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    Welcome to the ALB Japan Law Awards 2015

    Date:    Thursday, June 18, 2015

    Venue: The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo - 2/F, Grand Ballroom

                 Tokyo Midtown, 9-7-1, Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-6245 Japan

    The ALB JapanLaw Awards 2015 will be held on June 18, 2015 in Tokyo and it will recognise the excellence and outstanding achievements of Japan's leading law firms and in-house legal teams as well as the top deals and dealmakers of the past year.

    The awards night on June 18, 2015 is expected to attract CEOs, bankers and legal luminaries from the judiciary, domestic and multinational companies, law firms, and academe in Japan. With unparalleled networking opportunities, live entertainment and fine gourmet dinner that the event promises, the ALB Japan Law Awards is a must-see ceremony in every lawyer's event calendar.

    Nominations open on March 17, 2015. Please download the nomination form to make your nominations.

    For enquiries please contact Colin Wang through email colin.wang@thomsonreuters.com or telephone +86-10-62674306

     

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     GUEST OF HONOUR

     

    Dr. Nobuyuki Sato

     Dr. Nobuyuki Sato is a professor of law at Chuo Law School, Tokyo, Japan.  He was in charge of the vice president of Chuo University from Jan. 2011 to Nov. 2014.

    As a scholar, he is researching Comparative Public Law among Japan, Canada, US and UK mainly focusing Information Law including privacy law, media law and ICT law.  As an educator, he is teaching various Legal Research courses for lawyers, government personnel and business persons as well as for law students.  As an academic, he has been working for the Japanese Association for Canadian Studies (JACS) as the vice president over 10 years, and working for various government committees as a chair or member.

    Born in Fukushima.  B.A.(Chuo, 1985), LL.M.(Chuo, 1988) and Ph.D. in Law (Chuo, 2000).  For full bio, please visit the URL below.

    http://ir.c.chuo-u.ac.jp/researcher/profile/00010734.html

                                                                  

                                                                                                                                       

     

    Award Categories

     

    8 Deal Award categories

    Debt Market Deal of the Year

    Equity Market Deal of the Year

    Energy & Resources Deal of the Year

    M&A Deal of the Year

    Real Estate Deal of the Year

    TMT Deal of the Year

    Japan Deal of the Year

    Accountancy Deal Firm of the Year

     

    7 In-House Award categories

    Banking & Financial Services In-House Team of the Year

    Japan Investment Bank Team of the Year

    International Investment Bank Team of the Year

    TMT In-House Team of the Year

    Innovative In-House Team of the Year

    Japan In-House Lawyer of the Year

    Japan In-House Team of the Year

     

    15 Firm Award categories

    Banking Law Firm of the Year

    Employment Law Firm of the Year

    Insolvency Law Firm of the Year

    International Arbitration Law Firm of the Year

    IP Law Firm of the Year

    International Regulatory Compliance Law Firm of the Year

    Litigation Specialist Law Firm of the Year

    Tax Law Firm of the Year

    Best SEA Practice of the Year

    Best China Practice of the Year

    Offshore Law Firm of the Year

    Managing Partner of the Year

    International Deal Firm of the Year

    Japan Deal Firm of the Year

    Japan Law Firm of the Year

     

    Nominations open on March 17, 2015. Please download the nomination form to make your nominations.

     

    For more information about placing a nomination, please contact Colin via colin.wang@thomsonreuters.com or +86-10-62674306.

     

    17 Mar 2015        Nominations are open

    8 May 2015          Deadline for nominations

    18 May 2015        Finalists in each category announced on ALB website

    18 Jun2015         ALB Japan Law Awards 2015 – winners to be announced at award ceremony

     

     

    Methodology

    1) Parameters

    • Law firms, in-house departments, banks and accountancy firms must be based or have physical offices in Japan (exceptions are the offshore firms)
    • All deals must have a significant Japan element to qualify (which must ihnclude at least one of the following):

    a) the money to have come from Japan;

    b) the deal to be signed in Japan;

    c) the legal work to have been done in Japan or

    d) the property or project to be based in Japan

    • Work completed and services provided within the period of 1 Jan 2014 through 31 Dec 2014

    2) Composition of Judging Panel

    Over 30 in-house counsel, private practice lawyers,  government officials and academia professors will comprise the judging panel 

    (Note: any judges involved in a specific deal or category are disqualified from voting for a related award category).

