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Welcome to the ALB Japan Law Awards 2021!
Date: Thursday, 30 September 2021, 8 pm (GMT+9)
Asian Legal Business is proud to present the 17th Annual ALB Japan Law Awards 2021! These prestigious awards will pay tribute to the outstanding performance of private practitioners and in-house counsel in Japan and around the region.
As health and safety of our participants are our priority, after careful consideration, the awards will be hosted virtually this year on 30 September 2021.
Continuous connection is especially important in these uncertain times, and we are determined to keep ALB’s commitment in delivering the finest event experience to the legal community.
Let us celebrate together ALB’s first-ever virtual awards ceremony of Japan at the comfort of our homes with our favorite food and drinks!
FINALISTS ANNOUNCED! CHECK OUT AT THE FINALISTS TAB.
Contact Harmony Tam at harmony.tam@tr.com or +852 3462 7767 for submission inquiries.
Contact Amantha Chia at amantha.chia@tr.com or +65 6973 8258 for sponsorship opportunities.
Categories
CATEGORIES
DEAL CATEGORIES
1. Debt Market Deal of the Year
2. Equity Market Deal of the Year
3. M&A Deal of the Year (Midsize)
4. M&A Deal of the Year (Premium)
5. Project Finance Deal of the Year
6. Real Estate Deal of the Year
7. Technology, Media and Telecommunications Deal of the Year
INDIVIDUAL CATEGORIES
1. Dealmaker of the Year
2. Dispute Resolution Lawyer of the Year
3. Foreign Lawyer of the Year
4. In-House Lawyer of the Year
5. Managing Partner of the Year
6. Woman Lawyer of the Year (In-House)
7. Woman Lawyer of the Year (Law Firm)
8. Young Lawyer of the Year (In-House)
9. Young Lawyer of the Year (Law Firm)
IN-HOUSE TEAM CATEGORIES
1. Compliance and Risk Management In-House Team of the Year
2. Innovative In-House Team of the Year
3. Technology, Media and Telecommunications In-House Team of the Year
4. Japan In-House Team of the Year
FIRM CATEGORIES
1. Antitrust and Competition Law Firm of the Year
2. Banking and Financial Services Law Firm of the Year
3. Boutique Law Firm of the Year
4. Energy and Resources Law Firm of the Year
5. Healthcare and Life Sciences Law Firm of the Year
6. International Arbitration Law Firm of the Year
7. International Deal Firm of the Year
8. International Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year
9. Investment Funds Law Firm of the Year
10. Japan Deal Firm of the Year
11. Japan Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year
12. Japan Practice Foreign Law Firm of the Year
13. Labour and Employment Law Firm of the Year
14. Litigation Law Firm of the Year
15. Maritime Law Firm of the Year
16. Overseas Practice Law Firm of the Year
17. Real Estate Law Firm of the Year
18. Regulatory and Compliance Law Firm of the Year
19. Restructuring and Insolvency Law Firm of the Year
20. Rising Law Firm of the Year
21. Tax and Trusts Law Firm of the Year
22. Technology, Media and Telecommunications Law Firm of the Year
23. Japan Law Firm of the Year
Submit Today
SUBMISSION MATERIALS
SUBMISSIONS CLOSED
IMPORTANT DATES
Announcement of finalists | August 6
Awards ceremony | September 30
SUBMISSION INQUIRIES
Harmony Tam
Events Researcher
Phone: +852 3462 7767
Email: harmony.tam@thomsonreuters.com
Judges
JUDGING PANEL
Each year, ALB invites an independent judging panel of senior and expert legal industry leaders from various sectors corresponding to the diverse list of award categories. ALB is pleased to introduce some of the distinguished judges. The rest of the panel will be revealed on the evening of the virtual awards.
Kenichi Umezawa
Head of Legal and Compliance, Japan
MSD
Kenichi Umezawa has been Member of the Board, Executive Officer, Chief Legal & Compliance Officer and Head of Legal & Compliance at MSD Japan since January 2020. He has extensive knowledge and experience in the healthcare industry from both sides of Legal and compliance of pharmaceutical business with spending a considerable amount time with Novartis Pharma Japan working as their Head of Pharma Legal, and thereafter, as their Corporate Officer and Head of Integrity & Compliance. He also has experience of working for Microsoft and Cargill respectively in Japan after started his career as a lawyer at White & Case Tokyo.
Mr. Umezawa received his LL.B. degree from Waseda University and is admitted to practice law in Japan (2000).
