Japan

Aoi Inoue is a renowned figure in the arbitration space who is widely recommended for his work across construction, energy, and pharmaceutical disputes. Market commentators regard him as "very prominent and well-known in arbitration", underscoring his strong reputation in the field.

Carlotta Bruessel is singled out by peers and clients as "an excellent lawyer with an international background," as well as a "well-regarded name" in the Japanese arbitration market.

Akihiro Hironaka is held in high esteem in the Japanese legal market as a prime choice for complex cross-border disputes thanks to his unparalleled experience and outstanding command of law.

Mari Itoh has accumulated an impressive banking practice, with outstanding expertise in financial regulatory matters relating to acquisition and asset finance.

Isao Shindo is a go-to adviser for domestic and international financial institutions on banking matters, with particular expertise in structured finance, securitisation, and regulatory issues.

Yoshihiro Kai is a thoroughly recommended business crime defence expert, excelling in navigating high-stakes white-collar crime investigations and offering unparalleled counsel to corporations facing complex fraud and compliance challenges in Japan and globally. Having accumulated over three decades of expertise, Yoshihiro Kai stands out as a formidable investigations specialist. Widely recommended for his approach to corporate fraud probes, he steers Japanese and global firms through complex compliance challenges.

Hiroto Ando has a versatile practice with a particular focus on the financial sector, where he advises his clients on complex capital markets and securities transactions.

Minoru Kobayashi is recognised by market commentators for his strength in Japan’s capital markets, advising on sophisticated financial transactions for corporate clients.

With almost two decades of industry experience, Tomoyuki Oka is a pivotal figure in Japan's capital markets sector. He expertly steers top-tier issuers and investors through intricate domestic and cross-border securities transactions with an in-depth understanding of regulatory frameworks and transactional dynamics.

A long-standing figure in the Japanese legal world, Hironori Shibata garners praise as "a trusted and reliable advisor" for high-profile M&A in capital market transactions.

Earning widespread praise for his approach across high-stakes deals, Katsumasa Suzuki shines as a top-tier capital markets specialist in navigating complex IPOs and securities transactions for global issuers in Japan.

Kenichi Sadaka is a leading litigator with extensive experience in disputes involving securities and corporate transactions. Respected across the industry, he is praised as "meticulous and very reliable".

Our market sources praise Hiroki Wakabayashi as one of the key names for complex transaction disputes in Japan, highlighting the quality of his arguments and legal knowledge.

Akihiro Hironaka is a distinguished litigator with expertise in high-value commercial disputes. Known for his strategic foresight and cross-border experience, he is widely respected for navigating intricate litigation landscapes with precision.

Shigeyoshi Ezaki is widely recognised as a standout authority in competition law, known for his deep understanding of complex regulatory frameworks and ability to effectively guide domestic and international companies through intricate antitrust matters.

Etsuko Hara comes highly recommended for her competition law knowledge, particularly merger filings and cartel investigations spanning multiple jurisdictions.

With 28 years of experience, Yusuke Nakano is a leading figure in competition law, advising global clients on cross-border merger control and international cartel investigations. He stands out in the sector for his approach to complex regulatory challenges across jurisdictions.

Lauded as "one of the most sophisticated practitioners in the field of competition law in Japan," Takeshi Suzuki leverages his international background to deliver enhanced representation of corporations in cross-border matters.

Lauded for his astute counsel across Japan and internationally, Yoshiharu Usuki is a cornerstone in competition law who skilfully handles intricate cartel probes and merger clearances for global clients.

Kiyoko Yagami has an outstanding reputation in Japanese competition law, with notable expertise in merger antitrust control and cross-border competition disputes.

Peers and clients highly recommend Atsushi Yamada for his competition law expertise. He assists his clients from a variety of sectors, including pharma, tech, and construction, in authorities investigations and represents them in courts.

Yusuke Kawashima is highly regarded among peers and clients alike, who commend him for his "knowledge and experience in the competition category" and his ability to provide "invariably accurate and timely" advice.

Tetsuya Itoh excels in construction finance with over 30 years’ expertise, offering top-tier counsel to lenders and investors in Japan’s high-value real estate and infrastructure projects, earning acclaim for his strong market presence. Tetsuya Itoh is a prominent legal advisor in Japan's real estate sector, known for his expertise in REITs, property funds, and structured finance. He provides strategic counsel across complex asset transactions, representing a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including lenders, equity investors, and originators on high-value deals.

As a distinguished real estate specialist, Minoru Kobayashi is sought after by international and domestic clients for guidance on large-scale development investments and tailored funding strategies.

Widely recommended for his leading counsel across Japan’s hotel, logistics, and residential projects, Satoru Hasumoto stands out as a real estate specialist in steering data centre operators and developers through complex transactions.

Eiichiro Nakatani is a key name when it comes to navigating the intricacies of corporate tax law across complex transactions, with our market sources recommending him for "his insightful advice and experience".

With over 20 years of experience, Takashi Nakazaki is widely recommended across Japan's data landscape. He has built an impressive data practice advising a broad spectrum of clients, particularly in the telecommunications and technology sectors, on complex data-related matters and strategic initiatives.

With extensive experience in advising global clients on Japan’s complex data protection laws and emerging AI regulations, Hiroyuki Tanaka earns top-tier recognition for his strategic counsel across international tech markets.

Noriya Ishikawa commands a spectacular reputation in the Japanese legal market for his expertise in complex data issues with peers and clients particularly recommending him for his data privacy expertise.

Etsuko Hara's expertise in franchising law focuses on competition matters, particularly licensing matters. She often assists international clients in establishing a business presence in Japan.

Aoi Inoue is highly regarded for his international franchising expertise, particularly in assisting overseas corporations entering Japan. He is singled out by peers and clients as "practical, knowledgeable, and responsive".

