In tandem with the firm’s tax practice, the private wealth practice at Mori Hamada & Matsumoto provides a ‘unique‘ one-stop-shop service to its clients, spanning M&A, corporate reorganisations and estate planning. Practice co-head and ‘leading expert‘ Atsushi Oishi advises an extensive client list, including both wealthy individuals and listed and private companies, on cross-border transactions. The firm’s strong litigation practice further bolsters the private wealth team; Makoto Sakai, who leads the team alongside Oishi, has a wealth of experience in tax investigations and tax litigation for high-net-worth individuals and Hiroshi Oyama handles tax disputes, providing ‘accurate and reliable‘ advice. Senior associate Yoshihiko Abe advises high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals on a range of wealth management planning matters. Promoted to partner in 2023, Koyo Madakoro is a licensed tax accountant who specialises in wealth management. Tax accountant Yuko Maruyama is another name to note.

At Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu, the private wealth team has particular strengths in trust matters and structured finance; Masayuki Fukuda is an expert in both trusts and inheritance matters. With its established reputation in the tax market, the firm is also able to advise high-net-worth individuals from both a legal and a tax perspective. Along with Yushi Hegawa, who has ‘extensive working experience in dealing with cross border wealth management‘, Shigeki Minami brings tax and M&A expertise to the team. In addition to advising on domestic matters, the practice has a strong cross-border component; Singaore-based M&A expert Yoshikazu Hasegawa advises Japanese clients on their asset successions and investments, providing ‘a blend of Singapore and Japanese expertise.’

Nishimura & Asahi fields a comprehensive private wealth practice that caters to a range of clients, from private business owners to shareholders of listed companies to international private investors. The team advises on business succession planning and inheritance matters, including trust funds, tax and estate planning, and counts SMEs as its key clients. Practice co-head Yoshinobu Fujimoto has extensive experience in international taxation and multi-jurisdictional private wealth matters. Counsel Kohei Matano advises on M&A and the division of property. The group also handles family disputes, and practice co-head Masaru Shibahara boasts a dispute practice that spans both claims and litigation in and out of court.

Kei Sasaki, Yutaka Shimoo and Taku Matsumoto jointly lead the private wealth team at Anderson Mori & Tomotsune to advise on all aspects of wealth management. With Sasaki’s expertise in trusts and finance and Matsumoto’s experience in corporate and M&A matters, the team is well-positioned to advise clients on business and asset acquisition, management and investment, and the succession of businesses and assets. Shimoo’s experience in tax, including his experience at the Tokyo Regional Taxation Bureau, allows the team to advise on inheritance tax matters. The group acts for a range of clients, from financial institutions to high-net-worth individuals, and has recently expanded its client base with a number of additions, such as Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank.

City-Yuwa Partners‘ private wealth team, jointly led by Shigeaki Itoh and Hitomi Sakai, advises a diverse and international client base, including high-net-worth individuals, family business owners, company founders and investors. The group works closely with tax accountants and financial institutions to handle a full range of matters across wealth management and estate planning which Yuki Takahashi focuses on. The team also has a strong litigation practice, handling matters from negotiation and mediation to civil and criminal litigation, and disputes between family members, and business partners. Ayaka Itoh, who focuses on domestic estate planning and business succession, was promoted to counsel in January 2023.