The Legal 500

Within Independent local firms Leading individuals: bengoshi

Within International firms and joint ventures, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer recently advised the purchasers (sponsor Advantage Partners) of The Tokyo Star Bank on the debt arrangements for the acquisition, and subsequent negotiations following closing on successive waiver agreements and potential restructurings following the occurrence of defaults. It also assisted the Development Bank of Japan on a partial exit and refinance of a MBO transaction involving K Corporation. Other high-profile clients include Morgan Stanley MUFG Securities Co, Barclays Capital Japan and Deutsche Bank. Naoki Kinami leads a highly respected banking and finance team, which includes James Lawden. In 2010, counsel Don Stokes relocated to Tokyo from London; he specializes in project, asset and real estate finance.

Within International firms and joint ventures, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a third tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s reputation strengthened this year as a result of its role in advising SBI Holdings, the first Japanese company to list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, on its $167m global offering of Hong Kong Depository Receipts and secondary listing. The firm also advised on Orix Corporation’s 2010 Multi Issuer MTN Programme Update. Other clients include Barclays Bank, Goodman Ltd and Macquarie Bank. James Lawden, Edward Cole and Naoki Kinami are all recommended.

Within Independent local firms Leading individuals: Corporate and M&A: bengosh

Within International firms and joint ventures, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a first tier firm,

‘Solution-driven’ Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer offers a seamless corporate & M&A service that includes regulatory, antitrust, employment and disputes expertise. The firm also has a top tier insolvency practice. Indeed, ‘the range and approach of the firm’s offerings are unique in the Japanese legal market’. The firm advised Macquarie Goodman Japan on a M&A transaction in relation to TSE listed J-REP Co; Sompo Japan Insurance and NKSJ Holdings on the acquisition of Turkish non-life insurance company Fiba Sigorta and the subsequent co-investment by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development; and a private equity consortium led by Nordic Capital and Credit Suisse as well as Nycomed on the sale of global pharmaceutical company Nycomed to Takeda. The firm’s market-leading team is made up of Edward Cole, Junzaburo Kiuchi, Takeshi Nakao, Naoki Kinami and James Lawden. James Wood has relocated to London.

Within Independent local firms Leading individuals: bengoshi

Within International firms and joint ventures, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a third tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer handles all Japanese corporate disputes, from employment to commercial disagreements. Kazuki Okada has extensive experience in domestic litigation. His team is ‘experienced and knows Japanese practices very well’. Counsel Akiko Yamakawa is also highly recommended. The firm is currently advising an international company on bribery issues; Tesco Japan in a dispute with a landlord of a store that was closed down; and Brunei Investment Agency on a property dispute that required injunctive relief.

Within International firms and joint ventures, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is praised for providing ‘practical advice, including a detailed explanation of real vs theoretical risk factors and how to hedge those risks’. The firm advised Piedmont in the multiple debt financing of a property based business; and advised on the acquisition and disposal of multiple assets for Henderson Global Investors. Edward Cole heads the real estate team, which includes the expertise of Naoaki Kinami.

Within International firms and joint ventures, tier 4

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer represented Macquarie Goodman in the financing of J-REP Co by way of a two-year revolving ¥3.5bn loan facility; and acted for a Japanese trust bank on a ¥4bn Secured Repackaged Loan in respect of ¥4bn Zero Coupon Convertible Bonds issued by a TSE listed Japanese company. The loan was part of highly structured cross-border financing transactions which required the analysis of a complex interconnection among a swap, secured warrants and a secured loan. Edward Cole, James Lawden and Naoki Kinami are all recommended.