    3) Guidelines

    • Leading law firms and in-house legal departments are invited by e-mail to nominate across various categories.
    • All nominations are made using only the nomination form provided.
    • Nomination forms are strictly private and confidential and are shared only by the event organiser (the ALB) and the judging panel.
    • The ALB team passes the nomination data to the external panel of judges, who examine the information and vote. The judges’ votes are aggregated to calculate the winner in each category.
    • The judges' votes are independent of the ALB.
    • The judges' votes are final.
    • Self-nominations by organizations or individuals are accepted.

    4) Categories

    a) Deal Award Categories

    • Debt market deal of the Year
    • Equity Market Deal of the Year
    • Energy & Resources Deal of the Year
    • M&A Deal of the Year
    • Real Estate Deal of the Year
    • TMT Deal of the Year
    • Japan Deal of the Year
    • Accountancy Deal Firm of the Year

    Criteria

    • Size - the minimum financial value of the deal required for individual deal category

    oDebt Market Deal of the Year: US$1 billion or above

    oEquity Market Deal of the Year: US$750 million or above

    oEnergy & Resources Deal of the Year: US$750 million or above

    oM&A Deal of the Year: US$ 1billion or above

    oReal Estate Deal of the Year: US$750 million or above

    oTMT Deal of the Year: US$750 million or above

    oJapan Deal of the Year(Finalists are winners of the individual deal categories, and the the winning deal is that with the highest score out of all the deal category winners - Finalists announced on the night)

    oAccountancy Deal Firm of the Year (Finalists are selected from the accountancy firm who has involved in the finalisted deals)

    • Complexity - the degree to which the work required intricate legal principles or advanced techniques and structures
    • Innovation/Improvement - the degree to which the work involved original techniques and structures or innovative legal rules and regulations/the degree to which the work involved improved techniques and structures or legal rules and regulations
    • Breadth - the degree to which the deal spanned jurisdictions, practice areas, parties and industries
    • TIMESCOPE - the major portion of the deal should be completed between 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2014

    b) In-House Awards Categories

    • Banking & Financial Services In-House Team of the Year
    • Japan Investment Bank Team of the Year
    • International Investment Bank Team of the Year
    • TMT In-House Team of the Year
    • Innovative In-House Team of the Year
    • Japan In-House Lawyer of the Year
    • Japan In-House Team of the Year(Finalists are winners of the individual In-House categories, and the the winning team is that with the highest score out of all the category winners - Finalists announced on the night)

    CriteriaTeam size

    • No. of transactions/deals/projects completed, successful cases handled, disputes settled and legal services provided within the organization
    • The total volume of transactions in US$
    • Top three significant work involvement within the period of 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2014
    • c) Firm Awards CategoriesBanking and Finance Law Firm of the Year
    • Employment Law Firm of the Year
    • Insolvency Law Firm of the Year
    • International Arbitration Law Firm of the Year
    • IP Law Firm of the Year
    • International Regulatory Compliance Law Firm of the Year
    • Litigation Specialist Law Firm of the Year
    • Tax Law Firm of the Year
    • Best SEA Practice of the Year
    • Best China Practice of the Year
    • Offshore Law Firm of the Year
    • Managing Partner of the Year
    • International Deal Firm of the Year
    • Japan Deal Firm of the Year
    • Japan Law Firm of the Year(Finalists are winners of the individual law firm categories, and the the winning firm is that with the highest score out of all the category winners - Finalists announced on the night)

    CriteriaTeam size (fee earners only)

    • Key hires/departures
    • Key work highlights and third party recognition, in the relevant practice area. This covers work between 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2014
    • Please view each tab for more details

    5) Award timeline

    17 Mar 2015Nominations are open

    8 May 2015             Deadline for nominations – please email completed form to Colin Wang at                                         colin.wang@thomsonreuters.com

