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Capital marketsIndependent local firms
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu has ‘some of the top individuals in the market’ and ‘a record that is second-to-none’, advising a swathe of issuers and underwriters. The practice advised on Japanese law matters for GE Capital’s samurai bond issuance, one of the most high-profile debt deals of 2008. Major domestic banks also frequently use the firm for complex transactions; the team recently advised Sumitomo Mitsui on its preferred securities offering. Fumihide Sugimoto is held in high esteem for his ‘very smart approach’, while Masayuki Yoshida is ‘able to apply vast legal knowledge to difficult business problems’. Seasoned finance partner Miyuki Ishiguro is also recommended.
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune’s Akiko Kimura is ‘an extremely influential lawyer’ and has ‘probably the best understanding of any bengoshi of the intricacies of international finance’. Her expertise, coupled with the recent roles the group has accumulated, including representing Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group on its global offering, has given it an edge over its competitors in 2008/09. Of counsel Nobuyuki Tomotsune is a senior figure in the group and a ‘fine lawyer’ who displays ‘consistently excellent judgement’.
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto advises a plethora of blue-chip financial institutions, and 2008 saw it act on several of the largest deals in the market. The practice, led by ‘fantastic’ partner Satoshi Nakamura, advised RBS and Daiwa SMBC on one of the largest samurai bond offerings in 2008. The ten-partner team maintained it strong reputation for acting on J-REIT offerings as well as picking up underwriter roles on several prominent global equity offerings. Toru Ishiguro is ‘a smart, capable and creative’ partner, while Katsumasa Suzuki and Hideaki Tanaka are also recommended.
Led by Mitsuhiro Yasuda and Hideki Ebata, Nishimura & Asahi has seen its reputation continue to rise, due largely to its roles on several high-profile debt and equity deals in 2008. The practice represented JEHDRA on its issuance of deep-discounted bonds, a first in the Japanese market, while on the equity side, the team advised Mitsui Life Insurance on its preferred share offering. ‘A responsive and highly experienced team’, the practice is ‘highly recommended’ by clients.
‘A lawyer of the highest quality’, Hiroaki Takahashi leads a 19-partner finance practice at Atsumi & Partners and has had an outstanding year, representing a glut of Japanese underwriters and issuers. The recently promoted Takuji Nozaka and Haruhiko Ogasawara are also recommended.
TMI Associates has maintained a presence in debt deals, despite the turbulence in the market. Kunio Namekata and Yoshiyasu Yamaguchi have developed reputations for their work on convertible bond issues.