Kenji Tagaya
Executive Officer, General Counsel
Head of Legal Group
JERA
Mr. Tagaya is the Executive Officer, General Counsel and Head of Legal Group of JERA, which is one of the largest energy companies in Japan, encompassing the entire energy supply chain from upstream fuel investment and fuel procurement through power generation. Prior to joining JERA, Mr. Tagaya worked for a Japanese governmental financial institution (JBIC) and was involved in oil & gas and power project financing in Asia and Middle East.
Mr. Tagaya also spent time as Principal Counsel at an international financial institution (EBRD) in London and was involved in development financing in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. He was awarded ALB (Asian Legal Business) Japan “In-house Lawyer of the Year” in 2017 and Chambers “GC Influencers” Japan in 2019.
Kohei Kodama
Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel
Hitachi
Kohei Kodama became General Counsel/Chief Compliance Officer at Hitachi, Ltd. in April 2018, and was promoted to Chief Legal Officer/General Counsel/Chief Risk Management Officer in April 2020. He is Vice President and Executive Officer since April 2018.
Prior to Hitachi, Ltd., he practiced law in California for 14 years as an in-house attorney with Hitachi America, Ltd. In addition to wide range of U.S.A. legal matters and transactions, including without limitation, M&A, JV, CVC, Corporation, Employment and License, he is knowledgeable about so-called Silicon Valley business and culture.
He is a graduate of the University of Tokyo(1986) and Cornell Law School(LL.M., 1994).
Michito Kitamura
Managing Partner
PwC Legal Japan
Michito Kitamura is a managing partner at PwC Legal Japan. Prior to joining PwC Legal Japan in 2016, he started his career in working for Arthur Andersen for 5 years as a C.P.A. and then worked for one of the largest law firms in Japan for 15 years as an attorney-at-law, including five years as a partner.
He specializes in the fields of tax dispute and litigation, wealth management and ESG as well as corporate law and M&A, by utilizing his unique background that includes experience in the legal, tax and accounting fields. Specifically, he has extensive experience representing clients in various kinds of tax disputes and litigation at all court levels in Japan. In addition, he has also engaged in consulting services related to ESG and sustainability agendas with PwC professionals.
Michito has served as an expert on the committee on international taxation of the JICPA. He has also been a lecturer on tax policy at Hitotsubashi University’s School of International and Public Policy from 2011 to the present. He is a graduate of Keio University and NYU School of Law (LLM in International Tax).
Akihito Nakamachi
Partner, Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Mr. Nakamachi is a fully bilingual and bicultural attorney, fully admitted to practice in Japan, New York and California. He has the rare distinction among Japanese lawyers of having served as a partner both in the United States and in Japan, and possesses over 25 years of solid experience as a practicing lawyer. He has special expertise in intellectual property/technology transactions for technology-driven clients, ranging from young start-ups to fully-matured global enterprises.
Aki represents clients operating in a wide range of industries, including software, Internet, e-commerce, computer gaming, computer equipment, telecommunications, automobile, semiconductor, pharmaceuticals, biotech and medical devices. With over 10 years of work experience at first-tier national U.S. law firms across the United States, Aki has acquired exceptionally deep and practical knowledge of not only the laws but also the "business culture" of both the United States and Japan, and utilizes his expertise to assist clients in achieving successful outcomes in cross-border commercial transactions and dispute resolution matters.
Shinichi Matsui
Partner, Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Mr. Shinichi Matsui is a partner at Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu and was a Committee Member of Law Reform of Transportation and Maritime of the Commercial Code of Japan appointed by the Minister of Justice. Mr. Matsui advises clients regarding a wide variety of international corporate and other commercial matters, including maritime, entertainment and intellectual property. Mr. Matsui represents the Japanese Government and many governmental agencies, and primarily, based on his governmental issue expertise, he focuses on public ship finance, bankruptcy, litigation and counseling. His maritime litigation experience includes handling matters before district courts, the high courts and the Supreme Court.
Kozo Kawai
Partner, Nishimura & Asahi
Kozo Kawai is a partner of Nishimura & Asahi. His practice has focused on antitrust/competition matters and international trade affairs and is advising domestic and overseas clients as well as trade associations and governmental agencies in both field. He has been frequently selected as NIKKEI’s “Most successful lawyers” in Japan” and ranked as Band 1 in the Competition and International Trade categories (Japan) for Chambers APAC (2021). Also he is listed by the Joint Committee under the Agreement between the European Union and Japan for an Economic Partnership, as one of the 15 listed individuals who is willing and able to serve as an arbitrator of a panel, as set forth under paragraph 1 of Article 21.9 and Article 22.2 of the EU-Japan EPA.
Eiichiro Kubota
Managing Partner, Kubota
Eiichiro Kubota is the managing partner of the boutique IP firm KUBOTA. He has 30 plus years of experience as an IP lawyer and is specialized in IP litigation and trademark prosecution. He has re-established the KUBOTA firm in 2015 after serving as the only Japanese qualified partner in the Hogan Lovells firm for 7 years. He is top-ranked in numerous directories and has written many articles as well as giving lectures in various occasions.
