Anderson Mori & Tomotsune

Anderson Mori & Tomotsune moves up to the ‘Outstanding’ tier in energy, investment funds, labour and employment and tax this year. The firm’s competition/antitrust and restructuring and insolvency team welcomed special counsel Takeshi Ishida from the Japan Fair Trade Commission and partner Hiroyasu Ueda from Oh-Ebashi LPC & Partners respectively.

Banking and finance

Work highlights

Acted for the arrangers, The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi and NEC Capital Solutions, of a syndicated loan related to a submarine optical cable project connecting Hong Kong and Guam.

Capital markets

Work highlights

Advised Canadian Solar Infrastructure Fund on its IPO and acquisition of solar energy projects from affiliates of its sponsor, Canadian Solar Projects KK, using the funds raised by the IPO. This is the first case of global IPO conducted by an infrastructure fund listed on the Infrastructure fund market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE).            

Acted for Okura Holdings on its HKSE IPO. This is the first time a Japanese company has incorporated a holding company in Hong Kong and listed its shares on the HKSE. 

Key clients

Canadian Solar Infrastructure Fund, Daiwa Securities, Goldman Sachs Japan, JPMorgan Securities Japan, Mizuho Securities

Competition/antitrust

Work highlights

Represented Qualcomm in proceedings before the Japan fair trade commission related to alleged violation of Japan’s Antimonopoly Act purportedly based on certain licensing provisions with mobile phone manufacturers.

Key clients

Bain Capital, Bunka Shutter, Hawaiian Airlines, Mitsubishi Paper Mills, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company

Corporate and M&A

Work highlights

Advised KM Holdings, a SPC established by a fund managed by MBK Partners, on its acquisition of Kuroda Electrics.

Advised Vedanta Group on the acquisition of a majority stake in AvanStrate, a Japanese manufacturer for LCD glass substrate, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Cairn India Holdings from the Carlyle Group and outstanding debt of AvanStrate for $151 million in existing AvanStrate debts with face value of $299 million from banks.

Key clients

Cosmo Energy Holdings, Obayashi Corporation, Sekisui Chemical, Sumitomo Forestry, Yusen Logistics

Dispute resolution

Work highlights

Acted for Tsuburaya Productions, a Japanese entertainment company, against UM Corporation claiming that it holds international licensing rights to the Ultraman series, a famous Si-Fi hero drama series originally created by Tsuburaya family, by virtue of the one-page license agreement allegedly signed by the president of Tsuburaya in March 1976.

Key clients

Google

Intellectual property

Work highlights

Advised MEDRx, a publicly-traded pharmaceutical company in Japan, in a major licencing agreement with Cipla USA, a US subsidiary of Cipla in India, one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in the US.

Key clients

Aisin Seiki, Dunlop Sports, Murata Machinery, Taiyo Holdings, Toyota Motor

Investment funds                      

Work highlights

Advised Nikko AM Global Cayman on the public offering of DoubleLine Total Return Fund and NEUB Corporate Hybrid Securities Fund, new sub-funds of Nikko AM Offshore Funds. 

Advised Superfund Japan Trading (Cayman) on an integration of three funds into one fund. Superfund Green One Japan, Superfund Red Japan and Superfund Blue Japan were integrated into Superfund Green Gold Japan and changed its name to Superfund Japan.

Key clients

BlackRock, Credit Suisse, Invesco, Janus Capital, Nikko Asset Management, Nomura Alternative Investment Management

Restructuring and insolvency

Work highlights

Advised Newton Press, a science magazine publisher, in relation to a petition for a civil rehabilitation procedure.

Key clients

AIJ Investment Advisors, ITM Securities, Lehman Brothers Japan, SHIRAI Industrial

Tax

Work highlights

Acted for a major domestic corporation against the Tokyo regional tax bureau in connection to potential additional tax liabilities based on a theory of payment of indemnity under a stock acquisition agreement.

Client feedback

“Very thorough analysis and comes up with persuasive drafts. Strength in labour related negotiation and seamlessly transitions to litigation, if necessary.” – Dispute resolution, Labour and employment

“They are experienced in the area of healthcare which is rather rare for law firms. Very responsive. Practical advice in a simple language.” – Intellectual property, Regulatory

“They provide effective strategies in patent litigation. Their strategies are sufficiently supported by the team. In particular, the litigation team and prosecution team working as one team creates great chemistry. All members are very passionate and professional. They understand their own roles and final goal for the litigation.” – Intellectual property

“Very strong in regulations related to the healthcare industry. Comes up with a solution based on a good understanding of industry practice.” - Junichi Kondo

“Very knowledgeable in technology issues, experienced and down-to-earth.” “He is an all-round player. He cares from the details to the big picture.” - Miki Goto