TMI Associates

TMI Associates has broad expertise across corporate and M&A, dispute resolution, intellectual property and regulatory matters. The firm is singled out for its expertise in the IP arena as it houses a strong bench of practitioners skilled in handling the full spectrum of domestic and cross-border contentious and non-contentious matters. The firm also has a proven track record advising clients in the banking, consumer goods and services, manufacturing, as well as media and entertainment sectors. Intellectual property practitioner, Mitsuko Miyagawa, and corporate and M&A specialists, Masakazu Iwakura and Tatsuhiro Takahara, are key figures.

Banking and finance

Work highlights

Advised Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation on debt financing for the 52MW solar power facility located in the town of Osato.

Capital markets

Work highlights

Advised the joint-lead managers on preparation and review of the subscription agreement including conditions of bonds and relevant documents relating to the issue and public offering of Export-Import Bank of India’s samurai bonds.

Key clients

BNP Paribas Securities, Daiwa Securities, Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities, Nomura Trust and Banking

Competition/antitrust

Work highlights

Advised DENSO Corporation on notification requirements under the competition laws of various countries including Japan, US, Canada, Brazil, EU, Israel, South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, India, Australia, Taiwan, Vietnam and South Africa. This case involved the joint venture with Fujitsu and Toyota Motor Corporation and relevant changes in the shareholding ratio.

Corporate and M&A

Work highlights

Advised Laox, a household appliance retailer, on the acquisition of a 33.3% stake by an investor group comprising of Granda Galaxy and Global Worker Haken in a privately negotiated transaction.

Key clients

Advantage Partners, Bushu Pharmaceuticals, Daiwa PI Partners, Keihin Corporation, Sotsu, UNIZO Holdings

Dispute resolution

Work highlights

Advised Tsuburaya Production on a global dispute spanning across Japan, Thailand, China and US concerning the rights to utilise the famous film works, Ultraman.

Investment funds

Work highlights

Advised Government Pension Investment Fund of Japan (GPIF), the world’s largest pension fund, on the launch and investment of assets in its first global infrastructure fund of funds. This deal is the first-ever global infrastructure investment (global core) implemented by GPIF under a fund of funds (FoF) structure with the appointment of an external gatekeeper and FoF manager to manage such funds.

Key clients

DBJ Asset Management, Nissay Asset Management Corporation, Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Asset Management

Intellectual property

Work highlights

Defended Digi-Key Corporation and RayVio Corporation in a patent infringement dispute concerning the cutting-edge UV-LED technology.

Labour and employment

Work highlights

Advised multiple employers on issues such as sexual harassment claims, unfair dismissal and employee disciplinary issues.

Tax

Work highlights

Advised a client on tax audit on its consumption tax as to the management fees paid from the Cayman fund to the Japanese management company by providing tax opinions and meeting with the tax authorities.