Anderson Mori & Tomotsune‘s ‘reliable and responsive‘ team is strong across the categories of capital market transactions, including primary offerings of Samurai bonds by international issuers, secondary distributions of debt securities in the Japanese market, and global offerings of equity securities, including IPOs. The department also has significant administration in REITs, and in 2021 acted as legal counsel for Japanese law to Morgan Stanley & Co for the global offering of their USD 415m Daiwa House REIT. Team lead Hironori Shibata
has expertise in international capital markets, public offerings, and general corporate matters. Other key members of the large team are Hiroaki Takahashi, who specialises in securitisation, and Kagayaki Funakoshi, whose experience includes equity and debt offerings, IPOs, and J-REITs.
Capital markets: Independent local firms in Japan
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Kagayaki Funakoshi; Takehisa Sato; Harume Nakano; Hiroaki Takahashi; Kazuhiro Yoshii
Testimonials
‘AMT is one of our “go to” firms in Japan for capital markets and M&A matters. The lawyers there are always reliable and responsive.’
‘AM&T team has extensive knowledge and experience in capital market transactions including equity finace, debt financing and M&A.’
‘Deep understanding of client policy and strategy makes them very reliable on all of their advices.’
‘Mr. Sato is not only very knowledgeable in J-REIT regulations and practices, but also provide the best advice for clients on the back of deep understading of clients’ business policy and strategy.’
‘This team will respond quickly and politely at a cost that is relatively cheaper than other firm.’
‘Mr.Takahashi is particularly outstanding in his ability.’
‘Hiroaki Takahashi is the best capital markets lawyer in Tokyo that I have ever worked with in my entire career.’
Work highlights
- Advised West Japan Railway Company on a global offering of shares of its common stock.
- Advised underwriters on a global offering of shares of common stock of Hulic Co., Ltd.
- Advised underwriters on a global initial public offering and listing of shares of common stock of Visional, Inc.
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto‘s ‘well known‘ team has a long history of capital markets expertise, and advise a range of high profile clients on the full range of matters, including IPOs, global equity offerings, and mutual funds offerings. The stature of the firm is reflected in that the department was chosen to represent the Japanese Ministry of Finance as issuer and selling shareholder in the global share offer by Japan Post Holdings. Katsumasa Suzuki and Taro Omoto lead the capital markets team, while the structured finance & derivatives practice is headed by Masanori Sato and Akira Ehira. Equity and debt transactions specialist Katsuyuki Tainaka is also key, and is recognised for his expertise in the field of green bonds.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Partners are well-known professionals in capital markets, with extensive knowledge and experience. They were able to deal with a lot of issues swiftly.’
‘The Mori Hamada & Matsumoto team has extensive knowledge and know-how in capital markets. They always try to provide us with the solution which is the closest possible to our best interests, in a very timely manner.’
‘Partner Mr. Ishibashi always tries to propose well thought out advice, that gives clear direction about what to consider and what to give up, when we come across difficult situations and business judgement is required.’
‘Always proposing how to move the projects forward, which makes a difference from other firms.’
‘Mr Masayuki Ishibashi is a specific stand-out partner.’
‘Very significant know-how and responsiveness regarding the diversity of financing.’
‘Strong expertise in both capital market practice and M&A. You can receive seamless advice from MHM team on a deal involving both areas.’
‘These lawyers provide us with quality advice and lead us to practical solutions based on their abundant knowledge and experiences of both capital markets and M&A transactions, and sound understanding of investment banking business.’
Key clients
Shinsei Bank, Limited
Goldman Sachs International and Goldman Sachs Japan
Co., Ltd.
J.P. Morgan Securities Plc
Merrill Lynch International and BofA Securities Japan Co.,
Ltd.
Morgan Stanley & Co. International Plc., Mitsubishi UFJ
Morgan Stanley Securities Co., Ltd. and Morgan Stanley
MUFG Securities Co., Ltd.
UBS AG, London Branch
Daiwa Securities Co. Ltd.
Mizuho Securities Co., Ltd.,
Nomura Securities Co., Ltd.