    18 May 2015Finalists in each category announced on ALB website

    18 Jun 2015        ALB Japan Law Awards 2015 – winners to be announced at award ceremony

     

     

    ALB Japan Law Awards 2015

    Finalists

    Debt Market Deal of the Year

    Aozora Re’s Japanese Typhoon Catastrophe Bond

    Firms: Atsumi & Sakai; Mayer Brown

    Banks: GC Securities, an affiliate of Marsh

    Credit Suisse AG's bond issuance and public offering

    Firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)

    Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company’s notes offering

    Firms: Nishimura & Asahi; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; Sullivan & Cromwell

    Banks: BofA Merrill Lynch; Citigroup; Goldman Sachs & Co; J.P. Morgan; Mizuho Securities

    Debt financing related to Suntory Holdings Limited's acquisition of Beam Inc.

    Firms: Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise); Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton; Nishimura & Asahi

    Deutsche Bank AG’s Samurai Bond Issuance

    Firms: Linklaters; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Nishimura & Asahi

    Japan Finance Organization for Municipalities’ Takedown Offering

    Firms: Clifford Chance; Davis Polk & Wardwell; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu

    Banks: Citigroup Global Markets Inc.; Daiwa Capital Markets Europe Limited; Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

    Accountancy Firm: Ernst & Young ShinNihon LLC

    Metropolis of Tokyo USD Eurobonds issuance

    Firms: Clifford Chance; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu

    Banks: Barclays Bank PLC; Goldman Sachs International; Merrill Lynch International;

    Nomura International plc

    Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation's Senior Notes Offering

    Firms: Linklaters; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Nishimura & Asahi; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett

    Mizuho Bank’s Senior Notes Offering

    Firms: Linklaters; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett

    Banks: Goldman Sachs; J.P. Morgan Securities; Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated; Mizuho Securities USA Inc.

    Mizuho Financial Group’s issuance of Basel III Compliant Subordinated Notes

    Firms: Emmet Marvin & Martin; Linklaters; Maples and Calder; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett

    Banks: BofA Merrill Lynch; Goldman, Sachs & Co.; J.P. Morgan; Mizuho Securities

    Morgan Stanley’s samurai bond offering

    Firms: Linklaters

    Nippon Life Step-up Callable Subordinated Notes Offering

    Firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Davis Polk & Wardwell; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Morrison & Foerster

    Banks: Citigroup Global Markets Inc.; J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

    Accountancy Firm: Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu LLC

    Nomura Holdings, Inc.'s SEC-registered offering

    Firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Sullivan & Cromwell

    Nordea Samurai Bond Offering

    Firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Clifford Chance; Mannheimer Swartling

    Banks: Daiwa Securities; Merrill Lynch Japan Securities; Mizuho Securities; Nomura Securities

    Accountancy Firm: KPMG

    Skylark’s IPO Restructuring and Financing

    Firms: Baker & McKenzie; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Ropes & Gray

    Banks: BofA Merrill Lynch; Goldman Sachs Japan Co., Ltd.; JPMorgan Securities Japan Co., Ltd.; Mizuho Securities; Morgan Stanley; Nomura Securities Co., Ltd.

    Accountancy Firms: Deloitte Touche & Tohmatsu LLC; KPMG AZSA LLC; PricewaterhouseCoopers Arata

    Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation’s GMTN Program Set Up and Senior Notes Offering

    Firms: Davis Polk & Wardwell; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett

    Banks: Barclays Securities Japan Limited; Citigroup Global Markets Japan Inc.; Goldman Sachs Japan Co., Ltd.; J.P. Morgan Securities Japan Co., Ltd.; SMBC Nikko Securities Inc.

    Accountancy Firm: KPMG AZSA LLC

    Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation’s GMTN Program Update and Senior Notes Offering

    Firms: Davis Polk & Wardwell; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett

    Banks: Barclays Securities Japan Limited; Citigroup Global Markets Japan Inc.; Goldman Sachs Japan Co., Ltd.; J.P. Morgan Securities Japan Co., Ltd.; SMBC Nikko Securities Inc.

