The Legal 500 > Asia Pacific > Japan > Investment funds: Independent local firms

Anderson Mori & Tomotsune advises on a broad range of investment funds and asset management related work, notably, PE funds, VC funds, infrastructure funds, ETFs, and hedge funds. The firm is particularly experienced in dealing with real estate investment funds and acting in cross-border transactions. The practice has a strong presence in the distribution of offshore investment funds, including those in Cayman, Luxembourg, and Ireland. Harume Nakano specialises in banking, securities, asset management, and capital markets transactions. She leads the team with Kunihiko Morishita, who has expertise in the fields of banking, securities and asset management.

Mori Hamada & Matsumoto is known for advising on new non-Japanese funds that are publicly offered in Japan, including the provision of after-care services. The firm also has experience providing advice to existing non-Japanese funds, handling private placements for such funds, and assisting with public offerings for Japanese funds. Yasuzo Takeno has expertise in advisory work for corporate finance, financial regulation, investment managers and investment fund businesses, as well as providing legal advice on the day-to-day management of investment fund businesses. He co-leads the team with Ken Miura, who advises on derivatives and capital market transactions including Euro bond issues and global offerings of debt and equity securities. He particularly focuses on renewable energy-related transactions.

The multi-disciplinary team at Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu is known for private equity expertise and its broad practice in fund formation. The firm provides a strong real estate funds team, advising on private REITS, private real estate funds, and JREITs. The department also assists onshore and offshore fund sponsors in structuring and forming the funds, as well as representing asset management companies in structuring and formation of investment funds. Hidetaka Mihara leads a team that includes Keiko Shimizu, who has particular expertise in structuring and advising on complex, cross-border fund projects.

Nishimura & Asahi is known for representing large Japanese investors and investment managers in matters including documentation, compliance, product design, and planning. The firm advises on fundraising in the investment stage after fund formation, investment in funds by institutional investors, as well as issues related to REITs and commodity funds. Kei Ito has experience in a range of investment funds, from retail products, investment trusts and ETFs to PE funds, buyout funds, infrastructure funds, and hedge funds. He co-leads the practice with Makoto Igarashi, who specialises in advising investment managers on fundraising and investment. Also notable in the team is Yoshiharu Kawamata, who focuses on international and domestic investment fundraisings.

Specialising in Japanese institutions investing in foreign funds, Atsumi & Sakai represents clients on a range of investment funds for domestic and foreign investors, fund managers, and affiliated companies. The firm advises on investing in securities and real estate, as well as shareholder litigation for offshore funds. Co-leading the practice are Hiroki Mori, whose experience includes structured finance, securitization, PFI, finance lease, insolvency and trusts; Ryuichi Nozaki, who specialises in fund investment structuring, international litigation, disclosure, and regulatory advice; and Eiichiro Hata, who has expertise in fund structure, investment and formation, particularly in the private equity, real estate, energy, and infrastructure sectors. Also notable is Nobuchika Mori, the former Commissioner of the Financial Services Agency of Japan, who joined the firm in 2019 as an advisor.

Acting primarily for offshore investment managers, trustees, administrators, and domestic distributors, City-Yuwa Partners is experienced in the filing of securities registration statements and reports, and investment management reports with the Financial Services Agency of Japan, as well as drafting related agreements in connection with public offerings of offshore investment trusts. The firm also has expertise in serving as supervisory director of JREIT and advising on regulatory matters for investment managers, trustees, administrators and distributors. In addition, the practice is increasingly active in the establishment and distribution of fintech-related funds. The team is co-led by Haruyuki Hirata, who specialises in the establishment of a range of offshore and domestic funds; and Yasuyuki Kuribayashi, who is notable in the areas of banking, finance and investment funds.

TMI Associates advises a range of funds, including venture capital funds, buyout funds, distressed funds, corporate reconstruction funds, and real estate funds. The firm's Tokyo-based practice has particular experience representing clients in venture capital funds investing in the IT and bio-related fields. In addition, the practice advises funds for investment in alternative energy sources and for infrastructure investment. Banking and capital markets expert Yoshiyasu Yamaguchi leads a team that includes Kiyomi Kikuchi, who has experience in a range of finance transactions and specialises in cross-border matters.