Shingo Hattori
In-house counsel, Senior Legal Affairs, International Business Division
Fujita Corporation
An experienced business lawyer qualified in Japan and the State of New York. With wide range of friendship that I built up in my professional experience in Japan and the United States of America, I know many lawyers who do great professional jobs with very kind courtesy. As a law firm lawyer and in-house counsel, I’ve been in charge of corporate legal and business negotiation for real estate investments from Japan to Asian countries and Mexico. I grew up in Tokyo while studied in Michigan and Los Angeles. My dream is to accelerate bridging Japanese business and foreign business more smoothly than ever with great legal expertise. I’m an alum of the Legal Training and Research Institute of the Supreme Court of Japan in 2013 and UCLA Law (LL.M, 2019). I’ve been playing tennis since I was at high school. I’m a big fan of Naomi Osaka.
and many more...
Finalists
FINALISTS**
Back to topIndividual Categories
Dealmaker of the Year
Alan G. Cannon - Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
Gavin Raftery - Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)
Go Hashimoto - Atsumi & Sakai
John Tessensohn - SHUSAKU·YAMAMOTO
Katsumasa Suzuki - Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Keiji Hatano - Sullivan & Cromwell
Ken Lebrun - Davis Polk & Wardwell
Koki Yamada - Tokyo International Law Office
Soichiro Fujiwara - Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Tong Yu - Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison
Yo Ota - Nishimura & Asahi
Yusuke Abe - Clifford Chance
Dispute Resolution Lawyer of the Year
Chris Bailey - King & Spalding Gaikokuho Jimu Bengoshi Jimusho
David Gilmore - Herbert Smith Freehills
Hiroyuki Tezuka - Nishimura & Asahi
Katsumasa Suzuki - Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Koki Yanagisawa - Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Masataka Hayakawa - Atsumi & Sakai
Shinsuke Yakura - Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe
Yoshimasa Furuta - Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Foreign Lawyer of the Year
Andrew Blacoe - Herbert Smith Freehills
Catherine O'Connell - Catherine O'Connell Law
Chris Bailey - King & Spalding Gaikokuho Jimu Bengoshi Jimusho
Dr. Axel Kuhlmann - Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Eric Roose - Withers
Gavin Raftery - Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)
Ian S. Scott - Atsumi & Sakai
Ing-Chian Sun - Nishimura & Asahi
Keiji Hatano - Sullivan & Cromwell
In-House Lawyer of the Year
Emi Takeda - Accenture
Hiro Kato - Inpex Corporation
Mari Hiraizumi - GSK
Mariko Toda - IP Bridge
Saburo Nakao - Dassault Systèmes
Sayo Kondo Takizawa - Blackstone
Tim Mackey - SoftBank Group
Tony Durkan - JX Nippon Oil & Gas Exploration Corporation
Yuichiro Watanabe - Airbnb
Yuji Igarashi - Dyson
Managing Partner of the Year
David Gilmore - Herbert Smith Freehills
Hiroki Inoue - Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Hiroshi Kondo - Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)
Jon Gray - Davis Polk & Wardwell
Keiji Hatono - Sullivan & Cromwell
Kensaku Yamamoto - SHUSAKU·YAMAMOTO
Masaki Hosaka - Nishimura & Asahi
Masataka Ogasawara - ZeLo
Mikiharu Mori - Tokyo International Law Office
Reiji Takahashi - Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Shinsuke Yakura - Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe
Woman Lawyer of the Year (Law Firm)
Bonnie L. Dixon - Atsumi & Sakai
Catherine O'Connell - Catherine O'Connell Law
Chika Minami - ZeLo
Haruka Murata - Miura & Partners
Hikaru Oguchi - Nishimura & Asahi
Keiko Shimizu - Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Minako Wakabayashi - Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe
Natsuko Sugihara - Clifford Chance
Yaeko Hodaka - Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)
Woman Lawyer of the Year (In-House)
Emi Takeda - Accenture
Mari Hiraizumi - GSK
Mariko Toda - IP Bridge
Sayo Kondo Takizawa - Blackstone
Young Lawyer of the Year (Law Firm)
Gai Matsushita - Atsumi & Sakai
Hans Menski - Clifford Chance
Hiroshi Yamauchi - Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Kotaro Okada - Tokyo International Law Office
Laarni Q. Vinas - SHUSAKU·YAMAMOTO
Masataka Ogasawara - ZeLo
Masayuki Atsumi - Miura & Partners
Nels Hansen - White & Case
Nirav N. Mehta - Sullivan & Cromwell
Yasuhiro Kasahara - Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Yoshiyuki Asaoka - Nishimura & Asahi
Young Lawyer of the Year (In-House)
David Chen - Dassault Systèmes
Hiroyuki Hamai - Tokio Marine Holdings
Yuichiro Watanabe - Airbnb
In-House Categories
Compliance and Risk Management In-House Team of the Year
Airbnb
Dyson
GSK
IHI Corporation
Innovative In-House Team of the Year
Accenture
Airbnb
