A&O Shearman’s M&A team in Tokyo offers a comprehensive service covering outbound investments, foreign direct investments, joint ventures, and public and private acquisitions and divestitures. Recent highlights for the group include advising Japan Industrial Partners (JIP) on its offshore fund structuring and fundraising in connection with a JIP-led consortium’s $15.2bn take-private tender offer proposal for Toshiba Corporation. Practice head Karl Pires has more than 26 years' experience in a broad range of public and private cross-border M&A transactions, including strategic acquisitions, minority investments, divestitures, and joint ventures. Masahisa Ikeda’s varied practice sees him advise domestic and international companies on cross-border acquisitions as well as industrial and financial clients on corporate governance. Nick Wall, Tokutaka Ito, and Toshiro Mochizuki are also key contacts in the group.

Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise) offers deep bench strength in Tokyo when it comes to M&A work, with its sizeable team operating in relation to cross-border matters in the semiconductor, TMT, finance, real estate, and healthcare sectors, among others. Practice head Jiro Toyokawa has broad experience in public and private M&A, with large-scale outbound M&A transactions involving Japanese financial institutions an area of strength. Akifusa Takada, co-managing partner of the firm’s Tokyo office, advises on a wide range of domestic transactions, including M&A, group reorganisations, joint ventures, and private equity transactions. His client portfolio includes companies in the financial services, pharma, industrial, food, and service sectors. Kiyoshi Endo’s practice covers inbound and outbound M&A. Tetsuo Tsujimoto and Yutaka Kimura are also key players in the team.

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP’s corporate team in Tokyo remains at the forefront of the M&A market in Japan, with a client roster consisting of leading Japanese and global companies, asset managers, private equity funds, and investment banks. The group is active in the financial services, consumer goods, industrial, and tech sectors, among others; recent highlights for the group include advising asset management firm Japan Industrial Partners (JIP) on the acquisition of electronics giant Toshiba Corporation by a consortium led by JIP. With over 25 years of experience handling major cross-border transactional matters, Ken Lebrun leads the group alongside office managing partner Jon Gray and Christopher Kodama. Paul Jun and Paul Lee are other key contacts in the M&A practice.

Hogan Lovells Horitsu Jimusho Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo’s M&A team in Tokyo continues to offer a well-rounded corporate service to major clients in Japan covering inbound and outbound transactions in the automotive, energy, life sciences, TMT, and financial services sectors, among others. The team is noted particularly for its experience in advising leading Japanese trading houses. With over 25 years of cross-border transactional experience encompassing M&A, investments, exits, joint ventures, and restructurings, Jacky Scanlan-Dyas leads the practice alongside Wataru Kamoto, who has advised Japanese and international players on M&A and corporate issues for over 20 years. Bradley Edmister focuses on international M&A, both public and private, and joint ventures. Viet Nguyen is noted for his work on private M&A, joint ventures, and public takeovers, while Jumpei Seto’s client base includes major US and Japanese companies.

Morrison Foerster’s leading M&A practice in Tokyo offers a comprehensive service to Japanese and international clients encompassing public and private acquisitions, carve-outs, spinouts, and joint ventures. Recent highlights for the group include advising the board of directors and Transactional Special Committee of Toshiba Corporation on the $15.2bn take-private tender offer proposal made by Japan Industrial Partners. Ken Siegel, managing partner of the firm’s Tokyo office and M&A practice head, regularly acts for high-tech companies in acquisitions, joint ventures, and strategic alliances. Gary Smith has over 30 years of experience handling cross-border M&A, especially in the life sciences, tech, and media sectors. Stephen DeCosse focuses on public and private M&A and investments for trading houses and private equity firms. Stanley Yukevich routinely advises major tech companies on M&A, strategic alliances, and investments. Randy Laxer and Jeremy White are also key figures in the team.

