The team at Anderson Mori & Tomotsune has been preached by clients not only for their ‘profound legal expertise’, but also their ‘comprehensive understanding of technology’. Led by Ken Kawai, the team has in-depth knowledge of financial regulations, information technology, intellectual property rights, and information security. Kawai specialises in advising clients on a wide range of fintech-related legal matters, including cryptocurrencies, digital securities, and cross-border electronic payments. Shunsuke Aoki primarily advises on fintech regulations and corporate finance transactions in both domestic and international capital markets, with additional expertise in security tokens. Other key members include Keisuke Hatano, who specialises in finance transactions and settlement-related matters, and Takato Fukui, who advises fintech companies and institutions on legal issues concerning crypto assets.

Mori Hamada & Matsumoto Tokyo Office‘s dedicated Fintech practice specialises in settlement and funds transfers, crypto assets and blockchains, and fundraising. The team is co-led by Masakazu Masujima, who has extensive experience with payment services, including money transmissions and crypto assets; Takane Hori, who addresses data protection and cyber security matters; and Atsushi Okada, who advises on various tech matters related to fund transfers, credit cards, and payment businesses. Masayuki Ishibashi focuses mainly on security token offerings, while Takanori Shinohara specialises in financial regulation and IT. Another notable name is Masafumi Masuda, who provides guidance on legal issues at the intersection of financial regulation and information technology.

The fintech team at Atsumi & Sakai offers legal support for technological innovations in various industries, focusing on their application to regulations in areas such as banking, payment services, securities, insurance, anti-money laundering, and data privacy. The team is jointly led by Yuri Suzuki, who is an expert in stablecoin legislation; Takafumi Ochiai, who specialises in dispute resolution within the fintech sector; and Kenichi Tanizaki, who brings extensive experience in banking and financial matters, including expertise in bank APIs. The three co-heads also lead seminars, speak at panel discussions, and regularly publish articles on various fintech topics.

The fintech team at Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu has extensive experience representing major Japanese banks and financial institutions in business developments and reforms involving mobile payments, biometric authentication, AI, and related technologies. Led by Taku Umezawa and Keiji Tonomura, the team assist with collaborations, joint ventures, and acquisitions of fintech startups. Umezawa is prominent in financial regulation area and data protection, while Tonomura focuses on tech-related transactions, data protection and privacy. Another name to note is Shu Sasaki, who has been focusing on financial regulation and fintech matters.

Nishimura & Asahi‘s team provides advice on a broad range of fintech issues, including payment services, crypto-assets, blockchain, and crowdfunding. The team is led by Naoya Ariyoshi, who is well-versed in advising on financial regulations and transactions, including crypto-asset transactions and social trading. Susumu Tanizawa has particular expertise in M&A transactions and payment spaces, while Akihiro Shiba represents clients in licensing, compliance, and other regulatory matters. Toshiyuki Yamamoto and Akihiro Shimoda, who focus on financial regulations and transactions related to venture finance and startup businesses, are also members to note.

The team at TMI Associates advises clients in the finance and IT sectors, including patent matters related to blockchain. The team, co-led by Haruo Narimoto, Makiko Yamamoto, Arito Ogoshi, and Takatsugu Kitajima, has established a dedicated fintech group to offer systematic and comprehensive support for growing fintech-related needs. Narimoto specialises in investment-type crowdfunding in Japan, Ogoshi is well-versed in financial regulation, and Kitajima focuses on fintech businesses, particularly those utilising blockchain technologies. Recognised for his knowledge of financial regulation, Ippei Shimizu is another name to note.