    Accountancy Firm: KPMG AZSA LLC

    Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group’s Tier 2 Subordinated Bond Offering

    Firms: Davis Polk & Wardwell; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett

    Banks: Barclays Securities Japan Limited; Citigroup Global Markets Japan Inc.; Goldman Sachs Japan Co., Ltd.; SMBC Nikko Securities Inc.

    Accountancy Firm: KPMG AZSA LLC

    Suntory Holdings Limited’s Senior Notes Offering

    Firms: Linklaters; Nishimura & Asahi; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett

    Banks: Citigroup; Barclays; BNP Paribas; BofA Merrill Lynch; J.P. Morgan; Morgan Stanley

    The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd. (BTMU)’s Senior Debt Offering

    Firms: City-Yuwa Partners; Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett

     

    Equity Market Deal of the Year

    Business Transfer, Formation and IPO of a business trust in Singapore, Loan with Share Acquisition Rights, and Self Tender Offer

    Firms: Allen & Gledhill; Miyakezaka Law Offices; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu

    Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company’s stock offering

    Firms: Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Nishimura & Asahi; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; Sullivan & Cromwell

    Banks: Mizuho Securities; Nomura Securities

    Fast Retailing's listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange

    Firms: Commerce & Finance Law Offices; Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom

    Hulic Reit, Inc’s Global IPO and follow-on PO

    Firms: Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Morrison & Foerster; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Sullivan & Cromwell

    Issuance of Debt-like preferred stock by Kyushu Electric Power Company, Incorporated

    Firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto

    Issuance of new shares by third-party allotment by ITOCHU Corporation as part of its strategic alliance with Charoen Pokphand Group Limited

    Firms: Ashurst; Chandler and Thong-Ek Law Offices; Frasers Law Company; Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Morrison & Foerster

    Itochu, CP Group’s investment in Citic

    Firm: Ashurst; Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Sidley Austin

    Japan Display Inc’s IPO

    Firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; Sullivan & Cromwell

    Banks: Goldman Sachs International; Morgan Stanley; Nomura International

    Mitsubishi Motors Corporation’s global offering of its common stock

    Firms: Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; Sullivan & Cromwell

    Banks: BofA Merrill Lynch; Morgan Stanley; Nomura Securities

    Mitsui Fudosan Co. Ltd’s global offering of common stock

    Firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; Sullivan & Cromwell

    Banks: Daiwa Securities Inc., Ltd.; Merrill Lynch Japan Securities Co., Ltd.; Nomura Securities Co., Ltd.; SMBC Nikko Securities Inc.

    Accountancy Firm: KPMG AZSA LLC

    Recruit Holdings’ IPO

    Firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; Sullivan & Cromwell

    Banks: Mitsubishi UFJ; Mizuho Securities; Morgan Stanley; Nomura Securities; SMBC Nikko Securities

    Seibu Holdings’ global IPO

    Firm: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Linklaters; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Nishimura & Asahi; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett

    Banks: Citigroup Global Markets Limited; J.P. Morgan Securities plc; Merrill Lynch International; Mizuho International plc; Nomura International plc; UBS Limited

    Skylark’s IPO

    Firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Ropes & Gray; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; Sullivan & Cromwell

    Banks: BofA Merrill Lynch; Goldman Sachs Japan Co., Ltd.; JPMorgan Securities Japan Co., Ltd.; Mizuho Securities; Morgan Stanley; Nomura Securities Co., Ltd.

    Accountancy Firms: Deloitte Touche & Tohmatsu LLC; KPMG AZSA LLC; PricewaterhouseCoopers Arata

    Terumo Corporation’s Dual-Tranche Convertible Bond issuance

    Firms: Clifford Chance; Nishimura & Asahi

    Banks: Goldman Sachs International; Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc; Nomura International plc; SMBC Nikko Capital Markets Limited

    Accountancy Firm: KPMG AZSA LLC

    Toray Industry, Inc’s Dual-Tranche "Recap" Convertible Bond issuance

    Firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Clifford Chance

    Banks: Daiwa Capital Markets Europe Limited; Goldman Sachs International; Nomura International plc; SMBC Nikko Capital Markets Limited