White & Case LLP - White & Case Law Offices (Registered Association)’s M&A team in Tokyo is widely praised for its ‘deep and broad capabilities as well as its dedication to excellent client service’. Jun Usami, the firm’s Tokyo office executive partner and M&A practice head, has over two decades of experience handling cross-border M&A transactions in the TMT, finance, retail, automotive, and life sciences sectors. Nels Hansen’s experience spans high-value M&A, hostile takeovers, and joint ventures, especially in the tech space, while Shino Asayama is noted for her experience in domestic and cross-border M&A and joint ventures, as well as shareholder activism issues. Naoya Shiota and Lorraine Yip are also noted for their contributions to the team.

Clifford Chance (Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo)’s M&A team in Tokyo is widely praised for offering ‘first-class legal advice‘ to domestic and international clients. Natsuko Sugihara, whose experience covers cross-border M&A, private equity, and fund investments, leads the practice alongside Michihiro Nishi, who has a strong reputation for advising on domestic and international M&A, private equity ventures, and transactions involving public companies. Masafumi Shikakura, who was promoted to partner in May 2024, is noted for his work on M&A deals in the renewables space. Other noteworthy individuals include Shunsuke Nagae, Jenny Han and Yuki Hoshinaga.

DLA Piper Tokyo Partnership Gaikokuho Kyodojigyo Horitsu Jimusho’s corporate practice in Tokyo advises both domestic and international clients on cross-border matters, including in- and outbound energy-related M&A. Practice head Masahiko Ishida acts for both Japanese and international clients in a wide range of M&A and joint venture transactions, including in the tech and life sciences sectors. Peter Armstrong has been working in Japan on M&A, joint ventures, and foreign investments for over a decade. Beelian Tay advises on cross-border mergers, joint ventures, and corporate reorganisations in the healthcare, manufacturing, food, and clothing sectors.

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP‘s M&A team in Tokyo is noted particularly for its experience handling outbound transactions, including M&A, joint ventures, strategic alliances, and divestments, for blue-chip Japanese companies. Graeme Preston, managing partner for Asia and corporate practice head in Japan, specialises in assisting Japanese clients with outbound cross-border M&A. He has significant experience in the TMT, pharma, healthcare, consumer, and manufacturing sectors. Andrew Blacoe, managing partner of the Tokyo office and corporate head for Asia, has significant experience in outbound M&A transactions, especially in the energy sector. Damien Roberts divides his time between Tokyo and Sydney. Joseph Fisher and Lachlan Clancy are also key contacts.

Jones Day’s corporate practice in Tokyo advises both in relation to outbound acquisitions by Japanese clients and inbound acquisitions of Japanese businesses by international players. The team is noted particularly for advising Japanese trading houses as well as for its work in the life sciences and energy spaces. Practice head Chris Ahern focuses on M&A in the tech and energy sectors, while life sciences specialist Benjamin Lang advises on public and private M&A, divestitures, spin-outs, and joint ventures. Yuichiro Mori has over 30 years’ experience advising Japanese and international clients on a wide range of transactional matters.

Linklaters’ M&A practice in Tokyo continues to build a strong reputation in the Japanese market and is noted for handling complex and high-value M&A transactions, both public and private. The team has considerable expertise in the FIG and energy transition spaces, as well as in public M&A. A recent highlight for the firm included advising Toshiba Corporation on its take-private by Japan Industrial Partners. Cross-border M&A, strategic investments, joint ventures, and foreign direct investments are all key areas of activity for Tracy Whiriskey, who leads the team alongside Yoshiyuki Asaoka, a name to note for high-profile multijurisdictional transactions with a Japan nexus and public M&A.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP’s corporate practice in Tokyo has been active in Japan for over 35 years, advising major clients on public and private mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures. The team is also noted for its shareholder activism expertise, recently defending a client in a proxy contest. Mitsuhiro Kamiya, who has considerable experience handling a wide range of corporate matters, leads the team. Akira Kumaki has recently been instructed on several high-profile acquisitions. Louis Artime is also a key contact.