Dyson
GSK
SoftBank Group
UiPath
WeWork Japan
Technology, Media and Telecommunications In-House Team of the Year
Airbnb
ByteDance
Dassault Systèmes
Dyson
SoftBank Group
UiPath
WeWork Japan
ZOZO
Japan In-House Team of the Year
Accenture
Airbnb
Dyson
GSK
Hitachi-Johnson Controls Air Conditioning
IHI Corporation
INPEX Corporation
Tokio Marine Holdings
Tokyo Gas
UiPath
WeWork Japan
ZOZO
Firm Categories
Antitrust and Competition Law Firm of the Year
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Atsumi & Sakai
Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)
Clifford Chance
Hirayama Law Offices
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Nishimura & Asahi
TMI Associates
White & Case
Banking and Financial Services Law Firm of the Year
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Atsumi & Sakai
Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)
Clifford Chance
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Nishimura & Asahi
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison
Sullivan & Cromwell
TMI Associates
White & Case
Boutique Law Firm of the Year
Catherine O'Connell Law
Tokyo International Law Office
Vanguard Lawyers
ZeLo
Energy and Resources Law Firm of the Year
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Atsumi & Sakai
Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)
Clifford Chance
Herbert Smith Freehills
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Nishimura & Asahi
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe
TMI Associates
White & Case
Healthcare and Life Sciences Law Firm of the Year
Atsumi & Sakai
Hogan Lovells Horitsu Jimusho Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Morrison & Foerster
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Nishimura & Asahi
Oh-Ebashi LPC & Partners
SHUSAKU·YAMAMOTO
TMI Associates
Vanguard Lawyers
ZeLo
International Arbitration Law Firm of the Year
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Atsumi & Sakai
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
Herbert Smith Freehills
King & Spalding Gaikokuho Jimu Bengoshi Jimusho
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Nishimura & Asahi
International Deal Firm of the Year
Clifford Chance
Davis Polk & Wardwell
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
Sullivan & Cromwell
International Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year
Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)
Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner
Hogan Lovells Horitsu Jimusho Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius
Morrison & Foerster
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan
Investment Fund Law Firm of the Year
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Atsumi & Sakai
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Nishimura & Asahi
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
TMI Associates
Withers
Japan Deal Firm of the Year
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Miura & Partners
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Nishimura & Asahi
Southgate
Tokyo International Law Office
Japan Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year
Abe, Ikubo and Katayama
Atsumi & Sakai
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Nishimura & Asahi
Oh-Ebashi LPC & Partners
SHUSAKU·YAMAMOTO
TMI Associates
ZeLo
Japan Practice Foreign Law Firm of the Year
Bird & Bird
Gleiss Lutz
JT&N
Steptoe & Johnson
Labour and Employment Law Firm of the Year
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Atsumi & Sakai
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Nishimura & Asahi
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe
TMI Associates
Vanguard Lawyers
Litigation Law Firm of the Year
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Atsumi & Sakai
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Morrison & Foerster
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Nishimura & Asahi
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe
TMI Associates
Vanguard Lawyers
ZeLo
Maritime Law Firm of the Year
Atsumi & Sakai
Nishimura & Asahi
TMI Associates
Overseas Practice Law Firm of the Year
Atsumi & Sakai
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Nishimura & Asahi
Tokyo International Law Office
Real Estate Law Firm of the Year
Atsumi & Sakai
Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)
Clifford Chance
Greenberg Traurig
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Nishimura & Asahi
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe
TMI Associates
Withers
Regulatory and Compliance Law Firm of the Year
Atsumi & Sakai
Clifford Chance
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Nishimura & Asahi
Oh-Ebashi LPC & Partners
SHUSAKU·YAMAMOTO
Sullivan & Cromwell
Restructuring and Insolvency Law Firm of the Year
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Atsumi & Sakai
Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Nishimura & Asahi
Rising Law Firm of the Year
Southgate
Tokyo International Law Office
ZeLo
Tax and Trusts Law Firm of the Year
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Nishimura & Asahi
TMI Associates
Withers
Technology, Media and Telecommunications Law Firm of the Year
Atsumi & Sakai
Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)
Clifford Chance
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Morrison & Foerster
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Nishimura & Asahi
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe
Southgate
TMI Associates
ZeLo
Japan Law Firm of the Year
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Atsumi & Sakai
Clifford Chance
Miura & Partners
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Nishimura & Asahi
Tokyo International Law Office
Withers
Back to top
Deal Categories
Debt Market Deal of the Year
Berkshire Hathaway's Issuance of Benchmark Global Yen Notes
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Munger, Tolles & Olson; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
Development Bank of Japan's Issuance of Dual Tranche
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Clifford Chance
Financing for Bain Capital's Acquisition of Nichii Gakkan
Law firms: Ropes & Gray; White & Case
JBIC's Issuance of Government Guaranteed Bond
Law firms: Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
Kyushu Electric Power’s Issuance of Publicly Offered Hybrid Corporate Bonds
Law firm: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Banks: Daiwa Securities; Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities; Mizuho Bank; Mizuho Securities; Nomura Securities; SMBC Nikko Securities
Loans and Preferred Stock Financing for Showa Denko’s Acquisition of Hitachi Chemical
Law firms: Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Nishimura & Asahi
MUFG's Issuance of Partial Tender Offer for Five Tranches
Law firms: Clifford Chance; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
Banks: Morgan Stanley; MUFG Securities
MUFG's Senior Unsubordinated Unsecured Notes Offering
Law firms: Clifford Chance; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
Banks: BofA Securities; J.P. Morgan; Morgan Stanley; MUFG Securities
Nissan Motor's USD and EUR Senior Notes Offerings
Law firms: Davis Polk & Wardwell; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
Nomura's SEC-registered Senior Notes Offering
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; Sullivan & Cromwell
Banks: Citigroup Global Markets; Nomura Securities
SMBC Covered Bond Programme
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Linklaters
Bank: BNY Mellon
Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank's Senior Notes Offering
Law firms: Davis Polk & Wardwell; Linklaters; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Takeda’s Issuance of Unsecured USD and EUR Denominated Senior Notes
Law firms: Nishimura & Asahi; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; Sullivan & Cromwell
Banks: BofA Securities; Merrill Lynch International; Morgan Stanley
The Metropolis of Tokyo's Bond Offering
Law firms: Clifford Chance; Davis Polk & Wardwell; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Equity Market Deal of the Year
ANA Holdings' Global Offering of Common Stock
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Davis Polk & Wardwell; Marunouchi International Law Office; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
Banks: Goldman Sachs; SMBC
Asahi Group's Global Offering
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Davis Polk & Wardwell; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Simpson, Thacher & Bartlett
Japan Airlines' Global Offering
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
Banks: Daiwa Securities; Mizuho Securities; Morgan Stanley
Japan Display’s Issuance of Shares and Warrants
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; City-Yuwa Partners; Nishimura & Asahi
Nippon Building Fund's Global Offering
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Morrison & Foerster; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom; Sullivan & Cromwell
SBI Holdings' Euro Yen Convertible Bonds
Law firms: Clifford Chance; Nishimura & Asahi
SoftBank's Global Public Offering
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Davis Polk & Wardwell; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Sullivan & Cromwell
Banks: Crédit Agricole; Citigroup Global Markets; Daiwa Capital Markets; J.P. Morgan; Merrill Lynch International; Mizuho International; Nomura International; SMBC
SoftBank Group's Block Trade Sale of Common Stock of SoftBank Corp.
