DLA Piper Tokyo Partnership Gaikokuho Kyodojigyo Horitsu Jimusho‘s Tokyo office stands out for its capabilities in advising clients on cross-border venture capital investments. The firm handles M&A and equity financing deals for its client roster of prominent technology and energy companies. ’Extremely knowledgeable’ team lead Masahiko Ishida is dual-qualified in Tokyo and New York and is a go-to for the firm’s multinational Japanese clients. Peter Armstrong specialises in energy and natural resources and handles cross-border acquisitions, joint ventures, and licensing agreements. Beelian Tay comes recommended for assisting with the full gamut of corporate mandates, while Edward Mears is another name to note.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Mr Peter Armstrong is a very reliable partner. ’
‘Quite approachable and helpful team at DLA Piper Tokyo. The team always provide support in an efficient and professional manner, no matter how big or small, and always happy to explain in full details. Future clients would appreciate their dedication to providing timely and effective solutions, ensuring a positive experience throughout the engagement process.’
‘Masahiko Ishida is an extremely knowledgeable and thorough lawyer, helping to highlight any potential issues that are not necessarily part of his original scope of advice. He also provides an excellent balance between legal and commercial advice. An excellent lawyer.’
‘Excellent work. Diligent and dedicated. Skilled in a complicated deal with many cross-border issues.’
‘All are great. Very dedicated.’
‘The DLA Tokyo team has rich talent when it comes to M&A and corporate matters, with the bandwidth and expertise to handle everything from the run-of-the-mill governance questions to taking on the lead role for complex cross-border M&A transactions.’
Key clients
- ENEOS Corporation
- Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC)
- Marubeni Corporation
- Mitsubishi Corporation
- Tokyo Metropolitan Government
- JGC Holdings Corporation
- Kansai Electric Power Company (KEPCO)
- Quaker Chemical Corporation
- Yaskawa Electric Corporation
- BLUE YONDER, INC.
- Light Street Capital Management, LLC
- Bessemer Venture Partners
Work highlights
Advised on the JPY23 billion acquisition of Dipsol Chemicals Co. Ltd. from Aspirant Group, Inc.
Advised Bessemer Venture Partners on their Series B1 investment in Dainii Inc., a Japanese startup for digital ordering platforms.
Advised SR One on a co-investment in Renalys Pharma during its Series A round led by Catalys Pacific.
Lawyers
Leading partners: Bengoshi
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Masahiko Ishida
Other key lawyers
Peter Armstrong; Beelian Tay; Edward Mears