SMBC Nikko Capital Markets Limited and SMBC Nikko
Securities Inc.
Japan Bankers Association
MUFG Bank, Ltd.
Mizuho Bank, Ltd.
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited
Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation
Japan Bank for International Cooperation
Canadian Solar Infrastructure Fund, Inc.
Enex Infrastructure Investment Corporation
Takara Leben Infrastructure Fund
JAPAN POST HOLDINGS Co., Ltd.
SoftBank Group Corp.
Marubeni Corporation
Nippon Life Insurance Company
Recruit Holdings Co., Ltd.
Toyota Industries Corporation
Daiwa House REIT Investment Corporation
Mori Hills REIT Investment Corporation
PGIM Real Estate Finance, LLC
Tosei Asset Advisors, Inc.
SUMCO Corporation
Nippon Paint Holdings Co., Ltd.
SKYLARK HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
VisasQ Inc.
SBI SECURITIES Co., Ltd.
Work highlights
- Advised Japan Post Holdings Co., Ltd. and the Ministry of Finance, Japan on the global share offer by Japan Post Holdings.
- Advised SUMCO Corporation on its offering of shares of common stock in the international market as well as in the Japanese market.
- Advised Morgan Stanley Securities, Co., Ltd. in respect to the securitisation of subordinated loans made to Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Company in an amount of JPY200 billion.
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu is a leading figure in capital markets transactions, and is well regarded at both the domestic and global levels. The department acts on behalf of major clients such as JP Morgan, the East Japan Railway Company, and the Mitsubishi UFJ Financial group on the full spectrum of complex and high value transactions. Fumihide Sugimoto leads the department, which also includes a respected securitisation team. Yuichi Miyashita has significant experience in capital market transactions, including IPOs, warrants and convertible bonds, and third-party allotments, while Motohiro Yanagawa leads on securitisations. Also key within the department are Miyuki Ishiguro and Hidetaka Mihara.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Miyuki Ishiguro; Motohiro Yanagawa ; Hidetaka Mihara; Sosuke Kimura; Yuichi Miyashita
Testimonials
‘The capital markets team is an outstanding team in the Japanese market, based on their variety of experience in this area.’
‘The team is always very organized with lawyers who are experienced. Their response is quick and quality of advice is also great.’
‘Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu has magnificent experiences in capital markets.’
‘Yuichi Miyashita: Highly accessible and responsive to our inquiries. Many years of practical experience in this practice area (i.e. the equity transaction) and well familiar with the practice. Provides very logical and practical legal advice.’
‘They have been committed to structured products including securitization for many years. So, they have a broad range of experience and knowledge in this area. We can rely on them for not only executions but also new product developments. They’re very supportive even at an early stage when we’re not sure if we can close actual deals.’
‘Highly sophisticated. Ability to focus on business goals, and to remain available for communication with us at all times. Clearly pointing out legal issues and proposing practical solutions against the issues.’
‘Mr. Motohiro Yanagawa is a well experienced partner. His suggestion and opinion is beyond our expectation.’
‘They are a well experienced team with highly qualified capability. Their work is not only reliable but also speedy.’
Key clients
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc
Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group
Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings, Inc.
Morgan Stanley
Bank of America
Nomura Securities Co., Ltd.
JP Morgan
Daiwa Securities Co. Ltd.
Development Bank of Japan
East Japan Railway Company
Denso Corporation
Norinchukin Bank
Japan Finance Organization for Municipalities
Japan Bank for International Cooperation
BNP Paribas
Resona Bank Limited
Work highlights
- Advised the underwriters on the global initial public offering of common stock of PHC Holdings Corporation.
- Advised the underwriters on the global public offering of common stock of SUMCO Corporation.
- Advised the underwriters on the global initial public offering of common stock of Simplex Holdings, Inc.
Nishimura & Asahi
Nishimura & Asahi provides full coverage of the practice area, with expertise across securitisation in all asset classes, in addition to capital-market and derivatives transactions. The department is also particularly active in the domestic debt, equity, hybrid security and J-REITs markets. Team lead Kohei Koikawa has a strong reputation in equity and debt transactions, and has expertise in IPOs, follow-on offerings and convertible bonds. Masaru Ono is well known in the market, with more than 40 years’ experience in the practice area. Also key is Kentaro Sugimoto, who covers a broad range of transactions including Euro bond offerings, global bond offerings, IPOs, and follow-on offerings.