    Accountancy Firm: Ernst & Young ShinNihon LLC

     

    Energy and Resources Deal of the Year

    480 MW photovoltaic power plant project on the island of Ukujima, Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan

    Firms: Atsumi & Sakai; Janssen Foreign Law Office

    Debt financing for the Cameron LNG liquefaction-export project in Hackberry, Louisiana

    Firm: Latham & Watkins

    Development and Project Financing of 230MW photovoltaic plant in Setouchi Japan

    Firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Okamura Sogo Law Office; Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe

    Donggi Senoro LNG Project in Sulawesi, Indonesia

    Firm: Allen & Overy; Ashurst

    Financing for the Safi Independent Power Project in Morocco

    Firms: Clifford Chance; Linklaters

    Freeport LNG Liquefaction Facility

    Firms: Chadbourne & Parke; Hunton & Williams; Morrison & Foerster; Nishimura & Asahi; White & Case

    Banks: Macquarie Capital

    Nippon Steel and ArcelorMittal’s purchase of ThyssenKrupp Steel USA, LLC

    Firms: Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher; Linklaters; Nishimura & Asahi; Shearman & Sterling; Sullivan & Cromwell

    Banks: Lazard Ltd.; Rothschild

    Petra Nova’s Carbon Capture Sequestration/Enhanced Oil Recovery (“CCS/EOR”) Project

    Firms: Andrews Kurth; Haynes Boone; Hogan Lovells; Jones Day; Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy

    Project financing for the construction of the Roy Hill iron ore project in the Pilbara region of Western Australia

    Firm: Allen & Overy; Herbert Smith Freehills; Latham & Watkins

    Banks: Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited; Bank of China Limited; BNP Paribas; Commonwealth Bank of Australia; Industrial and Commercial Bank of China; ING Bank N.V.; Mizuho Bank, Ltd; National Australia Bank Limited; Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited; Societe Generale S.A.;Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation; The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.;The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited; Westpac Banking Corporation

    Project financing for Ultra-Deepwater FPSO operation project in Carioca area of Brazil

    Firms: Ashurst Horitsu Jimusho Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo; C. Rameh & Advogados Associados; J&A Garrigues; King&Wood Mallesons; Lennox Paton; Nishimura & Asahi; Norton Rose Fulbright; Stibbe; Tostes e Associados Advogados

    Sarulla Geothermal Power Project

    Firms: ABNR; Hadiputranto, Hadinoto & Partners; Latham & Watkins; Maples and Calder; Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy; Mochtar Karuwin & Komar

    Tepco BPS long-term LNG purchase contract

    Firm: Norton Rose Fulbright

     

    M&A Deal of the Year

    Acquisition of Windsor Quality Holdings, LP by Ajinomoto North America, Inc.

    Firms: Baker Botts; Jones Day

    Banks: Morgan Stanley; Price Horne

    Accountancy Firm: Ernst & Young

    Charoen Pokphand’s cross investment and business alliance with ITOCHU

    Firms: Ashurst; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Morrison & Foerster

    Dai-ichi Life Insurance’s acquisition of Protective Life Corporation

    Firms: Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise); Debevoise & Plimpton; Willkie, Farr & Gallagher

    Banks: Goldman Sachs; Morgan Stanley

    Daiichi Sankyo’s Sale of Ranbaxy to Sun Pharma

    Firms: Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A. Shroff & Co.; Crawford Bayley & Co.; Davis Polk & Wardwell; Luthra & Luthra Law Offices; Shearman & Sterling

    Banks: Citigroup Inc.; Evercore; Goldman Sachs & Co.; ICICI Securities

    Itochu, CP Group’s investment in Citic

    Firm: Ashurst; Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Sidley Austin

    KDDI and Sumitomo’s telecoms joint venture in Myanmar with Myanmar Posts and Telecommunications

    Firm: Linklaters; Nishimura & Asahi

    Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation’s tender offer for Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation

    Firms: Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Nishimura & Asahi; Shearman & Sterling

    Mizkan Holdings’ acquisition of the Ragú and Bertolli pasta sauce business from Unilever

    Firms: Cravath, Swaine & Moore; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Shearman & Sterling

