The banking and finance team at A&O Shearman is commended for its broad experience in all types of finance transactions including debt restructurings, advice on significant renewable energy projects, and financial services regulation, with particular expertise in cross-border project finance transactions. Recent work for the practice includes providing cross-border advice to lenders on the provision of term loan facilities, as well as assisting with a Thailand loan agreement in the transport industry. Matthias Voss and Scott Neilson jointly lead the team, with Nielsen possessing expertise in major infrastructure and energy projects while Voss is recommended for his experience in large-scale multi-sourced financings and project development work. Other key contacts within the team include Xue Wang for banking and finance matters with ESG and sustainability elements, and Akira Takahashi for renewable energy matters within banking.

Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)‘s ‘very responsive‘, ‘professional‘ and ‘adaptable‘ finance and projects department is especially known for its acquisition finance advice, as well as its deep experience with securitisations, real estate finance, and bridge credit facilities. Shinichiro Kitamura, who is adept at advising clients on both domestic and inbound leveraged and acquisition finance, leads the Tokyo-based team, which also consists of Gavin Raftery, Kosuke Suzuki, and Naoaki Eguchi. Raftery is a key name for finance issues spanning Australia, Japan, and the UK; Suzuki is complimented for his ‘strengths in ECA financing‘; and Eguchi is a key contact for project finance and renewable energy infrastructure. Other names to note within the team include Tsutomu Kobayashi and Haruhiko Ogasawara.

Clifford Chance (Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo)‘s practice is lauded by clients for its ‘client-friendly‘ approach, ability to advise ‘from a client’s point of view‘, and for providing clients with the ‘latest updates in the sector using their world-wide network‘. Team head Yusuke Abe is especially known for his expertise in cross-border and domestic project finance, as well as ECA and M&A financings. Working alongside Abe is Hans Menski, who is a key contact for project financings in the energy, oil and gas sectors; and ‘friendly‘ senior associate Yosuke Nomura, who has extensive experience in aircraft finance matters. Other work the practice undertakes includes LIBOR transitions, complex syndicated financings, regulatory advice, and real estate and development financings.

The team at Milbank regularly advises well-known domestic financial institutions, international development finance institutions, and export credit agencies, as well as banks and multinational companies in Asia, the US, and Europe. Aled Davies heads up the team and is particularly well known for infrastructure and natural resources mandates, with expertise in complex asset and project finance transactions. The practice also assists with ECA-backed financings, as well as restructurings and acquisition finance issues. Associate Lewis Blundell is complimented as ‘a great negotiator‘, while Andrew Pendleton is described by clients as a ‘talented lawyer‘.

Clients seeking assistance from the banking and finance team at Norton Rose Fulbright are able to receive advice on a variety of finance matters, including asset finance, corporate finance, and aviation finance work. The practice has been especially busy with restructuring transactions and LIBOR cases, as well as IPOs, joint venture financings, and project finance work, for which department head George Gibson is the name to note. Paul Coggins is adept at advising clients in offshore sectors and international shipping, with a specialism in financing ships using cross-border project and asset-based leasing and debt facilities. Akihiko Takamatsu joined the practice from Clifford Chance (Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo) in February 2023.

White & Case LLP - White & Case Law Offices (Registered Association)‘s debt finance department is complimented by clients for its ability to ‘work seamlessly across jurisdictions‘ and for its ‘wealth of experience‘. The practice regularly advises on LBOs, restructurings, regulatory issues, buyouts and M&A financings, the latter of which practice head Zenya Onishi is the key contact. Clara Shirota, who clients commend for her ‘business minded‘ skills and ‘excellent client engagement‘, is the name to note for sponsor-side deals, and is additionally qualified in New York, England and Wales, and Hong Kong. The practice also provides advice on leveraged and structured financings, complex cross-border transactions, and private equity funds.

K&L Gates‘ banking and asset finance practice is lauded by clients as a ‘go-to‘ team, and as ‘one of the strongest aviation legal firms in Asia‘. The practice has particular expertise in asset finance transactions with aviation and shipping aspects, with additional experience in real estate transactions, cross-border leasing cases, and both secured and unsecured loans. Robert Melson, described as a ‘superior force‘, leads the team and specialises in aircraft finance work. Other key names include Sebastian Smith, Takahiro Kawaguchi, and of counsel Eiko Grieger.

King & Spalding‘s department is jointly headed by John McClenahan and Mark Davies, who both specialise in the financing of large-scale infrastructure and energy projects. The wider department, which also includes Aaron Lee and Jonathan Wang, is able to offer clients assistance with structured finance, acquisition finance and asset finance transactions, with many clients in other jurisdictions and requiring cross-border support. Recent work includes advising on project financings and hedging arrangements.

Morrison Foerster‘s banking and finance practice, complimented for its ‘great depth of knowledge‘, is headed up by Akihiro Wani, who is especially experienced in derivatives transactions and advising major Japanese financial institutions. The general team are also adept at assisting clients with financial regulatory matters, real estate finance mandates, project and acquisition finance issues, and IPOs. Katsuhiko Fujihira departed the team for Kaynex Law Offices in 2022.

The Tokyo-based banking and finance team at Paul Hastings LLP regularly advises financial institutions and banks in matters spanning regulatory advice, global extensions of credit, the granting of security interest, and cross-border acquisition financings. The team is headed up by Toshiyuki Arai, who is dual qualified in California and Japan and possesses niche expertise in payments matters.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP‘s team provides advice on real estate financings, acquisition financings, and LBOs to clients including private equity companies and corporate borrowers. Team head Makiko Harunari, who is based in Hong Kong, leads the team and brings experience in cross-border transactions. Other key contacts include associates Atsushi Usui and Chenyu Cui, commended for their ‘comprehensive work‘.

The financial services department at Squire Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo Horitsu Jimusho is especially recommended for its expertise in asset finance work in the aviation field, with recent work including advice on the sale of an aircraft engine and cross-border leasing transactions involving aircraft. Hisao Hirose heads up the team and is recommended for his experience in structured finance transactions, Japanese leveraged leases, and Japanese operating leases.

Watson Farley & Williams (Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo Horitsu Jimusho)‘s asset and structured finance department, which is particularly experienced in cross-border asset, structured finance, and leasing transactions in the aviation field,  benefited from the 2022 recruitment of Keisuke Imon, Simon Collins, Shusuke Fukunaga, and senior associate Christian Orton, who moved to the practice from White & Case LLP - White & Case Law Offices (Registered Association). Imon leads the team alongside Collins; duo add expertise in commercial shipping transactions and Japanese operating leases.