Clifford Chance (Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo)

cliffordchance.com

Yusuke Abe specialises in project finance, ECA finance, acquisition finance and other banking transactions, asset finance, real estate finance, derivatives and regulatory matters. Yusuke has worked in London and Hong Kong and is a member of Clifford Chance’s Worldwide Projects Group.

Chihiro Ashizawa

Chihiro Ashizawa specialises in capital markets, investment management and financial regulatory advice.

Matthew is a counsel in the Clifford Chance Tokyo office, specialising in international debt and equity capital markets transactions, including, MTNs, convertible bonds, equity offerings and structured finance. Matthew also focuses on ESG products, risks and regulation and advises international companies on transactions in Japan. He has worked in London, Dubai and Tokyo advising issuers and managers in accessing and participating in international capital markets.

Peter Harris has helped multiple clients navigate cross-border business disputes through litigation, arbitration, mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution. He regularly acts for clients in the energy, resources, construction and infrastructure sectors but also has recent experience of resolving disputes relating to tech, financial services, shipping and commodities. Peter is an experienced oral advocate who regularly appears before international tribunals. Peter also has experience sitting as an arbitrator.

Eiichi Kanda specialises in real estate including investment, finance, development, funds, asset management and securitisation. Eiichi also advises both borrowers and lenders on structured financing, joint ventures and cross-border alliances between foreign and Japanese entities.

Leng-Fong Lai is the firm's Co-Managing Partner and the Head of Capital Markets Group in Tokyo and specialises in all forms of capital markets and structured finance instruments including receivables and other asset-backed securities, commercial mortgage-backed financings, structured MTNs, equity-linked and convertible securities, securities repackaging and other forms of securitised derivatives, hybrid securities, project bonds and other infrastructure financings. Leng-Fong also advises banks and sponsors on project and real estate finance and investments in Japan.

Hans Menski advises on cross-border oil & gas, power and infrastructure projects transactions, with particular expertise in first-of-a-kind project developments and complex, multi-source financings. Based in Tokyo, Hans acts for borrowers, sponsors and financiers on their international energy and infrastructure projects investments in a range of sectors including thermal and renewable power, refining and petrochemicals, oil & gas, mining and LNG. He also advises on the acquisition and acquisition financing of power and infrastructure assets and on ECA-covered financings. Hans previously worked in London and Paris and is a member of Clifford Chance’s highly-regarded Worldwide Projects Group.

Reiko Sakimura specialises in international capital markets, including international debt and equity offerings, convertible bonds and other equity-linked securities, medium term note programmes, euro-commercial paper programmes, samurai bonds, regulatory capital, and corporate hybrid securities. Reiko acts for underwriter and issuer clients in respect of a wide variety of capital market transactions for Japanese issuers accessing international markets through Regulation S and Rule 144A offerings, as well as foreign issuers accessing the Japanese markets.

Masafumi Shikakura

Masafumi Shikakura is a counsel and leads Clifford Chance’s antitrust practice in Tokyo. He specialises in antitrust law and foreign investment regulations and advises domestic and international companies on Japanese anti-monopoly law as well as Japanese regulations on foreign direct investments and sanctions. He handles multi-jurisdictional merger filing analyses and foreign direct investment filing analyses and coordination with local counsel in various jurisdictions for many transactions. Masafumi has also gained extensive experience in M&A transactions, in particular cross-border acquisitions and joint ventures. He has advised clients in power and energy, technology, healthcare and various industrial sectors.

Yoshiaki Shimizu

Yoshiaki Shimizu specialises in real estate finance, real estate investment, development, structured finance, general banking and fund regulations.

Natsuko Sugihara

Natsuko Sugihara specialises in private M&A, cross-border transactions and joint ventures, acting for private equity clients as well as Japanese and foreign corporate clients on their domestic and cross-border transactions across a wide range of sectors.