Clifford Chance (Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo)’s capital markets team in Tokyo offers a comprehensive service to major clients on both the debt and equity side, covering IPOs, euro/global bonds, 144A/Reg S offerings, samurai and convertible bonds. Leng-Fong Lai advises on a broad range of capital markets products, with particular expertise in off- and on-balance sheet structured products, collateralised notes, project and covered bonds, and asset-backed financings. Reiko Sakimura is well known for her expertise in convertible bonds, 144A/Reg S bonds, MTNs, and equity offerings, among other areas. At the associate level, Chihiro Ashizawa focuses on debt capital market issuances in the Japanese market by non-Japanese issuers (including samurai bonds), while Matthew Ball specialises in public debt and equity transactions.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Reiko Sakimura has a wide variety of experience not only in law firms but also in investment banks which means the advice she gives balanced legal and business considerations. She commands English and Japanese perfectly. Matthew Ball is also a very good, hardworking and diligent lawyer.'
‘Reiko Sakimura is highly regarded as a professional for her drafting skills and her balanced advice.'
'Matthew Ball has solid technical skills that attract Japanese issuers and underwriters.'
‘Leng-Fong Lai gives personal attention, is responsive and is very detailed in his advice.'
‘Clifford Chance's Tokyo capital markets team is outstanding in its drafting of transaction documents and in simultaneously managing multiple transactions.'
- 'The team expands its ESG capability by drawing on its global resources.'
‘A professional team with deep expertise in capital markets offering bilingual support in English and Japanese. The team also has a global network to support it.'
‘The team is well-resourced with a good balance of fee earners of varying levels. This allows matters to be dealt with more cost-effectively, while not compromising on expertise. The team is also very friendly and pleasant to work with and always willing to be as helpful as possible. ’
‘The best team for cross-border capital markets deals. They have profound experience and expertise in Japanese capital markets and a worldwide network with global experience and expertise in global markets.'
Key clients
- Morgan Stanley
- Bank of America Merrill Lynch
- Barclays
- Nomura
- SMBC Nikko
- Daiwa
- Mizuho
- Mitsubishi UFJ
- Crédit Agricole
- HSBC
Work highlights
Advised Morgan Stanley and the other joint lead managers on the structuring and underwriting of $500m of bonds issued by Kubota Credit Corporation, U.S.A. (guaranteed by Kubota Corporation), listed on the Singapore Exchange.
Advised the Ministry of Finance of the Arab Republic of Egypt as Japanese and English legal counsel on its second issuance of 5-year Samurai bonds worth $500m (JPY75 billion), guaranteed by SMBC with credit enhancement by the Africa Finance Corporation.
Advised SMBC Nikko as global coordinator and international lead manager on the global offering of shares of common stock of Toei Animation by existing shareholders (Bandai Namco and Sony Pictures Entertainment).
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading partners: Gaiben
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Leading associates: Bengoshi
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Matthew Ball
Practice head
Leng-Fong Lai
Other key lawyers
Reiko Sakimura; Chihiro Ashizawa; Matthew Ball