Anderson Mori & Tomotsune offers a sophisticated corporate practice, with a strong emphasis on private equity, venture capital, strategic investments, and corporate restructurings. The team is particularly skilled at handling transactions that require careful navigation of complex regulatory frameworks. Their client roster spans global financial institutions, multinational corporations, and leading private equity funds. The practice is jointly led by Hiroki Kodate, a seasoned adviser on both domestic and cross-border M&A and general corporate matters for Japanese and international clients, and Keiko Kaneko, who brings significant expertise in transactions within highly regulated industries, including energy and natural resources. Clients regularly turn to Keita Tokura for his counsel on corporate governance, public and private M&A, both domestic and international, related financial transactions, and dispute resolution arising from these deals. Also integral to the team is Ko Wakabayashi, who focuses on supporting both Japanese and foreign companies through the full M&A lifecycle, with particular strength in managing cross-border deal execution and navigating post-merger integration challenges, including cultural and jurisdictional complexities.

Atsumi & Sakai is a full-service law firm with significant expertise in both public and private company transactions. The team is well-equipped to handle matters involving securities law, such as tender offers, securities filings, and liaising with regulators, as well as disclosure requirements under Tokyo Stock Exchange rules. Leadership of the practice is shared by several key individuals, including Akimoto Kawamura , who has deep experience across domestic and cross-border M&A, private equity, joint ventures, and inbound and outbound investments involving Japan. Masayuki Matsuura provides comprehensive legal support throughout the M&A process, including deal structuring, due diligence, and documentation. Sho Tsuzuki is a go-to adviser for foreign investment funds and international clients engaging with Japanese listed companies and navigating shareholder engagement.

City-Yuwa Partners is active in both domestic and cross-border M&A, with experience acting for clients based in Japan and overseas. The group additionally covers a broader range of corporate transactions, including group reorganisations, asset transfers, and financing matters. Yoshikazu Suzuki co-leads the group alongside Daisuke Terasaki. Hiroshi Matsuda is a key name.

Hibiya-Nakata focuses on supporting Japanese companies with outbound M&A transactions and assisting international clients with inbound M&A involving Japan, working closely with affiliated law firms through multiple global networks. The practice is led by five key individuals: Nobuo Nakata, who leverages an extensive international network to advise on cross-border M&A; Kazutaka Mizuochi, known for his expertise in negotiating contracts between Japanese and foreign entities; Tatsuya Soeda, who brings industry-specific insight into M&A within the energy, technology, and real estate sectors; Takanari Sekiguchi, who focuses on W&I insurance and startup investments; and Shunsuke Inoue, who advises both major financial institutions and emerging tech companies on matters including competition law, merger control filings, corporate governance, and regulatory compliance.

Iwata Godo is a trusted advisor to clients in the finance, manufacturing, and consumer sectors, offering strong expertise in M&A, corporate governance and compliance, as well as capital markets. The practice is headed by Hiroki Ito, whose broad corporate practice includes mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate restructurings, and securities matters, alongside Atsushi Izumi, who focuses on antitrust and governance-related issues. Shu Kakuno is a name to note for joint venture structuring and restructuring advice, while Tomoo Sasaki is well-versed in share transfer and shareholder agreements. Kohei Yamada handles cross-border investments and other capital transactions. Also recognised for their work on complex M&A matters are Taiki Matsuda and Landry Guesdon.

Kojima Law Offices is primarily focused on international corporate and M&A matters. The team is led by Hiromasa Ogawa, who is adept at navigating the cultural and legal nuances between Japanese and non-Japanese parties in cross-border M&A transactions. Hirokazu Amemiya frequently advises Japanese clients on M&A deals in India, particularly in sectors like automotive and telecoms. Naoki Takahashi is noted for his work representing the Japanese government and his expanding expertise in arbitration. Meanwhile, Nozomi Watanabe offers a valuable international perspective when advising on a range of corporate matters.

Miura & Partners offers a full-service, one-stop solution for M&A transactions, guiding clients through every stage of the process, from structuring deals and conducting due diligence to contract negotiation, closing, and post-closing matters. The firm also provides comprehensive support on legal issues related to competition law, including challenges arising from acquisitions, hostile takeovers, defence measures, and proxy fights. The practice is co-led by Hisashi Shibata, who focuses on matters involving privately held companies and has particular expertise in venture investments and share structures, and Haruka Murata, who regularly advises clients across sectors such as pharmaceuticals, IT, consumer services, and HR. Murata plays a key role in a wide range of M&A matters, including acquisitions, joint ventures, and startup investments.

Mori Hamada advises a diverse portfolio of major clients across key industries, including leading industrial corporations, financial institutions, and private equity funds, on a wide range of sophisticated corporate and M&A matters. The practice is co-led by Hajime Tanahashi, who brings specialised expertise in private equity and venture financing, and Gaku Ishiwata, who advises on M&A and broader corporate issues across sectors such as manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and retail. Akira Matsushita is particularly noted for his work in shareholder activism, having represented numerous listed companies facing activist campaigns, proxy battles, and hostile takeover attempts. Atsushi Oishi is a key advisor for clients navigating complex M&A deals and intra-group corporate restructurings. Another key member of the team is Stanley Yukevich, who continues to play a significant role in high-stakes corporate transactions.

Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu is a comprehensive law firm with expertise across all industries, offering guidance on domestic laws and a wide range of transactions. The practice is led by Yuko Tamai, who is widely regarded for her in-depth, well-rounded counsel and her adept leadership in handling high-value, complex deals. Shuichi Nishimura stands out for his work in general corporate matters, private equity, and venture capital, while Tomohiko Iwasaki is particularly noted for his strength in cross-border M&A. Yutaka Kuroda brings significant experience advising clients on intricate restructuring and insolvency matters. In the tech-driven sectors of AI, IoT, and Fintech, Soichiro Fujiwara is a key contact for cross-border transactional support.

Nishimura & Asahi delivers a full spectrum of integrated legal services, with its team regularly advising on transactions that intersect corporate law, securities regulation, tax, antitrust, IP, labour, bankruptcy, and other areas of business law. The practice is co-led by Asa Shinkawa, who specialises in M&A, corporate governance, securities, and general corporate matters, and Yoshinobu Fujimoto, who brings notable expertise in joint ventures and corporate defence strategies against activist shareholders. Also highly regarded is Yuki Oi, who has a strong track record advising leading Japanese high-tech, industrial, and financial institutions on major M&A deals and corporate issues. Another prominent figure in the team is Yuji Shiga, who brings extensive experience in advising on both domestic and cross-border transactions, as well as offering strategic risk management guidance.

Oh-Ebashi LPC & Partners advises a wide range of domestic and international clients on matters spanning M&A, corporate restructuring, and strategic business collaborations. The practice is headed by Norihiro Sekiguchi, who brings deep experience in domestic and cross-border transactions, as well as private equity investments, and Seigo Takehira, whose cross-border expertise extends across numerous sectors, including pharmaceuticals, energy, electronics, chemicals, transportation, real estate, and financial services. Kochi Hashimoto is a key figure in the team, frequently sought after for her counsel on M&A involving both listed and unlisted companies. Hashimoto also advises private equity and venture capital funds, as well as public companies, on startup investments and acquisitions.

One Asia Lawyers is recognised for its complex cross-border M&A practice, often advising clients in the tech, healthcare, and fintech sectors on shareholder realignments, distressed M&A, and earn-out renegotiations. Hironori Matsumiya leads the team with expertise across the entire M&A transaction process, from initial structuring and due diligence to negotiation, signing, and post-closing integration. Tomoyoshi Ina is recognised for his skill in uncovering and mitigating hidden deal risks, structuring transactions to meet regulatory requirements, and navigating cross-border commercial and cultural differences. Hiroyuki Masuda focuses on clients in the education and life sciences sectors, where he advises on complex, multi-jurisdictional M&A transactions.

southgate is particularly well-regarded for its M&A and venture capital work, with a client base spanning the technology, IT, industrial, automotive, and fashion industries. The team is co-led by Takeshi Iitani, who brings extensive experience advising on M&A, startup investments, and other transactional matters for leading international firms, and Reid Monroe-Sheridan, who advises both public and private Japanese and U.S. companies on cross-border M&A, venture financings, and commercial transactions. Eric Marcks is a key contact for venture capital and tech-focused deals, while Akira Kawashiro stands out for his expertise in securities law, shaped by his experience on secondment at the Tokyo Stock Exchange, and his work on merger filings. He also has a niche track record assisting Japanese clients operating in Germany.

TMI Associates regularly advises on a broad range of matters, including large-scale cross-border deals, going-private transactions, joint ventures, responses to activist shareholders, and the development of takeover defences. The practice is jointly led by Masakazu Iwakura, known for his work on high-profile and complex M&A transactions; Tatsuhiro Takahara, who offers strategic and commercial legal support to major private equity clients; and Nobuyuki Watanabe, who represents both buyers and sellers in M&A deals. Also notable is Takashi Toichi, who provides counsel to companies undergoing restructuring, supports private equity funds, and advises on corporate governance, risk management, and dispute resolution.

Tokyo International Law Office is known for leading high-value cross-border corporate and M&A transactions, particularly in the energy, media, manufacturing, and finance sectors. The team is co-led by Mikiharu Mori, who brings broad experience across transactional work, from domestic strategic consolidations to intricate cross-border acquisitions, and Koki Yamada, who is deeply involved in complex, high-stakes corporate matters, offering strong cross-border advocacy for Japanese businesses. Junzaburo Kiuchi is also a key figure in the team, providing strategic advice on general corporate and commercial law, with a focus on international expansion, governance frameworks, and corporate reorganisations.

Ushijima & Partners advises a wide range of clients, including Japanese companies operating domestically and abroad, as well as foreign corporations and financial institutions, on all aspects of M&A and corporate law, along with matters involving antitrust, intellectual property, and labour law. The team is led by Shin Ushijima, a well-regarded adviser in both domestic and international tax matters and dispute resolution. Working alongside him is Hiroshi Watanabe, who frequently counsels on compliance with the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, particularly concerning insider trading and financial statement corrections, as well as on international cartel issues under Japan’s Anti-Monopoly Act. Masahiko Todo represents both Japanese and foreign clients, including manufacturers, insurers, IT companies, and entertainment businesses, in a wide array of cross-border and domestic M&A deals and group reorganisations.

ZeLo, a Foreign Law Joint Enterprise advises on a broad spectrum of transactions, including M&A between listed companies, deals involving both listed and unlisted entities, and intra-group restructurings and integrations. The team is led by Koichi Kitada, who plays a central role in the firm’s M&A, investment, joint venture, and strategic alliance work, representing a diverse client base that includes startups and financial institutions. Kohei Kanzawa is well-versed in cross-border transactions and is a valuable resource for overseas clients seeking insight into Japanese legal and regulatory frameworks. Also notable within the team are Hiroto Shimauchi and Keita Mashita, both of whom contribute to the firm’s strong corporate and transactional offering.