Law firm: Davis Polk & Wardwell; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
SoftBank's Monetization of T-Mobile Interest
Law firms: Davis Polk & Wardwell; Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson; Latham & Watkins; Sullivan & Cromwell
M&A Deal of the Year (Midsize)
Acquisition of Tokyo Dome with Mitsui Fudosan
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Nishimura & Asahi; Shibata, Suzuki & Nakada
Bain Capital’s Acquisition of Nichii Gakkan
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Kitahama Partners; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Ropes & Gray
Kyocera’s Acquisition of AVX
Law firms: Alston & Bird; Davis Polk & Wardwell; Kirkland & Ellis; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
Panasonic’s Equity Investment in Blue Yonder
Law firms: Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson; Khaitan & Co; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; White & Case
Privatization of LIXIL VIVA
Law firms: Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Nishimura & Asahi; Takai & Partners
Shinsei Bank's Acquisition of UDC Finance
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Minter Ellison; Russel McVeagh; Simpson Grierson
Toshiba's Acquisition of Toshiba Plant Systems & Services
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Nishimura & Asahi
M&A Deal of the Year (Premium)
7-Eleven’s Acquisition of Speedway
Law firms: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld; Nishimura & Asahi; Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz; White & Case
Blackstone's Acquisition of Takeda Consumer Healthcare Company
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Nishimura & Asahi; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
Hitachi's Acquisition and Squeeze-out of Hitachi High-Technologies Shares
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Shearman & Sterling; Sullivan & Cromwell
Banks: Morgan Stanley; Nomura Securities
Honda's Acquisition of Nissin Kogyo and Merger of Nissin Kogyo and Hitachi Automotive
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Nishimura & Asahi; Sullivan & Cromwell
Bank: Nomura Securities
KKR and Rakuten's Acquisition of Seiyu from Walmart
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Nishimura & Asahi; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
NECs Acquisition of Avaloq
Law firms: Gleiss Lutz; Homburger; Hourani & Partners; Houthoff; Niederer Kraft Frey; SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan; Tokyo International Law Office; Winston & Strawn; ZICO Law
Nitori Holdings' Competing Tender Offer for Acquisition of Shimachu's Shares
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Davis Polk & Wardwell; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
NTT's Acquisition of NTT Docomo
Law firms: Hibiya Sogo Law Offices; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Nakamura, Tsunoda & Matsumoto; Nishimura & Asahi; Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe; Shearman & Sterling
Banks: Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities; Nomura Securities
SoftBank’s Sale of Arm to NVIDIA
Law firms: Hogan Lovells Horitsu Jimusho Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo; Latham & Watkins; Morrison & Foerster; Nishimura & Asahi
Wuthelam Group’s Acquisition of Additional Shares in Nippon Paint Holdings
Law firms: Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Project Finance Deal of the Year
Bangladesh's Largest Independent Gas-fired Power Generation Project
Law firms: Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise); Clifford Chance; Dr. Kamal Hossain & Associates; Farooq & Associates
Establishment of Asia-focused Renewable and Waste Investment Fund
Law firm: Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Morinomiyako Biomass Power Plant
Law firms: Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise); Nishimura & Asahi
Banks: Resona Bank; Shizuoka Bank; Shoko Chukin Bank; The Aichi Bank; The Bank of Iwate; The Bank of Yokohama; The Iyo Bank; The Yamaguchi Bank; Ugo Shinkin Bank
Mozambique LNG Project
Law firms: Latham & Watkins; White & Case
Project Finance of Waste Disposal Plants in Chiba Prefecture
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Atsumi & Sakai; Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)
Real Estate Deal of the Year
Acquisition of MFLP's Logistics Properties
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Morgan, Lewis & Bockius; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Morrison & Foerster; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Banks: Daiwa Securities; Nomura Securities; SMBC Nikko Securities
Blackstone's Acquisition of Daiwa House's Logistics Centers
Law firms: Morrison & Foerster; Nishimura & Asahi; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
Equinix and GIC's Joint Venture
Law firms: Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise); Kirkland & Ellis; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
GLP J-REIT's Global Offering
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Morrison & Foerster; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Sullivan & Cromwell
Banks: Citigroup Global Markets; Mizuho International; Morgan Stanley; Nomura International; SMBC
Invincible Investment Corporation's Rent Amendment for Hotel Properties
Law firm: Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
JPMorgan Japan's Multifamily Fund II
Law firm: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Merger of Japan Retail Fund and MCUBS MidCity Investment
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Mori Hamada and Matsumoto
Merger of Star Asia Investment Corporation and Sakura Sogo REIT
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Mori Hamada and Matsumoto
Open-End Fund's Formation for Daiwa House's Logistics Facilities
Law firm: Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Takeshiba Step-Up Project
Law firms: Mori Hamada and Matsumoto; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Nishimura and Asahi
Technology, Media and Telecommunications Deal of the Year
Business and Capital Alliance between NTT and Toyota
Law Firms: Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
NTT's Acquisition of NTT Docomo
Law firms: Hibiya Sogo Law Offices; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Nakamura, Tsunoda & Matsumoto; Nishimura & Asahi; Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe; Shearman & Sterling
Banks: Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities; Nomura Securities
Hitachi's Acquisition and Squeeze-out of Hitachi High-Technologies Shares
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Shearman & Sterling; Sullivan & Cromwell
Banks: Morgan Stanley; Nomura Securities
Showa Denko’s Acquisition of Hitachi Chemical
Law firms: Chiomenti; Davis Polk & Wardwell; Kirkland & Ellis; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Nishimura & Asahi; Tsar & Tsai Law Firm
Banks: Bank of America; Goldman Sachs; Mizuho Financial Group
SoftBank Group's Margin Loan Financing
Law Firms: Linklaters; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
Banks: Credit Suisse; JPMorgan Chase
Toshiba's Acquisition of Toshiba Plant Systems & Services
Law Firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Nishimura & Asahi; Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom
Banks: Daiwa Securities; Goldman Sachs; Nomura
**COMPLETENESS AND ACCURACY OF INFORMATION
Please note that the inclusion of banks and legal advisors in the transactions essentially reflects the information provided by nominating organizations. Therefore, any omission of a party involved in any of these transactions should not be taken as a commentary on the role assumed by that party. For queries about the shortlist, please email Harmony at harmony.tam@thomsonreuters.com.
