Atsumi & Sakai is a leading full-service law firm offering a range of counsel services pertaining to most financial and corporate law matters. The firm has an excellent reputation for assisting startups and financial institutions on fintech-related matters. It offers additional strength in the energy, infrastructure and real-estate sectors. The firm is also known for its expertise in securitisation, covered bonds and similar structured finance transactions. Go Fujimoto and Yusuke Miura are key contacts. The firm strengthened its partnership with two significant lateral hires in 2024. Akiko Hosokawa joined from Baker McKenzie in June, bringing extensive experience in banking, financial regulation and trust law. The firm further expanded in October with the addition from Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu of Makiko Harada, who focuses on banking, project finance and data-protection matters.
Work highlights
Successfully represented multiple international institutional investors in a ¥9 billion ($61 million) damages claim against Toshiba Corporation over mis-statements in annual reports. The complex multi-jurisdictional matter, concluded in March 2024, involved laws from seven jurisdictions and required coordination among foreign asset managers, global custodians and investment funds. The case marks one of Japan's largest securities litigation matters involving institutional investors.
Work highlights
Advising Mitsubishi Research Institute, Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya City on a major PPP project for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. The development encompasses the athletes' village and its post-Games transformation into a comprehensive urban development featuring residential areas, university facilities, sports venues, retail spaces and healthcare facilities. The firm is providing full legal support including project structuring, tender documentation and process management.
Key clients
Mitsubishi HC Capital
Work highlights
Advising Mitsubishi Research Institute and Nagoya City on a PFI project for the development and operation of an international MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) facility. The project involves both rehabilitate-operate and build-transfer-operate structures for the design, construction and operation of the venue in Nagoya.
