City-Yuwa Partners is well-regarded for its robust bankruptcy and restructuring practice, alongside strong capabilities in commercial, patent, construction, and real estate litigation. The firm brings a multidisciplinary approach to dispute resolution, advising clients across a range of complex legal issues. Shigeaki Ito leads the practice with a focus on real estate transactions, corporate governance, and shareholders’ meetings, advising clients on matters at the intersection of property and corporate operations. Yoko Maeda maintains a highly active international arbitration practice, both as counsel and arbitrator. Her work spans a wide array of industries, including construction, pharmaceuticals, life sciences, energy, intellectual property, and joint ventures, advising on issues such as distributorships, licensing, and international sales of goods. She has acted in proceedings under the rules of major arbitral institutions, including AAA/ICDR, ICC, SIAC, and VIAC.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Lawyer & team quality
Client satisfaction: Billing & efficiency
Client satisfaction: NPS ®
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Yoko Maeda is an international arbitration superstar. She is dynamic, tireless and has a sharp intellect. She is a visionary thinker and effective advocate. Yoko has vast international experience and serves in leadership positions at the ICC and SIAC.'
- 'City Yuwa has a young and dynamic team of international arbitration stars, led by Yoko Maeda. The team is very diligent, works hard and stands out by its vast knowledge of and experience in international arbitration.'
- 'Yoko Maeda is a very strong practitioner. She has an excellent understanding of how to accomplish the client's goals and to use the arbitration process efficiently. She is a very strong advocate with excellent oral advocacy skills.'
- 'City-Yuwa Partners’ dispute resolution team, led in the international arbitration space by Yoko Maeda, is one of the most impressive and well-rounded practices in the Japanese market. What sets them apart is the rare combination of deep international experience and practical local insight. Unlike many domestic firms that remain Japan-facing, City-Yuwa’s disputes group has consistently shown itself able to operate seamlessly across borders, languages, and cultures.'
- 'The stand-out figure in City-Yuwa’s dispute resolution team is without question Yoko Maeda. She is a truly exceptional practitioner who combines world-class legal expertise with a rare human touch. Perfectly bilingual and bicultural, she moves effortlessly between Japanese and international settings.'
- 'City Yuwa has provided excellent service to me for a period of time now. They are a strong and specialist team that does a very good job of explaining Japanese law issues to me as a non-Japanese party. They are service oriented, pragmatic and on top of the legal issues.'
Work highlights
Represented TEPCO in over 40 consecutive class action cases brought by more than 10,000 Japanese citizens and companies, who sued TEPCO and the Japanese government, seeking for damages relating to the level seven meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant complex after the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, and the associated evacuation zones affecting hundreds of thousands of residents.
Represented FTI Consulting in its role as Receiver in several interlinked court litigations.
Represented Contrack Watts Inc., an American construction company, in Japanese court litigation in a construction and joint venture (JV) dispute over the construction of military bases in Japan.
Lawyers
Leading partners: Bengoshi
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Shigeaki Ito
Other key lawyers
Yoko Maeda