The Legal 500

Within Independent local firms, Nishimura & Asahi is a first tier firm,

Nishimura & Asahi advised several clients during the international investigation into an alleged auto parts cartel and the investigation into the Libor/Tibor cartel. The firm is also representing the Osaka Stock Exchange in its attempts to persuade the JFTC to allow its merger with the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Other clients include Nippon Steel, Microsoft, and Mitsui Chemical. Somuku Iimura, Asa Shinkawa and the impressive Kozo Kawai are recommended.

Within Independent local firms, Nishimura & Asahi is a first tier firm,

Nishimura & Asahi’s team acted as borrower’s counsel on the syndicated acquisition financing provided to Tonen General Sekiyu KK to fund the acquisition of 99% of the issued share capital of ExxonMobil Yugen Kaisha. It also advised USJ Co, a Japanese company operating Universal Studios Japan, on the refinancing of an existing project finance loan. Masaru Ono heads the team, which includes Masahiro Ueno, Makoto Igarashi, Katsu Sengoku, Toshihiro Maeda and Shinichi Takahashi.

Within Independent local firms, Nishimura & Asahi is a first tier firm,

Nishimura & Asahi advised issuers América Móvil and France Telecom on the issuance of samurai bonds, and lead manager SMBC Nikko Securities on Renault’s tenth series of samurai bonds. The firm also advised Elpida Memory on its depositary receipts offering on the Taiwan Stock Exchange; Mitsubishi UFJ Lease & Finance Company on its RMB eurobonds offering (outside the US); and SBI Holdings on its secondary listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and offering of Hong Kong depositary receipts. Mitsuhiro Yasuda, Hideki Ebata and Yasutaka Nishikori are very experienced. Tatsuo Tezuka joined Atsumi & Sakai.

Within Independent local firms, Nishimura & Asahi is a first tier firm,

Nishimura & Asahi advised a Japanese export credit agency on project finance for the Caserones Copper Mine in Chile. Hiroshi Maeda heads the PFI practice group, which also includes the experienced trio of Nagahide Sato, Kei Ito and Masahiro Ueno.

Within Independent local firms, Nishimura & Asahi is a first tier firm,

Nishimura & Asahi is recommended for its ‘rich experience’ and top-quality team, while the The firm’s strong restructuring and bankruptcy experience, particularly in contentious insolvency work, is a useful adjunct to the core practice. The group advised Mizuho Securities on its 100% share exchange buyout by Mizuho Financial Group and Mizuho Corporate Bank. On the buy side, it advised Tomy on its acquisition of RC2 Corporation, and Teva on its acquisition of 100% of Taiyo from the founding family shareholders and others. Takashi Ejiri, Masaki Hosaka, Masakazu Iwakura, Koichi Kusano and Katsuyuki Yamaguchi are singled out for praise, and Hideki Matsushima and Satoshi Ogishi are also recommended.

Within Independent local firms, Nishimura & Asahi is a first tier firm,

Nishimura & Asahi’s well-regarded dispute resolution practice is particularly highly respected for its expertise in insolvency litigation. The firm advised a Japanese trading company in multimillion-dollar vicarious liability litigation against an affiliate of Lehman Brothers; represented Nippon Steel in a trade secret misappropriation dispute with a Korean competitor, POSCO; and advised Mizuho Securities in a case against the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Practice head Hiroyuki Tezuka is highly recommended, and Hiroshi Kimeda, Akihiro Hironaka, Eiichi Fukushima, Kozo Kawai and Hiroshi Suga are alo recommended.

Within Independent local firms, Nishimura & Asahi is a third tier firm,

Nishimura & Asahi has a particularly vibrant contentious IP practice. Clients include Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Microsoft and GREE. The firm advised Allied Telesis on patent infringement litigation regarding a network transmitter and receiver switching device; represented Toto in litigation rescinding an earlier patent invalidation; and acted for Sumitomo Asset Management in a trade mark invalidation trial case. Yoshiyuki Miyashita, Eiichi Fukushima, Masakazu Iwakura and Hiroshi Suga are recommended.

Within Independent local firms, Nishimura & Asahi is a second tier firm,

Nishimura & Asahi is advising the Nuclear Damage Liability Facilitation Fund on the restructuring of TEPCO, including workforce downsizing and pensions. It also advised Motorola on Japanese labour law issues impacting its global de-merger, and represented Rabobank in a dispute with a senior employee, which was settled through negotiation. Practice head Michihiro Mori and the highly experienced Hiromasa Shiozaki are recommended.

Within Independent local firms, Nishimura & Asahi is a first tier firm,

Hideaki Ozawa heads Nishimura & Asahi’s real estate practice, which advises on sales and purchases, leases, management and investments in Japan and abroad. Norio Maeda, Yoshihiko Kawakami, Takashi Yoneda, and of counsel Eiichi Kashikura are highly regarded. Yoshiaki Ikeda is also a ‘leading lawyer in this field’, being ‘very smart in documentation and negotiation’.

Within Independent local firms, Nishimura & Asahi is a first tier firm,

Nishimura & Asahi acted for a key party on a structured loan granted to Invincible Investment Corporation. The firm also advised a major Japanese leasing company as arranger of a syndicated shipping facility provided by Japanese finance institutions to a Singaporean shipping company. Masaru Ono, Toshihiro Maeda and Hiroshi Niinomi are highly recommended.

Within Independent local firms, Nishimura & Asahi is a second tier firm,

Nishimura & Asahi has a very good reputation for its tax expertise. Masakazu Iwakura, Kazuhiro Takei and Yo Ota head the tax group which also includes the experienced Akihiro Hironaka. The firm recently succeeded in tax lawsuits regarding the issue of whether a foreign business entity falls under the category of a corporation or a partnership under Japanese tax law at the Tokyo and Nagoya District Courts; and successfully defended a client in a tax audit regarding a transfer-pricing issue relating to intangible asset and tangible asset transactions between the client and its subsidiary in South Africa.