* The above list will be regularly updated until final.
Back to topWinners
WINNERS
INDIVIDUAL CATEGORIES
Dealmaker of the Year
Katsumasa Suzuki - Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Dispute Resolution Lawyer of the Year
Koki Yanagisawa - Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Foreign Lawyer of the Year
Ian S. Scott - Atsumi & Sakai
In-House Lawyer of the Year
Emi Takeda - Accenture
Managing Partner of the Year
Masaki Hosaka - Nishimura & Asahi
Woman Lawyer of the Year (In-House)
Mari Hiraizumi - GSK
Woman Lawyer of the Year (Law Firm)
Hikaru Oguchi - Nishimura & Asahi
Young Lawyer of the Year (In-House)
Yuichiro Watanabe - Airbnb
Young Lawyer of the Year (Law Firm)
Masataka Ogasawara - ZeLo
IN-HOUSE CATEGORIES
Compliance and Risk Management In-House Team of the Year
Dyson
Innovative In-House Team of the Year
Accenture
Technology, Media and Telecommunications In-House Team of the Year
SoftBank Group
Japan In-House Team of the Year
Accenture
FIRM CATEGORIES
Antitrust and Competition Law Firm of the Year
Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)
Banking and Financial Services Law Firm of the Year
Nishimura & Asahi
Boutique Law Firm of the Year
Vanguard Lawyers
Energy and Resources Law Firm of the Year
Clifford Chance
Healthcare and Life Sciences Law Firm of the Year
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
International Arbitration Law Firm of the Year
Herbert Smith Freehills
International Deal Firm of the Year
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
International Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year
Morrison & Foerster
Investment Funds Law Firm of the Year
Nishimura & Asahi
Japan Deal Firm of the Year
Nishimura & Asahi
Japan Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Japan Practice Foreign Law Firm of the Year
Steptoe & Johnson
Labour and Employment Law Firm of the Year
Vanguard Lawyers
Litigation Law Firm of the Year
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Maritime Law Firm of the Year
TMI Associates
Overseas Practice Law Firm of the Year
Nishimura & Asahi
Real Estate Law Firm of the Year
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Regulatory and Compliance Law Firm of the Year
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Restructuring and Insolvency Law Firm of the Year
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Rising Law Firm of the Year
ZeLo
Tax and Trusts Law Firm of the Year
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Technology, Media and Telecommunications Law Firm of the Year
Morrison & Foerster
Japan Law Firm of the Year
Nishimura & Asahi
DEAL CATEGORIES
Debt Market Deal of the Year
Loans and Preferred Stock Financing for Showa Denko’s Acquisition of Hitachi Chemical
Law firms: Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Nishimura & Asahi
Equity Market Deal of the Year
ANA Holdings' Global Offering of Common Stock
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Davis Polk & Wardwell; Marunouchi International Law Office; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
Banks: Goldman Sachs; SMBC
M&A Deal of the Year (Midsize)
Acquisition of Tokyo Dome with Mitsui Fudosan
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Shibata, Nishimura & Asahi; Suzuki & Nakada
M&A Deal of the Year (Premium)
7-Eleven’s Acquisition of Speedway
Law firms: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld; Nishimura & Asahi; Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz; White & Case
Project Finance Deal of the Year
Establishment of Asia-focused Renewable and Waste Investment Fund
Law firm: Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Real Estate Deal of the Year
Blackstone's Acquisition of Daiwa House's Logistics Centers
Law firms: Morrison & Foerster; Nishimura & Asahi; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
Technology, Media and Telecommunications Deal of the Year
NTT's Acquisition of NTT Docomo
Law firms: Hibiya Sogo Law Offices; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Nakamura, Tsunoda & Matsumoto; Nishimura & Asahi; Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe; Shearman & Sterling
Banks: Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities; Nomura Securities
Quotes
Thomson Reuters proudly presents the 17th edition of ALB Japan Law Awards. On 30 September 2021, this virtual awards ceremony will be enjoyed by finalists and special guests in the comfort of their own homes.
Let’s discover what types of legal work the finalists are most engaged with recently, as well as their readiness and capabilities needed to tackle such work.
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Asian Legal Business congratulates all the winners and finalists of the ALB Japan Law Awards 2021.
Official items are now available for purchase. For more information on the items, please contact
Hiroshi at hiroshi.kaneko@thomsonreuters.com / +81 3 4520 1192.
