contact for major Japanese banks and mezzanine financing companies seeking assistance with acquisition, real estate and project finance mandates. Akihiro Wani left the firm in October 2023.

Mayer Brown GJBJ’s finance team in Tokyo advises bank holding companies, commercial and investment banks, as well as export credit agencies on syndicated loans, and secured and unsecured financing transactions of various types. With considerable experience handling projects work, Rupert Burrows leads the group. Myles Mantle is skilled in ship, trade, fund, export, and project finance transactions.

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP has a strong aircraft finance team based in Tokyo that advises major Japanese clients on JOL and JOLCA transactions, portfolio sales and financings, cross-border leasing arrangements, procurement of aircraft and engines, and restructurings, among other matters. Practice head Olivia Matsushita counts Japanese and international institutions, leasing companies, investors, and airlines as clients.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett Hong Kong‘s Asia banking and credit group advises major clients, including financial institutions and asset managers, on a range of financings involving Japanese businesses and assets. Makiko Harunari, who leads the practice from Hong Kong, handles cross-border financing transactions for financial sponsors, corporate borrowers, and financial institutions. Noted for being 'extremely diligent and smart in pushing forward transactions', Atsushi Usui plays a key role in the team.

Squire Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo Horitsu Jimusho has a strong aviation finance offering in Tokyo and regularly advises Japanese leasing companies, banks, investors, and airlines on cross-border lease finance transactions, among other matters. Hisao Hirose has over four decades of experience in aircraft finance covering Japanese leveraged leases and operating leases. Asuka Fujita and Tomohiko Kamimura are other key contacts in the team.

Watson Farley & Williams (Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo Horitsu Jimusho)’s asset and structured finance offering in Tokyo is noted for its experience advising financiers, lessors, and operators on aviation and maritime financings, which encompasses debt and export finance transactions as well as operator leasing arrangements. Asset and project finance specialist Simon Collins leads the practice alongside Keisuke Imon, who focuses on Japanese operating lease transactions.