The Legal 500

Within Independent local firms Leading individuals: bengoshi

Within International firms and joint ventures, Linklaters LLP is a first tier firm,

Linklaters continues to lead the market with high-profile finance transactions in the energy sector, such as advising on a multi-sourced financing for a greenfield refining and petrochemical project in Saudi Arabia, and complex refinancing/restructuring transactions. The firm has also advised Royal Bank of Scotland as mandated lead arranger on the ground breaking ¥10bn asset back financing for US-based Synnex’s acquisition of Marubeni Infotec Corporation from Marubeni Corporation - this was the first Japanese security trust deal to be done under LMA style documentation. Clients include NTT and Diamond Generating Asia. The firm’s highly respected Christopher Bradley leads a team which includes traditional banking sector specialist and joint managing partner of the Tokyo office Akihiro Wani and acquisition finance and LBO expert Hiroya Yamazaki.

Within Independent local firms Leading individuals: bengoshi

Within International firms and joint ventures, Linklaters LLP is a first tier firm,

‘There is no doubt that Linklaters Tokyo is the best for UK law governed capital markets work’. The firm ascends to the top tier this year. It is ‘top-notch for all euro transactions and excellent for US legal matters too’. Of particular note, the firm has worked on all of the renminbi bond deals by Japanese issuers to date - namely Mitsubishi UFJ Lease & Finance Company Limited’s issue of RMB200m 1.65% notes, Orix Corporation’s issue of RMB400m bonds and Century Tokyo Leasing Corporation’s issue of RMB200m 2.7% notes. The firm has advised on international equity financing deals for Japanese issuers; large-scale debt capital markets deals such as Mitsubishi Corporation’s issue of $500m 2.75% bonds and JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s ¥111.1bn samurai bonds; and highlight convertible bond deals. Peter Frost, Andrew Carmichael and Kozo Sasaki are all highly respected leaders in this practice area.

Within International firms and joint ventures, Linklaters LLP is a second tier firm,

Linklaters has been hit following the relocation of both Paul McNicholl and David Holdsworth from Tokyo to London. Hideo Norikoshi now leads the corporate and M&A team. The team is praised for its ‘thoughtful and practical advice and tactical negotiation based on the client’s objectives’. The firm recently advised NTT on its offer for a South African IT firm Dimension Data Holdings listed in the UK and Johannesburg; and Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance on their Strategic Alliance Agreement with Talanx AG. Hiroya Yamazaki and Jiro Toyokawa are recommended.

Within International firms and joint ventures, Linklaters LLP is a second tier firm,

Linklaters’ Christopher Bradley heads up the projects team which includes partners Hiroya Yamazaki and Hideo Norikoshi. The group recently advised on the $14bn Jubail refinery project in Saudi Arabia; acted for Sharp Corporation’s establishment of two joint ventures in the solar sector with Enel Green Power and STMicroelectronics; and advised on Royal Bank of Scotland’s £3.9n sale of project finance assets to BTMU.

Within International firms and joint ventures, Linklaters LLP is a third tier firm,

Andrew Carmichael and Christopher Bradley, who gives ‘effective assistance’, are the partners in Linklaters real estate group. The firm recently advised AXA Real Estate Investment Managers Japan on setting up a fund investing in Japanese commercial real estate loans (a transaction involving complex security and capital redemption mechanisms involving multiple TMKs); and advised on KK Columbus’ sale of shares to Daiwa PI Partners and Pacific Alliance Asia Opportunity Fund LP. Counsel Eriko Sakata ‘is particularly good at negotiation’.

Within Independent local firms Leading individuals: bengoshi

Within International firms and joint ventures, Linklaters LLP is a second tier firm,

Linklaters has witnessed an uptick in derivatives and structured products work recently. Tokyo has a domestic focus, supporting Japanese clients and advising on Japan-related transactions from Asia. Over the last 12 months, it has been involved in structured credit derivatives transactions, OTC advisory and transaction regulatory work, restructuring, insolvency and close-outs and securitisation transactions. Akihiro Wani has an impressive reputation in this field.