The Legal 500

Within International firms and joint ventures, tier 4

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP advise on real estate and project finance. The firm recently advised Prudential Mortgage as the lender in relation to a ¥3bn debt financing to a property trust formed by a J-REIT. Other clients include Bank of Tokyo - Mitsubishi, Nomura Capital Investments and GMAC. Michael Haworth, who splits his time between Hong Kong and Tokyo, ‘understands the client’s needs and balances it with legal risks’, Toshihiko Tsuchiya and Asahi Yamashita are all experienced in this field. Sergey Milanov left the firm to join K&L Gates.

Within International firms and joint ventures, tier 4

Clients ‘love working with Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP in Tokyo’. The firm has particular expertise in the life science and energy sectors. Active clients include FMC Corporation and Nippon Soda Co. Managing partner of the Tokyo office, and corporate and M&A practice head, Mark Weeks is ‘a very effective deal lawyer’, ‘fantastic on cross-border and works very well with Japanese and foreign clients alike’ and ‘a nice guy too’. Yoichi Katayama who specialises in energy-related deals is also recommended. Sergey Milanov has left the firm to join K&L Gates.

Within International firms and joint ventures, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP is a third tier firm,

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP’s litigation group assists local and foreign companies in litigation, arbitration as well as investigations, assisting clients in litigation matters involving product liability, unfair competition, intellectual property, employment law, compliance and general commercial disputes. The firm recently expanded its practice with the arrival of a team of litigators from Paul Hastings LLP, including highly regarded head of the group Yoshihiro Takatori, who is praised for his ‘strategic thinking and communication skills’, and of counsel Shinsuke Yakura.

Within International firms and joint ventures, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP is a third tier firm,

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP’s IP practice group was bolstered by the arrival of litigation specialists Yoshihiro Takatori and counsel Shinsuke Yakura from Paul Hastings LLP. Together with counsel John Inge, the firm assists local and foreign companies with all aspects of their IP rights, not only in Japan but globally.

Within Legal market overview,

The legal market in Tokyo, particularly among the international firms and joint ventures has been volatile. When their joint venture came to an end in April 2011, a team of 10 bengoshi transactional lawyers transferred their allegiance from Clifford Chance Law Office to K&L Gates. K&L Gates also welcomed a smaller finance team from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP. Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP in turn welcomed a group of litigators from Paul Hastings LLP who took another hit with the departure of two corporate bengoshi partners to White & Case LLP- White & Case Law Offices (Registered Association). White & Case LLP- White & Case Law Offices (Registered Association) however suffered a blow when Morrison & Foerster Ito & Mitomi took over its transactional tax team.

Within International firms and joint ventures, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP is a third tier firm,

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP continues to strengthen its reputation in renewable energy projects and cleantech financing. The firm represented Eurus Energy Japan Corporation and Korea East-West Power Co in an initiative with a Philippine partner to create Asia’s first large scale renewable energy investment joint venture. It also acted for Eurus Energy America Corporation on the development and $240m project financing of the 45MW Avenal solar power project in California. Practice head Yoichi Katayama and of counsel Minako Wakabayashi are highly regarded. Sergey Milanov has left the firm to join K&L Gates.

Within Independent local firms Leading individuals: bengoshi

Within International firms and joint ventures, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP is a second tier firm,

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP’s service is ‘superb - it is thorough, responsive and knowledgeable’. James Tervo, who returned to Tokyo from Shanghai in 2010, and ‘responsive’ Michael Haworth, who splits his time between Hong Kong and Tokyo, are the lead partners in the construction and real estate group. The firm recently advised Prudential Mortgage as the lender in relation to a ¥3bn debt financing to a property trust formed by a J-REIT; and acted for a large US-based hedge fund in its co-investment in the acquisition of a US half-billion-dollar NPL portfolio from Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Toshihiko Tsuchiya produces ‘very solid work we can count on’, and Asahi Yamashita is ‘helpful in finding compromise solutions’.

Within International firms and joint ventures, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP is a third tier firm,

At Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, Toshihiko Tsuchiya’s practice focuses on the securitisation and liquidation of real estate assets, while Michael Haworth, who splits his time between Hong Kong and Tokyo, specialises in secured lending transactions in the real estate sector.