With over 20 years of experience, Tomoki Debari stands out as a top-tier insurance and reinsurance specialist for adeptly navigating complex regulatory and transactional matters for Japanese and global insurers.

With a strong foundation in financial services regulation and extensive experience advising major financial institutions, Kunihiko Morishita is highly skilled in handling complex insurance and reinsurance matters, particularly those concerning banking and asset management.

Widely recognised for his work in intellectual property litigation, Miki Goto uses his expertise in science and engineering to effectively advise clients on complex IP- and technology-related matters.

With nearly three decades of experience, Yoshikazu Iwase plays a central role in Japan’s intellectual property landscape. He advises global technology clients on complex licensing and M&A transactions and handles patent and trademark disputes across jurisdictions.

Masayuki Yamanouchi stands out for his top-tier work as an intellectual property specialist. He advises clients in Japan and internationally, primarily in the life sciences sector, supporting them across an array of topics including patent disputes and joint development initiatives.

Seiji Ohno ranks prominently for his intellectual property practice, singled out for his expertise in patent litigation involving technology and life sciences matters.

With decades of experience spanning Japan and the US, Hajime Watanabe is widely regarded as a leading IP lawyer in Japan, particularly in matters concerning copyrights, patent licensing, and trade secrets.

With an impressive depth of industry insight, Makoto Ono draws praise for his "high-level pharmaceutical and biochemistry representation", earning him a reputation as the "leading patent attorney for patent prosecution".

Aki Ryuka enjoys a fantastic reputation in the Japanese legal market, where he acts as a patent attorney across variety of sectors, including electronics and semiconductors.

Hideki Thurgood Kanoh is a popular choice with our peers and clients for all matters concerning employment law in Japan. He focuses his practice on collective and individual labour issues, on which he advises his clients. Hideki also represents them in disputes.

Masatoshi Yokogi comes highly recommended by market leaders thanks to his "robust and practical advice underpinned by deep and wide knowledge and experience" as well as his "helpful and trustworthy legal advice".

Kensuke Suzuki focuses his practice on the life sciences sector, advising companies on a wide range of business and regulatory matters. He offers his in-depth knowledge and expertise to clients navigating industry-specific challenges, from product development and compliance to strategic transactions.

The "excellent" Akihiro Hironaka is considered a top choice for successfully handling complex life sciences disputes, thanks to his experience in large, cross-border liability litigation.

Seiji Ohno is a favourite amongst domestic and international biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. He is widely regarded as a leading figure in life science disputes involving patent, trademark and copyright issues.

With over 30 years of legal experience, Hirohito Akagami is a favourite with peers and clients who choose him for complex M&A transactions across a variety of sectors, including financial and life sciences.

Hiroki Kodate is "a famous name" in the Japanese M&A space, where he advises his clients on complex transactions across numerous industries, including medical, pharma, retail, and automotive.

Frequently instructed by domestic and international clients, Kenichi Masuda is recognised for his M&A and corporate expertise, covering matters including listed-company acquisitions and start-up equity financing.

Keita Tokura is a prominent M&A practitioner, well-regarded for his work with foreign companies on Japan-related transactions. He is particularly acclaimed for his "strong legal knowledge coupled with the right demeanour to handle difficult negotiations".

Yohsuke Higashi is a trusted source of guidance for international clients handling high-value transactions in Japan, with peers and clients recognising him as "very clear and internationally minded".

Gaku Ishiwata is noted as being a well-renowned practitioner in the Japanese market, possessing outstanding expertise in international M&A and contesting transactions.

"Yoshi has extensive experience in M&A transactions in the UK and Europe representing Japanese companies and has a network of excellent local lawyers."

Kiochi Miyamoto is regularly sought after by domestic and international investment funds for fund formation and structuring guidance. Sources praise his ability to "understand clients' needs" and "promptly resolve key issues under challenging timelines".

Kunihiko Morishita is a prominent figure in asset management, frequently representing private funds before Japanese regulatory authorities. He is widely recognised as a top practitioner in the field, with market commentators noting "he has long been regarded as the leading expert on funds".

Taro Tsunoda is a "well-known and upstanding" lawyer, possessing over two decades of experience in advising foreign and domestic clients in the transport and electronics industries.

With over 25 years of experience in corporate transactions, Keiko Shimizu is one of the leading names when it comes to private funds with peers and clients unequivocally pointing towards her as "one of the smartest Japanese fund formation lawyers".

Akihiro Hironaka is at the forefront of the industry with deep expertise advising multinational clients on regulatory complexities and high-stakes disputes involving sophisticated consumer products.

Takashi Akahane has garnered acclaim for his expertise in the project finance sector, having advised high-profile entities on complex public and private sector collaboration and large-scale development initiatives.

Hitoshi Ishihara does not cease to impress market commentators in Japan and abroad with his sports and entertainment practice, with one praising him as "an amazing lawyer - a true number one in the country".

Ian Scott possesses over 25 years’ experience handling international sports and entertainment non-contentious matters, steering powerhouse organisations through risk management and event-related matters in global tournaments.

Junko Suetomi is widely respected for her deep expertise in international trade and customs law, advising on complex regulatory frameworks involving trade remedies, export controls, and cross-border compliance. Her skilful navigation of major disputes and anti-dumping cases makes her a sought-after lawyer for clients facing high-stakes trade matters.

Lauded for his impressive counsel across Japan and Southeast Asia, Shuji Yamaguchi excels as an aviation law authority, adeptly handling intricate air transport disputes and insurance matters for international clients.

Shuji Yamaguchi advises global trading companies and insurers on complex maritime disputes and international arbitrations, drawing on extensive experience across Japan and Southeast Asia. His deep understanding of shipping law makes him a leading figure in cross-border maritime matters.