Akihiro Hironaka > Nishimura & Asahi > Tokyo, Japan > Lawyer Profile
Nishimura & Asahi Offices
OTEMON TOWER, 1-1-2 OTEMACHI
CHIYODA-KU
TOKYO 100-8124
Japan
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Akihiro Hironaka
Work Department
Dispute resolution practice
Position
Partner, Tokyo
Career
Akihiro Hironaka has been a partner at Nishimura & Asahi (Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo) since 2007. He has extensive experience in handling complex and large-scale dispute resolution matters, including product liability and mass tort claims, as well as contract disputes, for clients in the pharmaceutical and automotive industries, among others. Akihiro also has handled cross-border disputes arising from M&A transactions, reinsurance claims, and termination of distribution agreements, as well as disputes involving construction sites in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. He is licensed to practice law in Japan and New York. He served as a Japanese district court judge from 1998 to 2000, and worked at Arnold & Porter (Washington, D.C.) from 2002 to 2003. He is the author of various books, book chapters, and articles, including a contribution to Civil Procedure in Japan (Juris Publishing; edited by Yasuhei Taniguchi, et al.). In 2023, he was selected as one of the “Top 15 North Asia Litigators” by Asian Legal Business, and in 2022, he was awarded the “Dispute Resolution Lawyer of the Year” at the ALB Japan Law Awards by Asian Legal Business.
Languages
Japanese, English
Memberships
2004 | Admitted in New York
1996 | Admitted in Japan (voluntarily deregistered in 1998 and readmitted in 2000)
Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb)
Education
2003 | Harvard Law School (LL.M.)
1993 | The University of Tokyo (LL.B.)
Lawyer Rankings
Japan > Dispute resolution: Independent local firms
(Leading individuals: Bengoshi)Nishimura & Asahi‘s Japanese dispute resolution practice works in conjunction with the firm’s Singapore, Vietnam, and Bangkok offices to provide clients with cross-border disputes pertaining to tax, product liability, trade secrets, and construction. Head of the practice Hiroyuki Tezuka specialises in international arbitration, and is the Vice President of the Japan Association of Arbitrators. For disputes in the pharmaceutical and automotive sectors, Akihiro Hironaka is a key contact, while Lars Markert is adept at assisting clients with disputes involving German and European law. Yutaro Kawabata is proficient in disputes arising from the termination of contracts, and Chié Nakahara is a key figure for high-stakes and high-value international litigation.
Japan > Tax: Independent local firms
(Leading individuals: Bengoshi)The tax practice at Nishimura & Asahi is especially recommended for its experience in handling tax controversies before Japanese courts, as well as other forms of tax-related disputes, for which Akihiro Hironaka is a recommended individual. The team is led by the experienced Yo Ota, who regularly covers matters involving M&A, cross-border transactions, and corporate governance issues. For high-profile tax litigation, Tsuyoshi Ito is the recommended name, while Mayuko Nakamura regularly advises on the tax aspects of international transactions.
Lawyer Rankings
- Dispute resolution: Independent local firms Japan
- Leading individuals: Bengoshi Japan > Tax: Independent local firms
- Leading individuals: Bengoshi Japan > Dispute resolution: Independent local firms
- Tax: Independent local firms Japan
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Antitrust and competition: Independent local firms
- Banking and finance: Independent local firms
- Capital markets: Independent local firms
- Corporate and M&A: Independent local firms
- Dispute resolution: Independent local firms
- Intellectual property: Independent local firms
- Investment funds: Independent local firms
- Labour and employment: Independent local firms
- Private wealth: Independent local firms
- Projects and energy: Independent local firms
- Real estate and construction: Independent local firms
- Restructuring and insolvency: Independent local firms
- Risk management and investigations: Independent local firms
- Tax: Independent local firms
- TMT: Independent local firms