EY Law Co. continues to establish a strong reputation in Japan for its corporate offering, with experience spanning M&A, joint ventures, and investments, among other areas. Practice head Dan Matsuda, who also became the firm’s managing partner in April 2024, has over 20 years of experience advising Japanese and international clients on M&A transactions in the renewables, energy, automotive, and financial services sectors.

Latham & Watkins Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise has a longstanding presence in the Japanese M&A market, with leading clients in the automotive, tech, semiconductor, life sciences, and financial services sectors. Ji Liu leads the firm’s regional corporate group from Hong Kong. Hiroki Kobayashi has a wealth of experience in advising major Japanese and international companies on a wide range of corporate transactions with a Japan nexus. Hiroaki Takagi’s client base includes leading companies and private equity firms, both domestic and global, while Yohei Nakagawa is noted for his experience in the tech, life sciences, and media sectors. Ivan Smallwood has retired from practice.

Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP’s corporate team in Tokyo is noted particularly for its experience in tech and life sciences-related transactions. Practice head Motonori Araki has a broad client base that features life sciences companies, electronics/semiconductor manufacturers, and financial institutions. He is supported by California-based Nancy Yamaguchi, who regularly advises tech companies operating in the APAC region on M&A, strategic investments, and joint ventures. Mitsuyoshi Saito is active in the electronics, IT, chemistry, manufacturing, and pharma sectors, among others.

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP’s corporate team in Tokyo collaborates ‘seamlessly‘ with the firm’s global network to offer a comprehensive service to its broad client roster. The practice is noted particularly for its expertise in the tech and life sciences spaces, where it handles cross-border venture investment transactions and startup representations. With considerable experience spanning M&A, joint ventures, and venture capital transactions, Hiroki Sugita leads the group. Yumiko Ohta and Kane Huang are other key contacts.

Ropes & Gray LLP’s corporate team in Tokyo advises leading private equity firms, including Bain Capital, as well as their portfolio companies on a broad range of matters. A recent highlight for the team included advising Bain Capital on the acquisition of microscopes manufacturer Evident Corporation. The group is particularly active in the tech, asset management, and life sciences spaces. Tsuyoshi Imai leads the practice alongside Saeko Inaba.

Squire Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo Horitsu Jimusho’s corporate practice in Japan advises on inbound and outbound transactions across a wide range of industries, including chemicals, pharma, medical devices, tech, automotive, and telecoms. Office managing partner Steven Doi, whose practice encompasses cross-border M&A and investor-side venture capital transactions, leads the team alongside regional chair Stephen Chelberg, who works in the biotech, aerospace, software, and semiconductor sectors. Ken Kurosu has over 30 years of experience acting for multinational Japanese companies. Mörk Murdock and Rika Beppu are also key contacts.

Norton Rose Fulbright’s Tokyo office regularly advises clients on corporate and M&A matters in the energy sector. Office managing partner George Gibson is especially active in the renewables and energy transition spaces. Andrew Clarke provides key support on corporate mandates across the energy infrastructure value chain, with an emphasis on renewables and energy transition matters.

Paul Hastings LLP’s corporate team in Tokyo handles cross-border M&A transactions, strategic alliances, and joint ventures. Dual-qualified practice head Toshiyuki Arai has considerable experience advising Japanese and US companies on acquisitions and joint ventures. Yuko Kamo provides key support in transactional matters.

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP’s M&A practice in Japan assists both Japanese and US companies with inbound and outbound transactions. Recent highlights for the group include advising funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management on their $2bn acquisition of a majority stake in Panasonic Automotive Systems. Practice head Tong Yu led on that mandate. Kaye Yoshino has retired from practice.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP’s M&A team in Tokyo advises several major clients in relation to acquisitions, tender offers, and investments, among other matters. Hong Kong and Tokyo-based Ian Ho advises public and private corporations. Noritaka Kumamoto has experience assisting US corporations and financial institutions with inbound and outbound M&A. Jonathan Stradling’s clients include private equity sponsors and public and private companies.