Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)‘s practice is well-equipped to handle transactional and advisory work across all asset types, including data centres, logistics and hospitality. Seishi Ikeda and Ean Mac Pherson jointly oversee the team; Ikeda has considerable experience advising on inbound real estate acquisitions and investments, while project developers and contractors rely on Mac Pherson for his expertise in construction mandates involving renewable energy, data centre, and conventional power projects. Maki Kawamura specialises in real estate transactions and regularly handles acquisitions and dispositions. May 2024 joiner Paul Davis, and Kosuke Suzuki, are also integral members of the team.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Good collaboration; they are energy specialists.’
‘I recommend Ean MacPherson.’
‘Great attention-to-detail and a dedicated client experience. Japan is not an easy market to navigate and Baker Mckenzie do this very well.’
‘My company work with Maki Kawamura and her team in the real estate practice in Tokyo. She is always extremely responsive and explains complicated Japanese lease matters simply. Also, a lot of attention-to-detail.’
‘The Baker McKenzie team stands out for their exceptional blend of technical expertise and practical business acumen in real estate transactions. What makes them unique is their proactive approach. They don't just identify legal issues but propose creative solutions that advance business objectives while managing risk appropriately.'
‘Maki Kawamura stands out for her strategic thinking and ability to anticipate the landlord's positions before they emerged. Her experience in similar real estate projects was evident in how efficiently she navigated potential roadblocks, providing thorough analysis. Maki also impressed me with her meticulous attention-to-detail in contract review, identifying several subtle clauses that could have caused significant issues later.’
'The quality of legal advice provided by Baker McKenzie is high and we are satisfied with it. The lawyers are friendly and willing to help the clients. Even if it is a small transaction, they are willing to work on it, which is very helpful to us.'
'I recommend Seishi Ikeda.'
Key clients
- Air Trunk
- Capitaland Japan
- Crosspath Advisors
- Deutsche Bank AG, Tokyo Branch
- ESR Japan
- Gaw Capital Partners
- Heiwa Real Estate
- Kanden Realty & Development
- Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR)
- List Development
- Lone Star Group
- Mandarin Oriental Hotel
Work highlights
Advising Gaw Capital Partners on its partnership with GDS Holdings Limited to build a 40MW carrier-neutral data centre campus in Fuchu, West Tokyo.
Advised the client on the sale of its entire 88% stake in AirTrunk, the leading hyperscale data centre developer and operator, to a Blackstone-led consortium, for AUD 24bn.
Advised the client in its acquisition of GCP International, the international business, excluding China operations, of GLP Capital Partners Limited, in a deal valued at $3.7bn.
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.
Next Generation Partners: Bengoshi
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
Seishi Ikeda; Ean Mac Pherson
Other key lawyers
Maki Kawamura; Paul Davis; Kosuke Suzuki