    Nippon Steel and ArcelorMittal’s purchase of ThyssenKrupp Steel USA, LLC

    Firms: Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher; Linklaters; Nishimura & Asahi; Shearman & Sterling; Sullivan & Cromwell

    Banks: Lazard Ltd.; Rothschild

    Otsuka Pharamaceutical Co. Ltd’s Acquisition of Avanir Pharmaceuticals

    Firm: Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom

    Panasonic Corporation’s sale of Panasonic Healthcare to KKR

    Firms: Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Nishimura & Asahi; Shearman & Sterling; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett

    Sale of residential real estate business by GE Capital Real Estate to Blackstone

    Firms: Morrison & Foerster; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Nishimura & Asahi

    Banks: Mitsubishi UFJ; Morgan Stanley

    SoftBank’s acquisition of Brightstar

    Firms: Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton; Cahill Gordon & Reindel; K&L Gates; Morrison & Cohen; Morrison & Foerster; Weil, Gotshal & Manges

    Banks: Goldman Sachs; The Raine Group

    Accountancy Firms: Deloitte; KPMG

    Starbucks Corporation's acquisition of Starbucks Coffee Japan Ltd. through dual tender offers transaction

    Firms: Latham & Watkins; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Ohara Law Office

    Strategic alliance between Nippon Paint Co., Ltd. and Wuthelam group

    Firms: Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Nishimura & Asahi

    Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation’s acquisition of Flagship Rail Services, LLC

    Firm: Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom

    Suntory Holdings Limited's acquisition of Beam Inc.

    Firm: Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise); Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton; Kirkland & Ellis; Nishimura & Asahi; Sidley Austin; White & Case

    Banks: Centerview Partners; Credit Suisse; Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.; Morgan Stanley

    Toyota Industries Corporation’s acquisition of a commercial business from Toyota Motor Credit Corporation

    Firms: Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom

     

    Real Estate Deal of the Year

    Fortune REIT's Loan Facility

    Firms: Allen & Overy; Appleby; Baker & McKenzie

    Hulic Reit, Inc’s Global IPO and follow-on PO

    Firms: Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Morrison & Foerster; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Sullivan & Cromwell

    Accountancy Firm: KPMG AZSA LLC

    Mitsui Fudosan Co. Ltd’s global offering of common stock

    Firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; Sullivan & Cromwell

    Banks: Daiwa Securities Inc., Ltd.; Merrill Lynch Japan Securities Co., Ltd.; Nomura Securities Co., Ltd.; SMBC Nikko Securities Inc.

    Purchase of Meguro Gajoen by Mori Trust

    Firms: Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu

    Sale of Pacific Century Place Offices

    Firms: White & Case

    Sale of residential real estate business by GE Capital Real Estate to Blackstone

    Firms: Morrison & Foerster; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Nishimura & Asahi

    Banks: Mitsubishi UFJ; Morgan Stanley

     

    TMT Deal of the Year

    Alibaba’s sale of assets primarily relating to its SME loan business to Zhejiang Ant Small and Micro Financial Services Company

    Firms: Appleby; Maples and Calder; Morrison & Foerster; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom; Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz

    Bellsystem24 Sale, Dividend Recapitalization and Restructuring

    Firms: Linklaters; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Ropes & Gray

    Japan Display Inc’s IPO

    Firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett ; Sullivan & Cromwell

    Banks: Goldman Sachs International; Morgan Stanley; Nomura International

    KDDI and Sumitomo’s telecoms joint venture in Myanmar with Myanmar Posts and Telecommunications

    Firm: Linklaters; Nishimura & Asahi

    Private finance initiative (PFI) and project finance scheme for the “Quasi-Zenith Satellite System” project

    Firms: Baker & McKenzie; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Nishimura & Asahi

    Rakuten Inc.’s acquisition of Viber Media Ltd.

