Anderson Mori & Tomotsune‘s group harnesses expertise in advising a diverse range of stakeholders on restructuring matters, including financially distressed companies, debtors in court proceedings, equity sponsors, major banks, bondholders, hedge funds and insurance firms. The team is jointly led by specialist in cross-border insolvency cases Hideyuki Sakai; Hiroyasu Ueda who acts for a wide variety of debtors, creditors, creditors’ committees and equity holders; Fujiaki Mimura who has broad experience across all areas of insolvency, including corporate reorganisation, civil rehabilitation, bankruptcy and voluntary liquidations; and Zentaro Nihei who focuses on complex restructuring, insolvency, bankruptcy and special situations investing. Key figures include Taro Awataguchi who is noted for his work on finance transactions such as asset-based lending, and representing major creditors and strategic buyers in high-profile restructurings, and Satoshi Ogino who is highly experienced in insolvency matters and frequently advises debtors in Civil Rehabilitation Proceedings.

Mori Hamada’s practice is highly regarded for advising both debtors and creditors, as well as financial advisors from various jurisdictions, on all aspects of Japanese bankruptcy and reorganisation proceedings. The practice is jointly led by Soichiro Fujiwara, known for handling innovative cases involving creative schemes such as full repayment of unsecured debts arising from commercial transactions and the use of company split mechanisms in restructuring; Ryota Yamasaki who brings wide-ranging experience in both out-of-court restructurings and court-led bankruptcy and restructuring processes; and Takahiro Inou who advises on both court-supervised proceedings and out-of-court workouts, including ADR and other schemes. Wataru Ishida has a strong track record in handling complex restructuring and insolvency matters for a high-profile domestic and international client base. Dai Katagiri is another key figure, specialising in restructuring, litigation, M&A and general corporate matters.

Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu’s team is well-regarded for its expertise in out-of-court proceedings and works seamlessly with the firm’s corporate and finance teams to deliver comprehensive advice to both debtors and sponsors. The team is jointly led by 'leading lawyer' Nobuaki Kobayashi who brings experience in high-profile insolvency and restructuring matters, including significant corporate reorganisations, Yosuke Kanegae who has been involved in numerous restructuring cases for listed companies, both in and out of court, and Tomohiro Okawa who 'possesses exceptional expertise' and has a specialism in cross-border restructuring matters. Takashi Suzuki is another key figure, particularly noted for advising debtors involved in Japanese workout procedures for listed companies.

Nishimura & Asahi‘s group handles a broad spectrum of insolvency and restructuring matters, representing clients in high-profile and large-scale cases as well as in bankruptcy petitions and restructuring proceedings for small and medium-sized businesses. The team is led by Kenichi Minami who is recognised for his strong track record in out-of-court workouts and turnarounds, atop his expertise in conventional insolvency proceedings. Hajime Ueno is noted for his experience in structuring tailored solutions and Yonson Minami is also a name to note.

Abe, Ikubo & Katayama's team is well-regarded for its expertise in private restructuring matters, with a particular focus on debt restructuring and advising clients in the avoidance of formal liquidation processes. The team is jointly led by Kazuyuki Taguchi who has wide-ranging experience across real estate, corporate reorganisations, business turnarounds, financing, general corporate matters and other civil and commercial issues, and Hirofumi Kato who is highly experienced in legal and voluntary liquidations and represents debtor companies as well as potential sponsors. Eiji Katayama is a key contact for international and corporate matters, with particular expertise in IP and bankruptcy law.