Anderson Mori & Tomotsune consistently impresses with its practices in banking and finance, capital markets, dispute resolution, investment funds, labour and employment and regulatory work. Case studies show the firm has been busy acting in energy, insurance and real estate matters. Prominent figures in the firm include capital markets specialist Hironori Shibata, tax specialist Koji Fujita, intellectual property specialist Yasufumi Shiroyama and dispute resolution specialist Yoshimasa Furuta.
Banking and finance
Work highlights
Represented a consortium of five banks as the lenders in the development of 121.6 MW wind power project in the Tohoku area managed by Pattern Energy Group and Green Power Investment Corporation.
Key clients
Development Bank of Japan, MUFG Bank, Shinsei Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank
Capital markets
Work highlights
Assisted Harmonic Drive Systems in issuing a $400 million global offering of treasury shares and newly issued shares, in reliance on Regulation S of the US Securities Act of 1933, together with a private placement of treasury shares to a limited number of US qualified institutional buyers (QIBs). This is the first case that a Japanese company issued and allotted stock acquisition rights to another company concurrently with a global offering rather than allocating a portion of the shares to such designated party.
Key clients
Republic of the Philippines, Sapporo Holdings, Sumitomo Forestry
Corporate and M&A
Work highlights
Advised JSR, synthetic rubber and synthetic resins group headquartered in Japan, on its $400 million acquisition of Crown Bioscience International, a preclinical contract research organisation providing drug discovery and development services.
Key clients
Gakken Holdings, Japan's ICT and Postal Services (JICT), Meiji Group
Competition/antitrust
Work highlights
Represented Qualcomm in a hearing proceeding before the Japan Fair Trade Commission related to an alleged violation of Japan’s Antimonopoly Act purportedly based on certain licensing provisions with mobile phone manufacturers.
Key clients
Bunka Shutter, Hawaiian Airlines, Mitsubishi Paper Mills
Dispute resolution
Work highlights
Represented Google against an order of provisional disposition to delete the search results concerning criminal records which are displayed as the search results for the claimant’s name on the grounds of his privacy and other personal rights, especially referring ‘Right to be Forgotten’ which has been discussed in EU.
Key clients
Sanyo Electric
Investment funds
Work highlights
Assisted Abies Ventures in launching its first venture capital fund, Abies Ventures Fund, by establishing a unique structure utilising a Japanese limited liability partnership as the general partner of a Cayman exempted limited partnership. The Fund focuses on revolutionary deep tech startups in Japan and abroad.
Key clients
BlackRock, Credit Suisse, Fidelity
Labour and employment
Work highlights
Advising Luigi Lavazza on labour and employment matters regarding its acquisition of Mars Drinks Business.
Restructuring and insolvency
Work highlights
Advising Lehman Brothers Japan and three other Japanese entities on the filing of a petition for commencement of civil rehabilitation proceedings.
Key clients
BASK, Goyo Sangyo
Client feedback
“AMT is strong in capital markets, M&As and other securities law areas.” – Banking and finance
“Great teamwork, excellent knowledge and experienced senior partners as well as highly motivated and smart juniors with reasonable fee arrangements.” – Banking and finance
“Innovative ideas, flexibility and speed.” – Capital markets
“They gave appropriate advice for our benefit.” – Corporate and M&A
“Despite not being very familiar with the aviation industry, their service was very organised and helpful.” – Corporate and M&A
“They have sufficiently satisfied our requirements with high quality. They have a strong customer-centric mind and gave us practical advice based on business demand. Their strengths are high expertise in the financial industry and a customer-centric mindset.” – Insurance
“The lead partner was excellent while the overall team quality was moderate.” – Insurance
“As our company is located in Korea, it is hard for a foreigner to start a patent lawsuit in Japan. AMT [Anderson Mori & Tomotsune] removes any worries about discrimination which can be applied to the foreign company. We can focus on patent infringement issues due to AMT's existence. They have accumulated know-how and experiences and plenty of professionals in the intellectual property field and provide a trustful solution covering petition and negotiation. And their service cost is reasonably acceptable.” – Intellectual property
“Excellent. Professionally dealt with innovative fund structures to accommodate cross-border tax and regulatory issues.” – Investment funds
“The best firm in Japan. Highly responsive, understands instructions well and always gets the scope of work correct.” – Labour and employment
“Understands US-Japan legal issues; very responsive; proactively tries to understand our New York headquarter’s requirements.” – Labour and employment
“They are really reliable as a legal advisor. They have great skill in negotiation. I really want to retain them as our advisor for the next project.” – Private equity
“They have been giving us good advice, especially on Japanese regulatory matter. They are also strong in JFSA regulatory matters.” – Regulatory
“Provided great value with the team.” – Restructuring and insolvency
“I am overall happy with the quality of work and their response time. Good value for money. They are good at setting expectations on turnaround times.” – Technology and telecommunications
Tomoki Debari
“He is very easy to talk to and is a good listener. He has good knowledge of Japanese regulatory matters.”
“Strong commitment and deep knowledge. Quite helpful.”
Miki Goto
“He understands our case from the client's point of view. He never gives up on finding a solution for clients and provides a powerful strategy with his diligence.”
Takuo Hirose
“Very responsive, good value for money, practical and friendly.”
Kazutoshi Kakuyama
“Expert in labour law, provides practical solutions based on his great experience in the area. He is always reachable and has good communication skills.”
“The strongest employment lawyer in Japan; incredibly smart and hard-working; built an amazing team.”
Atsutoshi Maeda
“Good communication in English, responsive, meets deadlines, good quality advice, listens to the client. Can’t think of any weakness.”
Zentaro Nihei
“He contributes to clients with high standard services day and night.”
Yoshihito Shibata
“His experience and knowledge in the bankruptcy law or M&A area are excellent, and his words are very persuasive.”
Hiroaki Takahashi
“Provides the best solutions and always does his best for clients.”
Ryu Umezu
“Very innovative, knows the business, excellent knowledge of the law, flexibility to meet clients in need and most of all his admirable passion to complete the project.”
Ko Wakabayashi
“Very responsive and advocates strongly for client's needs; comes up with pragmatic solutions and proactively tries to understand the client's needs.”
