Herbert Smith Freehills LLP’s TMT group has a strong track record advising leading tech, telecoms, entertainment and gaming companies, and electronics manufacturers on transactional matters. Asia managing partner and TMT practice head Graeme Preston has considerable experience in non-contentious issues, including M&A, licensing, data privacy, transfer and outsourcing agreements. Disputes expert David Gilmore specialises in international commercial dispute resolution, with notable experience in the tech space. Joseph Fisher regularly assists Japanese companies and trading houses with TMT sector matters, particularly cross-border M&A.

Latham & Watkins Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise’s data and technology transactions group handles a wide range of complex deals in the TMT space, acting for e-commerce, fintech, start-up, and MedTech clients, among others. Hiroaki Takagi regularly advises Japanese and international companies and private equity firms on tech-related M&A with a Japan nexus. Yohei Nakagawa assists tech clients in connection with outbound and inbound M&A, strategic investments, and international joint ventures. Benjamin Han advises tech and telecoms clients on a variety of IP and commercial matters. Former practice head Stuart Beraha retired from practice in December 2023.

Widely praised for its grasp of novel areas such as AI and machine learning, Morrison Foerster’s leading technology transactions group in Tokyo has been advising major clients in the TMT space on high-profile matters for over two decades. With considerable international experience handling IP matters for tech companies, Masato Hayakawa leads the group. Ken Siegel, managing partner of the firm’s Tokyo office and head of its M&A team, regularly assists high-tech companies with acquisitions, joint ventures, and strategic alliances. Yukihiro Terazawa focuses on acting for international clients in Japanese litigation and tech transactions. Seth Graham’s broad practice covers licensing arrangements, technology transfers, outsourcing transactions, and development agreements; he is noted for his AI and semiconductors expertise, among other areas, as well as his project management skills.

Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)’s TMT group in Tokyo advises on the full range of disputes, transactions, and regulatory issues. Kensaku Takase focuses on IT transactions, including those involving outsourcing, licensing, and cloud-based solutions. He leads the team alongside Yutaka Kimura, who advises major Japanese and international companies operating in the TMT sector. Daisuke Tatsuno specialises in IP rights, including those relating to broadcasting and telecoms companies.

Clifford Chance (Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo)’s technology practice in Tokyo handles TMT-related M&A, capital markets, data privacy, cybersecurity, and IP matters, among others, for financial services clients, corporations, and tech companies with operations in Japan and the APAC region more generally. Michihiro Nishi has considerable in M&A transactions and merger control cases in the TMT sector. He leads the team alongside Natsuko Sugihara, who advises a wide range of Japanese and international clients on in- and outbound TMT-related transactions. Tech antitrust expert Masafumi Shikakura, promoted to partner in May 2024, is noted for his expertise on digital platforms regulation, including app store issues. Capital markets specialists Reiko Sakimura and Leng-Fong Lai are also key contacts in the group.

White & Case LLP - White & Case Law Offices (Registered Association) collaborates with the firm’s global network to advise clients on both transactional and contentious TMT matters in Japan. Nels Hansen is highly active in the TMT sector, with real strength handling tech M&A and venture investments, as well as licensing and tech transactions. He leads the team alongside Jun Usami, who has over two decades of experience in the TMT space. Naoya Shiota’s M&A practice sees him advise major Japanese and international clients, while Zenya Onishi specialises in TMT-related debt finance matters. Local partner Lorraine Yip is also noted for her representation of leading tech clients.