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Baker & McKenzie GJBJ Tokyo Aoyama Aoki Koma Law Office

THE PRUDENTIAL TOWER, 13-10, NAGATACHO 2-CHOME, CHIYODA-KU, TOKYO 100-0014
Zurich, Washington DC, Warsaw, Vienna, Valencia, Toronto , and 68 more

What we say about the firm's legal practice in Japan

Banking and finance

Within Banking and finance - International firms and joint ventures, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie GJBJ Tokyo Aoyama Aoki Koma Law Office complements its reputable bengoshi team and excellent domestic practice with an ‘excellent understanding of clients’ banking regulatory needs’. The ‘skilled and trustworthy’ Naoaki Eguchi heads the practice and recently led a mandate advising a number of domestic and foreign banks in regard to the $1.2bn syndicated financing of Goldman Sachs’ acquisition of Universal Studios. Jeremy Pitts remains a key partner, although the departure of David Deck to Jones Day is undoubtedly a blow for the
team.

Capital markets

Within Capital markets - International firms and joint ventures, Baker & McKenzie is a third tier firm,

Although Baker & McKenzie GJBJ Tokyo Aoyama Aoki Koma Law Office is able to call upon foreign law capital markets expertise, the strength of its domestic offering is its most recognisable trait. Group head and ‘tremendously strong finance lawyer’ Ken Takahashi leads a practice that counts Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank and Nomura as clients. Seishi Ikeda represented Mizuho Corporate Bank and JBIC as guarantors on a $36m bond offering by Aeon Thana Sinsap.

Corporate and M&A

Within Corporate and M&A - International firms and joint ventures, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

The strength and depth of Baker & McKenzie GJBJ Tokyo Aoyama Aoki Koma Law Office’s local law practice has ensured a significant flow of domestic and cross-border deals in 2008/09. ‘Quick to react, and able to staff engagements effectively’, the 36-lawyer team includes Hiroshi Kondo, who is recognised for his ‘precise business advice’. Kondo recently represented Asahi Breweries in its acquisition of an Australian beverage business owned by Cadbury Schweppes. The number of lawyers at its disposal has given the team an edge for antitrust work and employment law where it has been able to dedicate resources in order to support its deal activity.

Dispute resolution

Within Dispute resolution - International firms and joint ventures, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Co-chaired by Yoshiaki Muto and Haig Oghigian, Baker & McKenzie GJBJ Tokyo Aoyama Aoki Koma Law Office has a 25-strong team comprising a rich mix of bengoshi and foreign-qualified litigation and arbitration-focused lawyers. The team frequently ‘gets the right results in complex arbitrations’ and, in 2009, Oghigian represented PPG Industries on a $90m ICC arbitration. The practice is ‘organised and structured to give the client a very personal service’. It has complemented a flow of outbound litigation cases with an array of mandates sourced from its international network.

Intellectual property

Within Intellectual property - International firms and joint ventures, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

‘Very capable all-round advisers’, Baker & McKenzie GJBJ Tokyo Aoyama Aoki Koma Law Office’s Tokyo IP group consists of three partners who cover a wide range of non-contentious and contentious IP issues. Partner Kenichi Nakayama had an outstanding year and is ‘the most dynamic partner we’ve come across’, according to one client. During 2008/09 he litigated several major cases including the defence of a Swiss electronic devices company in appealing a trade mark registration invalidation before the IP High Court in Japan. Yasunori Hashiguchi heads the group and also comes highly recommended.

Japan overview

Projects and energy

Within Projects and energy - International firms and joint ventures, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie GJBJ Tokyo Aoyama Aoki Koma Law Office has a potent blend of Japanese and foreign lawyers in its Tokyo projects team, and is ‘able to cope with anything’. While the resources available to this 14-strong group through its international network are a notable advantage, the talents of the ‘outstanding’ Anne Hung and her co-practice head Paul Davis are still key to its reputation. In 2008, the team advised the Egyptian Offshore Drilling Company on its development of drilling rigs in Egypt, a deal financed by JBIC. Thomas Dreves left the practice in 2009 to set up his own law offices.

Real estate and construction

Within Real estate and construction - International firms and joint ventures, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie GJBJ Tokyo Aoyama Aoki Koma Law Office was boosted by the arrival of Alexander Jampel from Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker. In 2009, the practice advised Atrium on the disposition of a commercial building in Tokyo. Seishi Ikeda and Hitoshi Sumiya lead the group and are particularly strong in structured finance pertaining to real estate transactions.

Structured finance/securitisation

Within Structured finance/securitisation - International firms and joint ventures, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Blessed with a strong team of bengoshi and ‘a refreshingly practical approach’, Baker & McKenzie GJBJ Tokyo Aoyama Aoki Koma Law Office’s structured finance group is regularly instructed by Japanese financial insititutions. In 2008, the team advised a domestic bank on an asset-backed securitisation backed by the beneficial interests of entrusted corporate loans. David Deck’s departure to Jones Day was a blow to the team, but it still has some strong individuals, including practice head Naoaki Eguchi, who is regarded as ‘a very skilled and personable lawyer’. Seishi Ikeda is also recommended and has been particularly active advising on real estate securitisations.

Tax

Within Tax - International firms and joint ventures, Baker & McKenzie is a first tier firm,

‘Terrific for tax’, Baker & McKenzie GJBJ Tokyo Aoyama Aoki Koma Law Office has six tax partners who are able to provide a potent blend of foreign and Japanese tax law advice. The team has specialists in transfer-pricing cases and corporate tax planning, giving it an edge over many of its competitors. In 2008, partner Hideyuki Yamamoto advised Adobe Systems in what was the first-ever successful transfer pricing case brought by a taxpayer in Japan. Edwin Whatley is also singled out as an expert on tax planning matters and ‘great at matching a clever strategy with a deft approach to implementation’.

What we say worldwide

Please choose another Baker & McKenzie office to view full details of what we say in that region, or choose from this list to view a specific editorial reference in context.

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Bahrain

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Egypt

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France

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Ghana

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Hungary

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India

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Japan

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London

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Libya

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Netherlands

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UK Overview

Philippines

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Qatar

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Sweden

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South Korea

Saudi Arabia

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Switzerland

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Taiwan

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Thailand

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Ukraine

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US

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Vietnam

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Search News and Articles

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