    Firms: GKH Law Offices; Linklaters; Meister Seelig & Fein; Morrison & Foerster; Nishimura & Asahi; White & Case

    Banks: Goldman Sachs

    Recruit Holdings’ IPO

    Firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; Sullivan & Cromwell

    Banks: Mitsubishi UFJ; Mizuho Securities; Morgan Stanley; Nomura Securities; SMBC Nikko Securities

     

    Accountancy Deal Firm of the Year

    Deloitte

    Ernst & Young

    KPMG

    PricewaterhouseCoopers

     

    Japan Deal the Year

    Finalists to be announced on the night

     

    The Japan In-House Counsel Network Award Banking & Financial Services In-House Team of the Year

    J.P. Morgan Securities Japan Co

    Morgan Stanley MUFG Securities Co

    Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc

     

    Japanese Investment Bank In-House Team of the Year

    Daiwa Securities Co. Ltd.

    Mizuho Securities Co., Ltd.

    SMBC Nikko Securities Inc.

     

    International Investment Bank In-House Team of the Year

    Goldman Sachs Japan Co

    JP Morgan Securities Japan Co

    Morgan Stanley MUFG Securities Co

     

    TMT In-House Team of the Year

    IBM Japan

    KDDI

    Softbank

     

    Innovative In-House Team of the Year

    IBM Japan

    Itochu Corporation

    JP Morgan Securities Japan Co

    KVH

    Morgan Stanley MUFG Securities Co

     

    Japan In-House Lawyer of the Year

    Goldman Sachs Japan Co                        Yutaka Miura

    JPMorgan Securities Japan Co                 Jeremy Entwisle

    Morgan Stanley MUFG Securities Co       Christopher O. Hathaway

     

    Japan In-House Team of the Year

    Finalists to be announced on the night

     

    Banking Law Firm of the Year

    Anderson Mori & Tomotsune

    Atsumi & Sakai

    Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)

    Davis Polk & Wardwell

    Mori Hamada & Matsumoto

    Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu

    Nishimura & Asahi

     

    Employment Law Firm of the Year

    Anderson Mori & Tomotsune

    Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

    Mori Hamada & Matsumoto

    Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu

    Nishimura & Asahi

     

    Insolvency Law Firm of the Year

    Anderson Mori & Tomotsune

    Mori Hamada & Matsumoto

    Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu

    Nishimura & Asahi

    Oh-Ebashi LPC & Partners

     

    American Chamber of Commerce In Japan Award International Arbitration Law Firm of the Year

    Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

    Herbert Smith Freehills

    Mori Hamada & Matsumoto

    Morrison & Foerster

    Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu

    Nishimura & Asahi

    Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe

     

    IP Law Firm of the Year

    Anderson Mori & Tomotsune

    Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)

    Hogan Lovells

    Momo-o, Matsuo & Namba

    Mori Hamada & Matsumoto

    Morrison & Foerster

    Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu

    Nishimura & Asahi

    Ohno & Partners

    Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe

    Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan

    Ropes & Gray

    SUGIMURA International Patent & Trademark Attorneys

    TMI Associates

     

    Regulatory and Compliance Law Firm of the Year

    Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)

    Davis Polk & Wardwell

    Mori Hamada & Matsumoto

    Morrison & Foerster

    Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu

     

    Litigation Specialist Law Firm of the Year

    Anderson Mori & Tomotsune

    Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

    Mori Hamada & Matsumoto

    Morrison & Foerster

    Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu

    Nishimura & Asahi

    Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe

    Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan

     

    Tax Law Firm of the Year

    Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)

    Mori Hamada & Matsumoto

    Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu

    Nishimura & Asahi

     

    Best Southeast Asia Practice Law Firm of the Year

    Anderson Mori & Tomotsune

    Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)

    Mori Hamada & Matsumoto

    Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu

    Nishimura & Asahi

    TMI Associates

     

    Best China Practice Law Firm of the Year

    Anderson Mori & Tomotsune

    Mori Hamada & Matsumoto

    Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu

    Nishimura & Asahi

    TMI Associates

     

    Offshore Law Firm of the Year

    Appleby

    Conyers Dill & Pearman

    Maples and Calder

    Walkers

     

    Managing Partner of the Year

    Anderson Mori & Tomotsune                                                     Ryu Umezu

    Atsumi & Sakai                                                                           Hiroo Atsumi

    Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)                       Jeremy Pitts

    Davis Polk & Wardwell                                                                Theodore A. Paradise

