A&O Shearman‘s well-regarded and full-service corporate M&A team is jointly headed by Nick Wall and the ‘very talented‘ Tokutaka Ito. The practice regularly assists corporate clients on cross-border issues such as public and private M&A, privatisations, corporate restructurings, disposals and divestments, and other regulatory advice. The team has recently seen an increase in deal work from the US to Japan, with work including advice to Hitachi High-Tech Corporation regarding its investment into Invivoscribe. Sector experience for the practice spans the TMT, life sciences, healthcare, consumer goods, automotive, and renewables industries, among others. The team, which also includes the notable Taro Nakashima, is fluent in both English and Japanese. The team now also includes Karl Pires who advises Japanese clients on transactions taking place outside Japan and transactions within Japan for multinational clients, Toshiro Mochizuki and Masahisa Ikeda following the merger between A&O and Shearman & Sterling in May 2o24.

Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)‘s practice is commended by clients for its ‘high-quality service‘, and offers particular expertise in complex cross-border transactions. The team is able to call on international experience by virtue of its global network, with recent work showing collaboration between the firm’s offices in Tokyo, London, Singapore, and San Francisco. The ‘excellent‘ Jiro Toyokawa leads the practice, and is especially adept at handling large outbound M&A for Japanese financial institutions. Akifusa Takada is experienced in domestic transactions, while the ‘outstanding‘ Kiyoshi Endo and Yutaka Kimura focus on cross-border M&A transactions, and Tetsuo Tsujimoto is a name to note for public takeovers. Other key team members include Masahiro Inaba, Safari Watanabe, and Byron Frost. Hiroshi Kondo retired in July 2022.

The corporate department at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP is lauded by clients for its ‘timely assistance‘ and ‘very reliable‘ team, which is jointly headed by Ken Lebrun, Jon Gray and counsel Christopher Kodama. The practice has a strong overlap with capital markets work, with individuals such as associate Paul Jun frequently advising clients on both M&A issues and capital markets transactions. Lebrun is proficient in public and private cross-border mergers and acquisitions, while Gray’s expertise lies in public US mergers. Further matters the practice offers advice on include joint ventures, global equity offerings, IPOs, Japanese REIT global offerings, sponsor-related exits, and regulatory issues. Other key names to note within the practice include ‘experienced and knowledgeable‘ associates Paul Lee and Chihiro Sasaki.

The ‘commercially oriented‘ practice at Hogan Lovells Horitsu Jimusho Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo offers clients a one-stop shop for all corporate and M&A matters, ranging from advice on cross-border investments to multi-jurisdictional transactions and company restructurings. The team is jointly led by Jacky Scanlan-Dyas, who is described as an ‘outstanding business adviser‘, and Wataru Kamoto, who clients commend for his ability to ‘explain Japanese practice in US terms‘. The team has particular knowledge of diversified industrials, which includes the TMT, energy, automotive, infrastructure, and insurance sectors. Viet Nguyen, who was promoted to counsel in January 2023, is the key contact for restructurings and insolvency cases. Associate Raymond Dunne is also a recommended name within the practice, complimented by clients as ‘extremely responsive‘.

Morrison Foerster‘s market-leading mergers and acquisitions group in Tokyo is headed by Ken Siegel, who is an expert in representing technology companies in matters such as acquisitions, joint ventures, and strategic alliances. The team of more than 50 gaiben and bengoshi also includes the ‘highly experienced‘ Jeremy White, international joint venture specialist Randy Laxer, life sciences and TMT specialist Gary Smith, Stanley Yukevich, and ‘very reliable‘ senior associate Ganesh Vaheisvaran. Other work the practice covers includes advice on shareholder activism situations, tax-free spinoffs, prospective buy–out deals, minority investments, and financing for venture capital investments. Stephen DeCosse rejoined the firm in October 2023.

