Shearman & Sterling > Tokyo, Japan > Firm Profile

Shearman & Sterling > The Legal 500 Rankings

Japan > Corporate and M&A: International firms and joint ventures Tier 1

Shearman & Sterling acts on complex cross-border matters, including outbound investments, foreign direct investments, and both public and private acquisitions and divestitures. The department is active in a broad range of industries, including financial, healthcare and logistics, with particular aptitude in the energy sector. Lead partner Karl Pires has more than 20 years’ experience in the practice area, and covers strategic acquisitions, minority investments and joint ventures. Capital markets specialists Toshiro Mochizuki and Masahisa Ikeda are also key within the team. Kana Morimura, who has experience working in both the US and Japan, was promoted to partner in July 2021.

Japan > Capital markets: International firms and joint ventures Tier 2

At Shearman & Sterling, the Tokyo-based capital markets team is recognised for its track record in handling SEC registration fillings and business combinations as well as cross-border corporate governance matters, most notably disclosure controls and insider trading policies. Led by Masahisa Ikeda, the practice offers corporate issuers, financial institutions and government entities assistance with a wide range of capital markets matters, including Regulation S offerings, US security law compliance, securities filings and listings on the NASDAQ and European stock exchanges. Working alongside Ikeda are Toshiro Mochizuki, who focuses on global offerings, disclosure requirements and business combinations, and regulatory compliance expert Kana Morimura.

Japan > Projects and energy: International firms and joint ventures Tier 2

Shearman & Sterling‘s projects and energy group has a deep knowledge of the Japanese local market, where it fosters a close relationship with large domestic banks, companies and sponsors. Led by Etienne Gelencser, the team frequently assists clients with project financing, joint ventures, investments and project bond issuances in the Americas, Asia and EMEA. Gelencser has extensive experience handling projects in the renewables, infrastructure and oil and gas sectors. Karl Pires is noted for his expertise in acquisitions of energy projects, including onshore and offshore wind farms and solar power plants.

Japan > Investment funds: International firms and joint ventures Tier 2

Shearman & Sterling‘s asset management and fund formation team acts largely for major Japanese funds investing off shore and private fund investments (including private equity funds, hedge, real estate and funds of funds). Team head Etienne Gelencsér offers considerable expertise in advising private equity firms and Japanese financial institutions in the establishment of Japan focused offshore funds together with related portfolio acquisitions. Clients are also offered expertise in regulatory regimes and new fund product design.

Japan > Antitrust and competition: International firms and joint ventures Tier 3

Shearman & Sterling‘s Tokyo office works in collaboration with the US and Europe teams to assist leading Japanese corporates and financial institutions with complex US and EU antitrust matters, from merger control filings and joint ventures to class actions and cartel investigations. Masahisa Ikeda has extensive experience in representing clients in government investigations and before the US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Anti-corruption matters, economic sanctions and compliance projects are the area of expertise of Toshiro Mochizuki while Kana Morimura focuses on corporate matters and antitrust disputes.

India > Foreign firms

Shearman & Sterling handles a range of high-profile and high-value India-focused transactions, acting for domestic and international clients in inbound and outbound investments. Key areas of focus for the practice include capital markets, M&A, private equity, project finance, international arbitration and fund formation, and it services clients from various offices across its large international network. Hong Kong-based partner Kyungwon (Won) Lee is a key contact for capital markets work, including corporate finance and securities transactions; Singapore’s Andrew Schleider is another name to note for capital markets, drawing on over 20 years of experience advising underwriters and issuers on a range of corporate finance transactions; and Etienne Gelencsér in Tokyo is recommended for projects and energy-related transactions. Sanjeev Dhuna joined from Allen & Overy LLP in July 2021 in London, while Sidharth Bhasin and James Clayton-Payne left the firm in August of the same year.

Myanmar > Foreign desks

Spread across the firm’s Singapore, Seoul and Tokyo offices, Shearman & Sterling LLP‘s practice has demonstrable experience advising international clients on energy mandates and project developments in Myanmar. In Singapore, Bill McCormack, who focuses on renewable energy projects, jointly leads the team alongside David Clinch, who advises on transactions and projects across the energy, natural resources and infrastructure sectors. Anna Chung, who operates from the Seoul office, and Tokyo-based Etienne Gelencsér, act for lenders and sponsors on projects across the Asia Pacific region, including Myanmar, while Singapore-based Jean-Louis Neves Mandelli focuses on power projects.