The Legal 500

Within International firms and joint ventures, White & Case LLP is a first tier firm,

At White & Case LLP- White & Case Law Offices (Registered Association), Simon Collins and Toshio Dokei head up the banking and finance practice, and Christopher Wells and Koichiro Ohashi lead the firm’s regulatory practice. Rising to the top tier in recognition of its ground breaking work, the firm recently advised the lenders in the syndicated loan to eAccess - the first syndicated loan in the Japanese market to be combined with a simultaneous high-yield bond. In other market-leading matters, it also recently advised on the first sukuk involving a Japanese multinational corporation. Clients include ING Bank, Nomura and the Development Bank of Japan. Asset finance expert Robert Grondine is highly recommended. In 2011, project finance specialist Mark Goodrich relocated to London.

Within International firms and joint ventures, White & Case LLP is a third tier firm,

White & Case LLP- White & Case Law Offices (Registered Association)’s highlight deals included advising Nomura on its $100m sukuk issuance (the first US dollar-denominated sukuk issuance out of Malaysia involving a Japanese multinational); Société Générale as arranger to a €20bn Secured Transaction Programme under which Claris IV Limited issued Series 38/2010 ¥5bn Variable Notes due 2019; and Tokai Tokyo Financial Holdings, in launching a Level 1 Sponsored American Depositary Receipt program with Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas. Koichiro Ohashi, Christopher Wells and Thomas LaMacchia are recommended.

Within International firms and joint ventures, White & Case LLP is a second tier firm,

Brian Strawn’s corporate and M&A team at White & Case LLP- White & Case Law Offices (Registered Association) offers ‘very quick responses’ and ‘appropriate and practical advice’. The team has been bolstered by the arrival of two leading bengoshi lawyers, Jun Usami and Ayako Kawano - both of whom previously practiced at Paul Hastings LLP. Recent work highlights include acting on Valeo’s €320m acquisition of over 97% of Niles from RHJ International and Nissan Motor; advising on Pfizer’s $2.38bn sale of its Capsugel Division to KKR; and representing Recruit Co in a joint venture with Renren.

Within International firms and joint ventures, White & Case LLP is a second tier firm,

White & Case LLP- White & Case Law Offices (Registered Association) is praised for its ‘ability and enthusiasm’ and its ‘strong leadership of the partners and good teamwork’. The firm has recently represented True Religion Apparel, IHI, Rex Holdings and Aeromexico in suits heard before the Tokyo District Court, and Panasonic in US litigation matters. On the arbitration front, the group acted as counsel in an ICC arbitration relating to an oil and gas dispute in the Middle East and in a JCAA arbitration concerning a joint venture dispute. David Case leads the group that includes the talented Osamu Umejima and Yuji Ogiwara.

Within International firms and joint ventures, White & Case LLP is a second tier firm,

White & Case LLP- White & Case Law Offices (Registered Association) offers both international and domestic IP expertise. Recent work highlights include advising Panasonic in a patent litigation involving semiconductors, where both Panasonic and Freescale Semiconductor are defendants as well as plaintiffs, asserting patents against each other and their respective customers; and advising a global financial institution in connection with its daily information technology licensing and procurement agreements with global and regional information technology companies. David Case is head of the Tokyo IP practice, and is ably supported by Yuji Ogiwara, who leads the bengoshi IP team.

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, White & Case LLP is a first tier firm,

White & Case LLP- White & Case Law Offices (Registered Association)’s ‘overall level of service is extremely high - response times are quick and precise and the firm has great knowledge’. The group acts for sponsors, lenders, developers and contractors on large energy project developments, acquisitions and financings across a broad geographical spread and is highly regarded for its LNG expertise. Key highlights included acting for JBIC in its equity investment in one of the world’s largest solar projects in California; advising the acquirers on a proposed gas project in Canada making it the first time Japanese utilities are investing in North American gas resources; and representing the lenders in the financing of a chemical alumina plant in Indonesia. ‘The team is well-supervised by Hendrik Gordenker ’. Toshio Dokei is recommended. In 2011, Mark Goodrich relocated to London.

Within International firms and joint ventures, White & Case LLP is a first tier firm,

White & Case LLP- White & Case Law Offices (Registered Association) is praised for its ‘terrific response times and very focused analysis’. The firm advised Shinsei Bank in the restructuring and workout of loans provided to MSREF for the acquisition of the ANA Hotels portfolio; and acted for Mitsubishi Estate in a joint venture to acquire and develop an outlet mall in China. Tetsuya Morimoto leads the real estate group in Japan. Gerald Fujii is ‘very good at managing issues that cut across real estate and restructuring areas’. The firm recently welcomed Ayako Kawano, a corporate and real estate partner from Paul Hastings LLP.

Within International firms and joint ventures, White & Case LLP is a second tier firm,

Hendrik Gordenker’s shipping team at White & Case LLP- White & Case Law Offices (Registered Association) has experience in financing all types of vessels, through debt or structured lease financing or on a project finance basis, as well as advising clients on all commercial shipping transactions. Shipping and ship finance expert Simon Collins and LNG specialist Alexander Woody are also recommended.

Within International firms and joint ventures, tier 4

White & Case LLP- White & Case Law Offices (Registered Association) has invested in its structured finance and securitisation capability with the hire of Ayako Kawano, a real estate finance expert who previously practiced at Paul Hastings LLP. Highlight work included advising Société Générale as arranger to a €20bn Secured Transaction Programme. Koichiro Ohashi and Thomas LaMacchia are also recommended.

Within International firms and joint ventures, White & Case LLP is a second tier firm,

Although White & Case LLP- White & Case Law Offices (Registered Association) suffered a blow with the loss of its transactional tax team to Morrison & Foerster Ito & Mitomi, tax doyen Gary Thomas and his tax controversy team remain at the firm. With the ability to provide both local Japanese tax advice as well as foreign tax advice, the firm also advises on Japan’s increasingly demanding tax enforcement environment. The firm’s clientsinclude major US, European and Japanese corporate groups in a variety of industries, including consumer goods, imported luxury brands, computer hardware and software, pharmaceutical and medical products, insurance, financial services, sporting goods, and entertainment. Zeirishi and former National Tax Agency official Akira Akamatsu and Shimon Takagi are also highly recommended.