The corporate M&A team at White & Case LLP - White & Case Law Offices (Registered Association) regularly advises on complex cross-border transactions, with recent work including advising Mitsubishi Electric Corporation on its acquisition of a Swedish-based company. Brian Strawn, who specialises in the industrial sector, jointly leads the practice alongside Jun Usami, whose experience spans the healthcare, automotive, TMT, retail, and finance industries. The team also works closely with the firm’s anti-trust, intellectual property and trade practitioners for a broader industry coverage. Nels Hansen and Shino Asayama are names to note within the team.

Clifford Chance (Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo)‘s corporate M&A team is co-led by Natsuko Sugihara and Michihiro Nishi and regularly works with the firm’s network of international lawyers to assist with the full spectrum of corporate matters. Sugihara, who is qualified in England and Wales as well as Japan, is a key name for fund investments and establishments. Nishi has a particular focus on domestic M&A, as well as public company deals, corporate governance work, and disclosure issues. The practice also covers both inbound and outbound transactions, alongside merger filings, due diligence, and M&A transactions connected to matters involving intellectual property, real estate, and employment issues, among others. Associates Shunsuke Nagae and Masafumi Shikakura are recommended for their expertise in joint ventures and renewable energy M&A matters respectively.

DLA Piper Tokyo Partnership Gaikokuho Kyodojigyo Horitsu Jimusho offers clients ‘deep legal acumen‘ in various M&A matters, including equity investment deals, and both domestic and cross-border acquisitions. Masahiko Ishida, co-head of the practice, is described by clients as ‘undoubtedly one of the best in the M&A world‘ while fellow co-head Lance Miller is complimented as ‘a brilliant technical lawyer‘. Industry experience in the team spans the real estate, renewable energy, healthcare, and manufacturing sectors. Peter Armstrong joined the team from Nishimura & Asahi in February 2023.

Cross-border outbound corporate work is a staple for the corporate department at Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, which is headed up by the ‘highly attentive‘ and ‘extremely reliable‘ Graeme Preston. The team are especially experienced in the TMT, infrastructure, manufacturing, industrials, healthcare and pharmaceuticals sectors, with work including acquisitions, due diligence, advice on joint ventures, and cross-border investments. Joseph Fisher, who regularly advises clients investing into Europe and Southeast Asia, is commended by clients for his ‘excellent commercial awareness‘. Other key names within the practice include Damien Roberts and Andrew Blacoe.

The department at Jones Day is experienced in assisting clients in a range of corporate matters, such as cross-border transactional matters, joint ventures, business restructurings, M&A deals, buyouts and reorganisations, among other matters. Practice head Chris Ahern leads the team from Sydney and has expertise in the energy and technology sectors, while Benjamin O. Lang is experienced in advising clients in the life sciences sector for both M&A and licensing transactions. Yuichiro Mori is another key contact. Stephen DeCosse departed in October 2023.

The Tokyo-based corporate M&A team at Linklaters is jointly led by Tracy Whiriskey and Yoshiyuki Asaoka, who joined the team from Nishimura & Asahi in May 2023. Whiriskey’s ‘very well balanced‘ approach is commended by clients, while colleagues Hirofumi Taba and Mamoru Ikeda are described as ‘immensely helpful‘ and an ‘excellent technical lawyer‘, respectively. Alongside the group's work in complex cross-border matters, the team is able to assist clients with joint ventures, strategic investments, and corporate litigation, as well as private equity transactions and both inbound and outbound M&A.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP‘s corporate M&A practice is adept at advising clients on both public and private mergers, as well as acquisitions and joint ventures involving domestic and cross-border elements. The team is jointly led by Mitsuhiro Kamiya and Akira Kumaki, who specialise in cross-border M&A and private equity mandates, respectively. Of counsel Louis Artime is another name to note within the team, having advised clients such as JX Nippon Mining & Metals and Square Enix Holdings.

The corporate practice at EY Law Co., which was established in 2016, is jointly led by Junzaburo Kiuchi and Dan Matsuda and regularly offers clients advice on divestments, structured finance work, acquisitions and liquidations, among other corporate matters. The team is able to utilise the firm’s global network to assist with cross-border transactions, with recent work enlisting assistance from France. Other key team members include Takahiro Tsumagari and Kohei Nakajima, who was promoted to partner in July 2023.