FAQs
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ELIGIBILITY
How do I know if I am eligible to make a submission?
We highly encourage all firms, individuals and in-house teams to submit, as we have numerous award categories to choose from. We welcome both past participants and newcomers to join the submission for the awards.
Is self-nomination permitted?
Yes, we accept self-nominated submissions. We also accept third-party submissions, should you wish to nominate an external party or vice versa.
Is there a fee required to make a submission in the law awards?
No, there is no fee payment required for you or your firm/team to make a submission.
TIMELINE OF EVENTS
When will the finalists and winners be announced?
The shortlist of finalists will be released around 4-8 weeks prior to the awards ceremony. The winners will be exclusively announced at the awards ceremony in September 2021.
NOMINATION PROCESS AND ASSESSMENT
How are the finalists chosen?
Asian Legal Business will compile all of the submission entries, and the ALB editorial and research teams will extensively review each submission to ensure the criteria are met in order to advance to the shortlist of finalists. We stress that this process is fair, impartial and not subject to external influences.
How are the winners chosen?
Once the shortlist of finalists have been announced, an independent judging panel will review and select their top three choices for the award categories they are assigned to. The scores for each award category will be tabulated, and the individual/firm/team with the highest score will be announced as the winner.
What are the award categories that I can take part in?
Any law firms, in-house teams or individuals may take part in multiple award categories if appropriate. The researchers reserve the right to move entries from one category to another if they feel it appropriate. The researchers’ decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into.
Who will be on the judging panel for ALB Japan Law Awards?
There will be an independent judging panel of at least 25 senior and expert legal industry leaders to review the submission materials. The judging panel will be selected on the basis of their expertise and knowledge, and will be comprised from various sectors to correspond to the diverse list of award categories. A partial list of judges’ names will be released prior to the awarding ceremony, and the remaining judges will be revealed on the evening of the awards.
What will my contact information/my client’s information be used for?
All contact information provided will not be disclosed to external parties; and will only be seen by our ALB research team and the judges panel. We keep the information on record internally, in case we need to contact you or your client regarding any questions or discrepancies in the submission form.
Where will my name/firm name/team name be published if we are a finalist or winner?
As a finalist and/or winner, your firm/team/individual name will be published in ALB awards materials and print magazine. For more information, please contact us.
Is my submission confidential?
Any information you submit will only be reviewed by the ALB team and independent judging panel, whose names will be published. The material submitted will only be disclosed to the above; if there is any information that is strictly confidential, please mark clearly on the nomination form. Though we do our best to maintain the security of the information you provide, any information you transmit to us is done at your own risk and Thomson Reuters is not responsible for any unauthorized transmission of information.
SPONSORSHIP, PARTICIPATION AND OTHER
I would like to sponsor the ALB Law Awards.
Please contact Amantha.Chia@thomsonreuters.com or +65 6973 8258 for further details regarding sponsorship.
I am interested in being an official partner of the ALB Law Awards, as a media/legal association.
Please contact Mary.Aquino@thomsonreuters.com or call +632 9825 938.
My practice area or specialty is not listed, but I would like to participate in the Awards.
Please get in touch with our ALB Law Awards research team at Mary.Aquino@thomsonreuters.com or call +632 9825 938.
Can I participate in Awards across the region?
Yes, you can participate in more than one market. Please note there may be specific criteria for each market.
Who should attend the Awards Ceremony? Can I attend?
We welcome all finalists and non-finalists to join the Awards Ceremony; please contact Amantha.Chia@thomsonreuters.com or +65 6973 8258.
I would like to order a winner’s trophy and/or certificate (for finalists and winners).
Please contact Amantha.Chia@thomsonreuters.com or +65 6973 8258.
How can I receive communications related to the ALB Japan Law Awards?
Please email mary.aquino@thomsonreuters.com to subscribe to the ALB mailing list.
Asian Legal Business – Who are We?
Asian Legal Business (ALB) is owned by Thomson Reuters, the world’s leading source of intelligent information for business and professionals. With its portfolio of leading titles, law awards, in-house legal summits and online services, ALB provides authoritative and unbiased insights and unmatched networking and business development opportunities to legal professionals throughout the Asia-Pacific.
ALB combines news and analysis from its team of professional legal journalists and the expert opinions of senior industry professionals with Reuters news and insights that power businesses across the globe.
Please visit legalbusinessonline.com for further information.
ALB Law Awards
The ALB Law Awards are the pre-eminent legal awards in Asia-Pacific, held annually in Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, the Philippines, China and the Middle East. The Awards are comprised of months of intensive research and culminate in a black-tie Awarding Ceremony in each of the markets. We cordially invite you to take part in these prestigious awards – and celebrate legal excellence with us.
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