The Legal 500

Within Independent local firms, Atsumi & Sakai is a second tier firm,

Atsumi & Sakai’s team attracts praise for its ‘hardworking lawyers’ and ‘considerable depth of experience’. The arrival of Yutaka Sakai from local rival TMI Associates in 2010 gives the firm considerable heavyweight status. Sakai is considered ‘one of the opinion leaders of the business legal world in Japan’ and is commended for ‘keeping up with the changes in the financial field so that he can promptly advise the client with little down time’. Team head Hiroo Atsumi, structured finance partner Junko Ogushi and securities specialist Hiroyuki Nezu are also highly recommended. The firm recently advised on the preparation of a ¥55bn loan agreement.

Within Independent local firms, Atsumi & Sakai is a second tier firm,

Atsumi & Sakai’s team continues to grow its profile under the leadership of team head Hiroo Atsumi, with the arrival of well-known capital markets partner Yutaka Sakai from TMI Associates adding some serious firepower. Among its recent mandates, the firm advised on the ¥20bn structured securitization of NEXI Insured Bonds.

Within Independent local firms, Atsumi & Sakai is a second tier firm,

Atsumi & Sakai scores points for the fact that ‘several lawyers have acquired advanced law degrees from top colleges overseas - this ensures solid reliability in collaborating in cross-border M&A’. Miho Niunoya heads a corporate team that ‘consistently exceeds expectations in quality, responsiveness and cost-competitiveness’ and that ‘offers a good alternative to the traditional Big Four’. Corporate finance specialist Ryuichi Nozaki is particularly recommended for his ‘skill in building personal relationships’ and for ‘quickly identifying the business issues’. Recent highlights include advising a financial instruments business on its subsidiary’s acquisition of shares.

Within Independent local firms, Atsumi & Sakai is a third tier firm,

Atsumi & Sakai’s contentious construction practice saw a steady flow of cases over the past year; notably Miho Niunoya advised on several cases relating to product liability in manufacturing plants. Toyoki Emoto is also very experienced and advises on bankruptcy matters, commercial litigation and professional negligence actions.

Within Legal market overview,

With regard to local firms, ‘The Big Four’ - Anderson Mori & Tomotsune, Mori Hamada & Matsumoto, Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu and Nishimura & Asahi continue to dominate the market, but there can be no room for complacency, particularly this year as firms clamour to strengthen their practices. In a major coup, ambitious local firm Atsumi & Sakai hired an eight-lawyer team from local rival TMI Associates in October 2010. In particular, the arrival of structured finance specialist Yutaka Sakai was significant enough to warrant a new addition to the firm’s masthead, which saw the firm change it’s name from Atsumi & Partners. Then in early 2011 Davis & Takahashi, the only full service Canadian law firm in Japan, hired a seven strong team from Atsumi & Sakai.

Within Independent local firms, Atsumi & Sakai is a second tier firm,

Atsumi & Sakai is particularly strong on the infrastructure side, leveraging off its strong finance practice to advise both banks and sponsors on the funding of major projects. Finance head Hiroo Atsumi is the main contact and projects specialist Miho Niunoya is also recommended. Highlight transactions in 2010 included advising on a ¥20bn hospital financing.

Within Independent local firms, Atsumi & Sakai is a second tier firm,

Atsumi & Sakai’s team is led by Junko Ogushi and is known for its expertise in the funds and structured finance sectors. The firm also packs a powerful punch on the project finance side; in particular Miho Niunoya fields a leading reputation in the market for her experience in PFI projects and recently advised the consortium on a ¥30bn water supply plant PFI.

Within Independent local firms, Atsumi & Sakai is a first tier firm,

Atsumi & Sakai is ‘second-to-none for structured finance’ and ‘shows a dedication and commitment to the area that few other firms can match’. Name partner and finance head Hiroo Atsumi is a ‘market leader’ and oversees a team that includes securitization and asset finance specialist Yutaka Sakai and securities partner Ryuichi Nozaki. The firm’s bolt-on of seven partners from TMI Associates was particularly valuable on finance side, and it attracts praise for being ‘strong on complex, cutting edge transactions’. Recent highlights include advising on the structured securitization of NEXI insured bonds using a trust structure, worth ¥20bn.

Within International firms and joint ventures Leading individuals: foreign lawyers