Practice head(s):
Kohei Koikawa
Other key lawyers:
Masaru Ono; Kentaro Sugimoto; Naoya Ariyoshi; Susumu Tanizawa
Key clients
Nomura Securities Co., Ltd.
Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley
Securities Co., Ltd.
SMBC Nikko Securities Co., Ltd.
PHC Holdings Corporation
Japan Finance Corporation
Orient Corporation
Net Protections Holdings, Inc.
Nippon Steel Corporation
Mizuho Securities Co., Ltd.
Morgan Securities Co., Ltd.
Showa Denko K.K
Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc
Merrill Lynch International
Daiwa Capital Markets Europe Limited
J.P. Morgan Securities plc
Citigroup Global Markets Limited
Obic Business Consultants Co. Ltd
Hulic Co., Ltd.
Nomura Securities Co., Ltd.
Daiwa Securities Co., Ltd.
Renesas Electronics Corporation
Obic Business Consultants Co.,Ltd
Work highlights
- Advised Nomura Securities Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities Co., Ltd., and SMBC Nikko Securities Co., Ltd. on the follow-on offering by West Japan Railway Company.
- Advised PHCHD (Issuer) and KKR (Selling Shareholders) on PHCHD’s global IPO and listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
- Advised Japan Finance Corporation, the deal coordinator, on a transaction where twenty-three Japanese regional financial institutions that extend various loans to small and medium-sized enterprises transferred the credit risk of the loans to investors by way of credit default swap transactions.
TMI Associates
TMI Associates offers comprehensive financial matter coverage, with expertise which includes corporate finance, structured finance, REITs, and securities. The department has a notably strong international practice, reflected by major clients including the Ministry of Finance for the Republic of Uruguay, who the team advised on the issuing and public offering of their bond series. Yoshiyasu Yamaguchi, who has particular expertise in structured finance and securitisation, leads the team which includes Hiroyoshi Kuromaru and Hitoshi Sumiya, both of whom are highly experienced in the area.
Practice head(s):
Yoshiyasu Yamaguchi
Other key lawyers:
Hiroyoshi Kuromaru; Hitoshi Sumiya
Testimonials
‘TMI has lawyers who are experienced and knowledgeable in a variety of areas, and they have solved all of our problems.’
Key clients
Daiwa Securities Co. Ltd.
Nomura Securities Co., Ltd.
SMBC Nikko Securities Inc.
Mizuho Securities Co., Ltd.
Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities Co., Ltd.
BNP Paribas Securities (Japan) Limited, Tokyo Branch
HSBC Securities (Japan) Limited
Universal Entertainment Corporation
Nomura Trust and Banking Co., Ltd.
FRUTAFRUTA, Inc.
Atsumi & Sakai
Atsumi & Sakai
is particularly strong on securitisations and structured finance matters, and acts for a diverse range of clients both domestically and overseas. The department is co-led by Fumiko Oikawa, Madoka Hashimoto, and Shintaro Hamasu.
Practice head(s):
Fumiko Oikawa; Madoka Hashimoto; Shintaro Hamasu
City-Yuwa Partners
City-Yuwa Partners has expertise on regulatory matters and structured finance issues. Founding partner Yasuyuki Kuribayashi leads the team, and has broad experience in banking and finance.
Practice head(s):
Yasuyuki Kuribayashi
Testimonials
‘Depth of the knowledge in the relevant field i.e. securities finance.’
‘Thorough analysis in compiling and/or reviewing the legal documentation.’
‘Easy to communicate – Prompt response to the inquiries.’
Kaynex Law Offices
Kaynex Law Offices, established in 2016, fields a team with experience across structured finance, securitisation, capital markets, banking and real estate. Team lead and founding partner Norifusa Hashimoto has significant expertise in the practice area.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers: