The Nikkei " Top-performing Lawyer " in 2024

Award Recipients

Yoshio Iteya
YoshioIteya
Tokyo
Partner
Iteya Yoshio
Tokyo
Partner
Eiichiro Nakatani
EiichiroNakatani
Tokyo
Partner
Nakatani Eiichiro
Tokyo
Partner
Eiichiro Nakatani is a partner at Anderson Mori & Tomotsune, and advises and assists various domestic and cross border contracts and transactions, with an emphasis on international taxation matters. Ranked as the leading global tax lawyer by the Tax Directors Handbook for many years. Ranked in Band 1 of the Leading Individuals, Tax, Japan of "Chambers Asia" for many years.
Eiichiro Nakatani is a partner at Anderson Mori & Tomotsune, and advises and assists various domestic and cross border contracts and transactions, with an emphasis on international taxation matters. Ranked as the leading global tax lawyer by the Tax Directors Handbook for many years. Ranked in Band 1 of the Leading Individuals, Tax, Japan of "Chambers Asia" for many years.
Shinji Kusakabe
ShinjiKusakabe
Tokyo
Partner
Kusakabe Shinji
Tokyo
Partner
Shinji Kusakabe specializes in advising on legal issues in manufacturing, such as commercial transactions and product liabilities. Mr. Kusakabe has a wealth of practical experience in litigation and arbitration, both international and domestic. Mr. Kusakabe's particular specialties lie in providing targeted advice to clients on corporate matters, taking into consideration potential future disputes, and in resolving current disputes in light of actual business practices and circumstances. Cases which Mr. Kusakabe has recently handled include lawsuits related to termination of commercial relationships, illegal transactions conducted by employees, product liability, bid-rigging conspiracies and inventions by employees. Mr. Kusakabe is also actively engaged in international arbitration, including matters arbitrated outside Japan. In addition to his professional experience at Anderson Mori & Tomotsune, Mr. Kusakabe's prior experience includes working as a Foreign Associate at Kelley Drye & Warren's New York office (September 1999 to August 2000) and a full-time secondment to Swiss Bank Corporation's (now UBS AG) Tokyo Legal & Compliance department (February to July 1998). Mr. Kusakabe also served as: Member of the Advisory Committee for the Establishment of Civil Rules of the Supreme Court (from August 2025); Special Assistant to the President of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations (from April 2025 to September 2025); President of the Daini Tokyo Bar Association (from April 2024 to March 2025); Vice President of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations (from April 2024 to March 2025); Expert Member of the Nuclear Damage Compensation Dispute Review Board (from June 2022 to June 2023); Member of the Code of Civil Procedure (for Introduction of IT) Subcommittee of the Legislative Council of the Ministry of Justice (from June 2020 to February 2022); Governor of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations (from April 2020 to March 2021; Executive Governor from June 2020 to March 2021); Chair of the Committee on Civil Procedure of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations (from June 2019 to May 2021); Examiner for the National Bar Examination and the National Preliminary Bar Examination (in Charge of the Code of Civil Procedure) (from November 2018 to November 2021); Vice President of the Daini Tokyo Bar Association (from April 2017 to March 2018); and Practicing-Attorney-Professor for Civil Advocacy at the Legal Training and Research Institute of the Supreme Court of Japan (from April 2010 to March 2013) (for details of this position, please visit http://www.courts.go.jp/english/institute_01/institute/index.html#Intro ).
Shinji Kusakabe specializes in advising on legal issues in manufacturing, such as commercial transactions and product liabilities. Mr. Kusakabe has a wealth of practical experience in litigation and arbitration, both international and domestic. Mr. Kusakabe's particular specialties lie in providing targeted advice to clients on corporate matters, taking into consideration potential future disputes, and in resolving current disputes in light of actual business practices and circumstances. Cases which Mr. Kusakabe has recently handled include lawsuits related to termination of commercial relationships, illegal transactions conducted by employees, product liability, bid-rigging conspiracies and inventions by employees. Mr. Kusakabe is also actively engaged in international arbitration, including matters arbitrated outside Japan. In addition to his professional experience at Anderson Mori & Tomotsune, Mr. Kusakabe's prior experience includes working as a Foreign Associate at Kelley Drye & Warren's New York office (September 1999 to August 2000) and a full-time secondment to Swiss Bank Corporation's (now UBS AG) Tokyo Legal & Compliance department (February to July 1998). Mr. Kusakabe also served as: Member of the Advisory Committee for the Establishment of Civil Rules of the Supreme Court (from August 2025); Special Assistant to the President of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations (from April 2025 to September 2025); President of the Daini Tokyo Bar Association (from April 2024 to March 2025); Vice President of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations (from April 2024 to March 2025); Expert Member of the Nuclear Damage Compensation Dispute Review Board (from June 2022 to June 2023); Member of the Code of Civil Procedure (for Introduction of IT) Subcommittee of the Legislative Council of the Ministry of Justice (from June 2020 to February 2022); Governor of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations (from April 2020 to March 2021; Executive Governor from June 2020 to March 2021); Chair of the Committee on Civil Procedure of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations (from June 2019 to May 2021); Examiner for the National Bar Examination and the National Preliminary Bar Examination (in Charge of the Code of Civil Procedure) (from November 2018 to November 2021); Vice President of the Daini Tokyo Bar Association (from April 2017 to March 2018); and Practicing-Attorney-Professor for Civil Advocacy at the Legal Training and Research Institute of the Supreme Court of Japan (from April 2010 to March 2013) (for details of this position, please visit http://www.courts.go.jp/english/institute_01/institute/index.html#Intro ).
Hiroki Kodate
HirokiKodate
Tokyo
Partner
Kodate Hiroki
Tokyo
Partner
Hiroki Kodate is a partner at Anderson Mori & Tomotsune and engaged principally in the fields of M&A and general corporate matters, and regularly advises both Japanese and non-Japanese clients in this regard. In addition to his professional experience at Anderson Mori & Tomotsune, Mr. Kodate worked for the Civil Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Justice, where he was in charge of the legislative project to modernize Japanese corporate laws (2002-2005). He also worked for Slaughter and May in London as a foreign secondee (2000-2001). Mr. Kodate serves as a member of "Study Group on Fair Takeovers" of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan to formulate the "Guidelines for Corporate Takeovers."
Hiroki Kodate is a partner at Anderson Mori & Tomotsune and engaged principally in the fields of M&A and general corporate matters, and regularly advises both Japanese and non-Japanese clients in this regard. In addition to his professional experience at Anderson Mori & Tomotsune, Mr. Kodate worked for the Civil Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Justice, where he was in charge of the legislative project to modernize Japanese corporate laws (2002-2005). He also worked for Slaughter and May in London as a foreign secondee (2000-2001). Mr. Kodate serves as a member of "Study Group on Fair Takeovers" of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan to formulate the "Guidelines for Corporate Takeovers."
Hiroshige Nakagawa
HiroshigeNakagawa
Tokyo
Partner
Nakagawa Hiroshige
Tokyo
Partner
Hiroshige Nakagawa is a partner handling a wide range of corporate matters with a focus on cross-border transactions, investment, general corporate, competition issues, and litigation/arbitration cases. In addition, he regularly advises foreign and domestic clients on international trade matters, including anti-dumping investigation.
Hiroshige Nakagawa is a partner handling a wide range of corporate matters with a focus on cross-border transactions, investment, general corporate, competition issues, and litigation/arbitration cases. In addition, he regularly advises foreign and domestic clients on international trade matters, including anti-dumping investigation.
Keiko Kaneko
KeikoKaneko
Tokyo
Partner
Kaneko Keiko
Tokyo
Partner
Keiko Kaneko focuses her practice on corporate M&A and M&A-related transactions. In addition, she provides advice to a wide variety of clients on general corporate matters, labor issues, and dispute settlement. Ms. Kaneko has extensive experience advising on and conducting transactions in heavily regulated sectors, such as energy and natural resources and pharmaceutical. She also routinely advises clients in the automotive and food industries.
Keiko Kaneko focuses her practice on corporate M&A and M&A-related transactions. In addition, she provides advice to a wide variety of clients on general corporate matters, labor issues, and dispute settlement. Ms. Kaneko has extensive experience advising on and conducting transactions in heavily regulated sectors, such as energy and natural resources and pharmaceutical. She also routinely advises clients in the automotive and food industries.
Kazuhilo Kikawa
KazuhiloKikawa
Tokyo
Partner
Kikawa Kazuhilo
Tokyo
Partner
Utilizing his twelve years of experience in the Ministry of Justice and the Prosecutors' Office, Mr. Kikawa represents domestic and foreign clients in administrative and criminal investigations by various enforcement agencies, and in complex commercial, administrative, and consumer disputes. He also has extensive experience in advising on internal investigations into legal violations and corporate scandals, and on compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Although his range of legal practice is broad, he has particular expertise in the following areas. 【Advertising and marketing regulations】 Mr. Kikawa advises clients on advertising and marketing regulations, including matters governed by the Misleading Representation Act, the Pharmaceutical Advertising Regulations, the Medical Advertising Regulations, and the Mail Order Sales Regulations under the Specified Commercial Transactions Act. He provides legal services at various stages, from preventive advice to defense against administrative investigations. 【Healthcare-related regulations and medical disputes】 Mr. Kikawa provides comprehensive legal advice on matters governed by medical, pharmaceutical, and healthcare laws and regulations, including the Medical Care Act, the Medical Practitioners’ Act, and the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act. He also represents medical institutions and medical professionals in disputes arising in the healthcare field, drawing on his experience as Chief Prosecutor for Medical Affairs at the Tokyo Prosecutors' Office. 【Immigration】 Drawing on his experience at the Ministry of Justice, where he drafted the amendments to the 2009 immigration reform, Mr. Kikawa offers reliable legal advice on visas and immigration matters and represents clients in immigration cases. 【Criminal law】 Mr. Kikawa advises clients on a wide range of criminal matters, including bribery, gambling, immigration and extradition matters. He also represents victims in filing criminal complaints and seeking criminal remedies in cases involving fraud, embezzlement, breach of trust, and misappropriation of trade secrets. 【Administrative investigation defense】 Mr. Kikawa defends clients against administrative investigations by enforcement agencies under various laws and regulations. He focuses on defense strategies aimed at avoiding the imposition of serious administrative sanctions, such as revocation of business licenses, suspension of operations, cease and desist orders or monetary penalties. These defenses are implemented during voluntary inquiries, written representations, in-person hearings, and preliminary injunction proceedings. 【Internal investigations】 Mr. Kikawa conducts internal investigations into legal violations and corporate scandals. He brings extensive experience investigating corporate crimes, including embezzlement and breach of trust, as well as handling incidents related to product quality and safety.
Utilizing his twelve years of experience in the Ministry of Justice and the Prosecutors' Office, Mr. Kikawa represents domestic and foreign clients in administrative and criminal investigations by various enforcement agencies, and in complex commercial, administrative, and consumer disputes. He also has extensive experience in advising on internal investigations into legal violations and corporate scandals, and on compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Although his range of legal practice is broad, he has particular expertise in the following areas. 【Advertising and marketing regulations】 Mr. Kikawa advises clients on advertising and marketing regulations, including matters governed by the Misleading Representation Act, the Pharmaceutical Advertising Regulations, the Medical Advertising Regulations, and the Mail Order Sales Regulations under the Specified Commercial Transactions Act. He provides legal services at various stages, from preventive advice to defense against administrative investigations. 【Healthcare-related regulations and medical disputes】 Mr. Kikawa provides comprehensive legal advice on matters governed by medical, pharmaceutical, and healthcare laws and regulations, including the Medical Care Act, the Medical Practitioners’ Act, and the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act. He also represents medical institutions and medical professionals in disputes arising in the healthcare field, drawing on his experience as Chief Prosecutor for Medical Affairs at the Tokyo Prosecutors' Office. 【Immigration】 Drawing on his experience at the Ministry of Justice, where he drafted the amendments to the 2009 immigration reform, Mr. Kikawa offers reliable legal advice on visas and immigration matters and represents clients in immigration cases. 【Criminal law】 Mr. Kikawa advises clients on a wide range of criminal matters, including bribery, gambling, immigration and extradition matters. He also represents victims in filing criminal complaints and seeking criminal remedies in cases involving fraud, embezzlement, breach of trust, and misappropriation of trade secrets. 【Administrative investigation defense】 Mr. Kikawa defends clients against administrative investigations by enforcement agencies under various laws and regulations. He focuses on defense strategies aimed at avoiding the imposition of serious administrative sanctions, such as revocation of business licenses, suspension of operations, cease and desist orders or monetary penalties. These defenses are implemented during voluntary inquiries, written representations, in-person hearings, and preliminary injunction proceedings. 【Internal investigations】 Mr. Kikawa conducts internal investigations into legal violations and corporate scandals. He brings extensive experience investigating corporate crimes, including embezzlement and breach of trust, as well as handling incidents related to product quality and safety.
Hideo Tsukamoto
HideoTsukamoto
Tokyo
Partner
Tsukamoto Hideo
Tokyo
Partner
Hideo Tsukamoto is a partner at Anderson Mori & Tomotsune and has engaged principally in the fields of M&A, corporate governance, commercial litigation, and general corporate matters.
Hideo Tsukamoto is a partner at Anderson Mori & Tomotsune and has engaged principally in the fields of M&A, corporate governance, commercial litigation, and general corporate matters.
Wataru Shimizu
WataruShimizu
Nagoya
Partner
Shimizu Wataru
Nagoya
Partner
Mr. Wataru Shimizu has been involved with an extensive range of intellectual property issues, including: - Drafting and negotiating various technology transfer agreements; - Drafting and arguing complaints, motions, and other pleadings for litigation arising in relation to technology transfer agreements and compensation for employee's invention etc.;. - Advising Japanese companies on industry-university cooperation, brand management, and intellectual property management, etc. In addition, recently, Mr. Shimizu has been dealing with many legal and intellectual property issues in Asia and Emerging Countries (especially, China and ASEAN countries). Mr. Shimizu has also assisted domestic clients in general corporate matters, such as corporate governance, employment law compliance, and competition compliance, etc.
Mr. Wataru Shimizu has been involved with an extensive range of intellectual property issues, including: - Drafting and negotiating various technology transfer agreements; - Drafting and arguing complaints, motions, and other pleadings for litigation arising in relation to technology transfer agreements and compensation for employee's invention etc.;. - Advising Japanese companies on industry-university cooperation, brand management, and intellectual property management, etc. In addition, recently, Mr. Shimizu has been dealing with many legal and intellectual property issues in Asia and Emerging Countries (especially, China and ASEAN countries). Mr. Shimizu has also assisted domestic clients in general corporate matters, such as corporate governance, employment law compliance, and competition compliance, etc.
Yutaka Shimoo
YutakaShimoo
Tokyo
Osaka
Partner
Shimoo Yutaka
Tokyo
Osaka
Partner
Yutaka Shimoo is a partner who principally focuses on tax, wealth management and dispute resolution, and also broadly handles corporate legal affairs including corporate affairs, labor and employment, and crisis management. With regard to tax and wealth management, Yutaka provides advice from both legal and tax perspectives, drawing on his extensive work experience as a lawyer and his experience as an officer with the Tokyo Regional Taxation Bureau. His strength in these areas lies in capabilities on the fields where legal matter and tax matter are intersected each other, such as global incentives and capital policies, and wide experience on cross-border transactions. Recently, Yutaka has also actively worked on tax issues related to digital assets such as cryptocurrencies and NFTs. In addition, Yutaka has extensive litigation experience representing financial institutions and business corporations in the dispute resolution field, and also handles many disputes related to inheritance and business succession.
Yutaka Shimoo is a partner who principally focuses on tax, wealth management and dispute resolution, and also broadly handles corporate legal affairs including corporate affairs, labor and employment, and crisis management. With regard to tax and wealth management, Yutaka provides advice from both legal and tax perspectives, drawing on his extensive work experience as a lawyer and his experience as an officer with the Tokyo Regional Taxation Bureau. His strength in these areas lies in capabilities on the fields where legal matter and tax matter are intersected each other, such as global incentives and capital policies, and wide experience on cross-border transactions. Recently, Yutaka has also actively worked on tax issues related to digital assets such as cryptocurrencies and NFTs. In addition, Yutaka has extensive litigation experience representing financial institutions and business corporations in the dispute resolution field, and also handles many disputes related to inheritance and business succession.
Taku Matsumoto
TakuMatsumoto
Tokyo
Partner
Matsumoto Taku
Tokyo
Partner
Taku Matsumoto specializes in (i) mergers & acquisitions, (ii) antitrust & competition regulation, (iii) economic security and international trade (foreign direct investment), (iv) investments in startup companies and (v) wealth management. Taku regularly advises clients across numerous industries including finance (banks, securities companies, FinTech and funds), life sciences (pharmaceutical, medical equipment, biotech and nursing), IT (SaaS, quantum technology and sharing services), trading companies, telecommunications, advertising, sports, entertainment, education, real estate, food, manufacturing (automobiles, machinery, chemicals and engineering), logistics, retail, consulting, and resources / energy.
Taku Matsumoto specializes in (i) mergers & acquisitions, (ii) antitrust & competition regulation, (iii) economic security and international trade (foreign direct investment), (iv) investments in startup companies and (v) wealth management. Taku regularly advises clients across numerous industries including finance (banks, securities companies, FinTech and funds), life sciences (pharmaceutical, medical equipment, biotech and nursing), IT (SaaS, quantum technology and sharing services), trading companies, telecommunications, advertising, sports, entertainment, education, real estate, food, manufacturing (automobiles, machinery, chemicals and engineering), logistics, retail, consulting, and resources / energy.
Takashi Nakazaki
TakashiNakazaki
Tokyo
Partner
Nakazaki Takashi
Tokyo
Partner
My practice focuses on assisting domestic and international clients with personal data and privacy, AI, metaverse and other advanced areas, internet and IT-related matters, copyright, trademarks and other intellectual property rights, and cross-border transactions. For domestic clients, I have also assisted many clients with overseas compliance in the EU and elsewhere. I also deal with a number of more specialised areas, such as cyber security, where ransomware has recently become an issue, economic security, where security clearances are a hot topic, and technical areas such as Radio Act and satellite-related matters. Outside of work, I was a member of a working group that drafted the recently published AI Guidelines for Business, and I serve on a number of expert committees for the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the Cabinet Office and other government departments. Also I have been commissioned to carry out various surveys for the Personal Information Protection Commission. In Internet-related matters, I have been involved in various service launches and overseas expansion support for SNS, cloud, metaverse and online games, domain disputes and security, as well as compliance with the Personal Information Protection Act, the Funds Settlement Act, the Provider Liability Limitation Act, the Telecommunications Business Act and various other business laws and regulations, and in IT and systems, I have been involved in system development, security and open source software development. The firm assists clients in Japan and abroad with a focus on system development, security and software disputes, including open source.
My practice focuses on assisting domestic and international clients with personal data and privacy, AI, metaverse and other advanced areas, internet and IT-related matters, copyright, trademarks and other intellectual property rights, and cross-border transactions. For domestic clients, I have also assisted many clients with overseas compliance in the EU and elsewhere. I also deal with a number of more specialised areas, such as cyber security, where ransomware has recently become an issue, economic security, where security clearances are a hot topic, and technical areas such as Radio Act and satellite-related matters. Outside of work, I was a member of a working group that drafted the recently published AI Guidelines for Business, and I serve on a number of expert committees for the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the Cabinet Office and other government departments. Also I have been commissioned to carry out various surveys for the Personal Information Protection Commission. In Internet-related matters, I have been involved in various service launches and overseas expansion support for SNS, cloud, metaverse and online games, domain disputes and security, as well as compliance with the Personal Information Protection Act, the Funds Settlement Act, the Provider Liability Limitation Act, the Telecommunications Business Act and various other business laws and regulations, and in IT and systems, I have been involved in system development, security and open source software development. The firm assists clients in Japan and abroad with a focus on system development, security and software disputes, including open source.