Known for its strong international connections, Anderson Mori & Tomotsune has a strong portfolio of investment fund and asset management work, including both domestic and foreign investment funds marketed within Japan. The team is co-led by Harume Nakano, whose areas of expertise include banking, securities, and asset management, and Kunihiko Morishita, who regularly advises both domestic and multinational financial institutions. Also key are Akihito Miyake, who specialises in the formation, offering, and distribution of funds, and Koichi Miyamoto, who handles financial regulatory issues.

Atsumi & Sakai has notable strength in advising foreign investors promoting funds to the Japanese market. The firm has experience in the full life cycle of investment funds, from initial structuring and managing relationships with regulators, to the investment period and exit mechanisms. Akio Kawamura co-leads the team alongside Eiichiro Hata and Ryuichi Nozaki. Kawamura, who joined from Nishimura & Asahi in September 2019, focuses on providing cross-border investments and advising on regulatory matters for financial institutions and fund managers. Meanwhile Hata handles fund structure, investment and formation, and Nozaki specialises in asset management, banking and structured finance, and capital markets.

Mori Hamada & Matsumoto is highly active advising on public offerings and private placements of investment funds, particularly in non-Japanese jurisdictions such as the Cayman Islands, Ireland, and Luxembourg. Additionally, the department is known for advising new non-Japanese funds offered within Japan, who receive complete after care, including maintenance services. Yasuzo Takeno and Ken Miura jointly lead the team. Takeno has significant experience in structuring, public offerings, and private placement of off-shore investment funds, while Miura advises on a range of capital market transactions. Nobuharu Onishi is particularly active for international clients, and has a broad practice including asset management, financial regulation and investment companies.

Nishimura & Asahi offers comprehensive legal services across the spectrum of investment fund issues, including documentation, compliance, product design and planning, as well as M&A and fundraising in both the investment and exit stages. The department has coverage of both traditional asset management activities and alternative investments, such as private equity funds, venture capital funds, and private-placement real estate funds. Makoto Igarashi has over 30 years’ experience representing investment managers with fundraising and investment, and co-leads the department alongside Kei Ito, who has expertise advising both domestic Japanese and overseas clients on the full range of funds. Also key are Yoshiharu Kawamata, who handles private equity, mezzanine, and infrastructure funds, and Kohei Ishida, who is highly experienced advising on international and domestic investment fundraising.

Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu covers a range of funds, including private equity funds, hedge funds, and investment trusts, but has particular strength in the real estate space, with experience handling JREITs and other private real estate funds. Hidetaka Mihara leads the department, and has expertise in financing and REITs. Keiko Shimizu is well known in the market for her expertise on both onshore and offshore investment fund products, and knowledge of complicated cross border projects.

TMI Associates advises a broad range of funds, including buyout funds, distressed funds, corporate reconstruction funds, real estate funds and content funds. The department also has experience with venture capital funds, particularly for those investing into biotechnology and IT sectors. Yoshiyasu Yamaguchi leads the team, which includes Kiyomi Kikuchi, who covers banking and project finance, and Hidehiro Utsumi, who focuses on international investment funds. Sadao Maeda is also noted.

Oh-Ebashi LPC & Partners advises both domestic and international clients on the full range of investment management services, including documentation, contractual negotiations, registrations with authorities and regulatory advice. Takuyuki Sakurai is key to the team, and has experience across fund management, venture capital, and structured finance.