Mori Hamada’s team is known for its strong focus on tax planning and dispute resolution for both corporate and individual clients, with particular expertise in M&A, corporate reorganisations and cross-border transactions. Atsushi Oishi handles a wide range of tax matters, including tax audits, appeals against tax authorities and complex transactional work such as cross-border M&A and reorganisations. Makoto Sakai advises on both domestic and international M&A and reorganisations, providing strategic guidance from both corporate and tax planning angles, and is also active in tax audits, litigation and high-net-worth tax planning. Hiroyuki Kurihara concentrates on tax, M&A, and leveraged finance work, with deep experience in structuring cross-border deals and resolving intricate tax disputes. The three co-head the group, in which another notable practitioner is Hiroyuki Kurihara  who is active across tax and M&A matters.
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Key clients

  • Ministry of Finance of the Japanese government
  • Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of the Japanese government
  • Softbank Group Corp.
  • Johnson & Johnson
  • Baring Private Equity Asia
  • Hitachi, Ltd.
  • Shiseido Company, Limited
  • Astellas Pharma Inc.
  • Houlihan Lokey
  • Crocs, Inc.
  • Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
  • Appier Group, Inc.

Work highlights

Advised a major life insurance company on the Japanese tax treatment of a transaction with an overseas unit trust, represented the client in an advanced tax ruling procedure, and obtained a favourable response from the Tokyo Regional Taxation Bureau.
Advised a leading HR SaaS player in Japan on both legal and tax matters of its sale to J-STAR Co., Ltd. and Potentia Capital.
Advised a private equity firm on the taxation of individual fund managers of investment partnerships under recently published guidelines.

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: Bengoshi

The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Next Generation Partners: Bengoshi

Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.

Hiroshi Oyama

Practice head

Atsushi Oishi; Makoto Sakai; Hiroyuki Kurihara

Other key lawyers

Hiroshi Oyama