Latham & Watkins Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise‘s corporate M&A team is headed up by Hong Kong-based Ji Liu, who is also the chair for the firm’s Asia corporate department. Work carried out by the team includes cross-border acquisitions, venture capital financings, strategic alliances, and other inbound and outbound corporate transactions. Notable names within the team include Hiroki Kobayashi, Ivan Smallwood and Hiroaki Takagi. Noah Carr left the firm in November 2023.

Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP‘s corporate and business transactions team is especially strong in transactions within the life sciences and technology industries. The practice regularly assists clients with venture capital financings, cross-border acquisitions, joint venture transactions, and strategic alliances. Motonori Araki and San Francisco-based Nancy Yamaguchi jointly lead the practice, with support provided from Mitsuyoshi Saito and associate Nao Sato Terashima.

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP’s M&A and private equity team specialises in cross-border venture financing transactions, with many start-ups within its client base and a particular focus on the life sciences sector. Hiroki Sugita leads the practice and is commended by clients for his ‘very practical and business-oriented approach‘, and brings expertise in venture capital investments and joint ventures. Other areas the practice assists clients with includes domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, corporate litigation, and asset transfers.

Paul Hastings LLP‘s corporate team is especially strong on cross-border M&A deals, joint ventures and strategic alliances; clients are also assisted with restructurings, real estate transactions, and other corporate and commercial work. The practice is led by Toshiyuki Arai, who also leads the firm’s Japan-China practice and has a particular niche in payments issues. Associate Yuko Kamo’s recent work includes inbound transactions and domestic investments, and is especially recommended for her work in handling business critical issues for international clients.

Squire Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo Horitsu Jimusho‘s corporate department is commended for providing clients with ‘excellent advice‘ and ‘flexibility for making contracts‘. Steven Doi is co-head of the team and has a broad focus on general corporate matters, while fellow co-head Stephen E Chelberg, who is also the Asia Pacific chair of the global corporate practice, focuses on cross-border corporate transactions, corporate restructurings and strategic alliances. Other key team members include Ken Kurosu, Rika Beppu and Mörk Murdock.

The corporate transactions team at Ashurst is headed up by Hiroyuki Iwamura, who continues to grow the practice after relocating to Tokyo from London in 2022. Alongside advice in M&A transactions, the practice offers clients assistance with commercial disputes, joint ventures, corporate reorganisations, foreign investments and negotiations for shareholder agreements. Melbourne-based Natsuko Ogawa is the key contact for Australia, primarily acting for Japanese clients investing in Australia.

Mayer Brown GJBJ‘s corporate and securities department offers clients assistance in joint ventures, outbound M&A transactions, disposals and investments. Rupert Burrows is recommended for corporate matters involving the energy and chemical sectors.

The team at Norton Rose Fulbright advises clients on both inbound and outbound corporate M&A transactions, with a particular emphasis on the energy sector. Sam Inohara heads up the practice and is focused on cross-border M&A and joint ventures, with support provided from associate Andrew Clarke. Akihiko Takamatsu joined the practice from Clifford Chance (Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo) in February 2023.

The team at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is jointly headed up by Tong Yu and Kaye Yoshino and assists clients in industries encompassing the insurance, financial services, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals sectors. The practice offers advice on private equity deals, capital markets transactions, acquisitions, cross-border mergers, and internal investigations.

The team at PwC Legal Japan is headed up by Satoshi Mogi, who specialises in advising clients in the manufacturing, retail and TMT sectors. The practice offers clients advice on cross-border mergers and acquisitions, joint venture structuring issues, and restructurings. Other names to note within the team include Yasuyuki Iwasaki and Hiroki Yamada for corporate crisis management and corporate governance work, respectively.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP‘s corporate M&A team is jointly headed by Hong Kong and Tokyo-based Ian Ho, Noritaka Kumamoto and Jonathan Stradling, who was promoted to partner in January 2023. The team, described as ‘trusted partners‘, is particularly active in the private equity space, and acts for notable client KKR. The practice offers clients assistance in corporate matters such as inbound and outbound transactions, acquisitions, joint ventures, and restructurings.