    Herbert Smith Freehills                                                               Peter Godwin

    Morrison & Foerster                                                                    Ken Siegel

    Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe                                                       L. Mark Weeks

    Sullivan & Cromwell                                                                     Izumi Akai

     

    International Deal Firm of the Year

    Clifford Chance

    Davis Polk & Wardwell

    Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

    Morrison & Foerster

    Simpson Thacher & Bartlett

    Sullivan & Cromwell

     

    Japanese Deal Firm of the Year

    Anderson Mori & Tomotsune

    Atsumi & Sakai

    Mori Hamada & Matsumoto

    Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu

    Nishimura & Asahi

     

    Japan Law Firm of the Year

    Finalists to be announced on the night

     

    For information about the event, please email Tracy at tracy.li@thomsonreuters.com, or call +852 2847 2046

     

    ALB Japan Law Awards 2015

    Winners

    Debt Market Deal of the Year

    The winner is:

    Debt financing related to Suntory Holdings Limited's acquisition of Beam Inc.

    Firms: Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise); Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton; Nishimura & Asahi

     

    The finalists are:

    Aozora Re’s Japanese Typhoon Catastrophe Bond

    Firms: Atsumi & Sakai; Mayer Brown

    Banks: GC Securities, an affiliate of Marsh

    Credit Suisse AG's bond issuance and public offering

    Firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)

    Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company’s notes offering

    Firms: Nishimura & Asahi; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; Sullivan & Cromwell

    Banks: BofA Merrill Lynch; Citigroup; Goldman Sachs & Co; J.P. Morgan; Mizuho Securities

    Debt financing related to Suntory Holdings Limited's acquisition of Beam Inc.

    Firms: Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise); Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton; Nishimura & Asahi

    Deutsche Bank AG’s Samurai Bond Issuance

    Firms: Linklaters; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Nishimura & Asahi

    Japan Finance Organization for Municipalities’ Takedown Offering

    Firms: Clifford Chance; Davis Polk & Wardwell; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu

    Banks: Citigroup Global Markets Inc.; Daiwa Capital Markets Europe Limited; Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

    Accountancy Firm: Ernst & Young ShinNihon LLC

    Metropolis of Tokyo USD Eurobonds issuance

    Firms: Clifford Chance; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu

    Banks: Barclays Bank PLC; Goldman Sachs International; Merrill Lynch International;

    Nomura International plc

    Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation's Senior Notes Offering

    Firms: Linklaters; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Nishimura & Asahi; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett

    Mizuho Bank’s Senior Notes Offering

    Firms: Linklaters; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett

    Banks: Goldman Sachs; J.P. Morgan Securities; Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated; Mizuho Securities USA Inc.

    Mizuho Financial Group’s issuance of Basel III Compliant Subordinated Notes

    Firms: Emmet Marvin & Martin; Linklaters; Maples and Calder; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett

    Banks: BofA Merrill Lynch; Goldman, Sachs & Co.; J.P. Morgan; Mizuho Securities

    Morgan Stanley’s samurai bond offering

    Firms: Linklaters

    Nippon Life Step-up Callable Subordinated Notes Offering

    Firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Davis Polk & Wardwell; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Morrison & Foerster

    Banks: Citigroup Global Markets Inc.; J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

    Accountancy Firm: Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu LLC

    Nomura Holdings, Inc.'s SEC-registered offering

    Firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Sullivan & Cromwell

    Nordea Samurai Bond Offering

    Firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Clifford Chance; Mannheimer Swartling

    Banks: Daiwa Securities; Merrill Lynch Japan Securities; Mizuho Securities; Nomura Securities

    Accountancy Firm: KPMG

    Skylark’s IPO Restructuring and Financing

    Firms: Baker & McKenzie; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Ropes & Gray

    Banks: BofA Merrill Lynch; Goldman Sachs Japan Co., Ltd.; JPMorgan Securities Japan Co., Ltd.; Mizuho Securities; Morgan Stanley; Nomura Securities Co., Ltd.

    Accountancy Firms: Deloitte Touche & Tohmatsu LLC; KPMG AZSA LLC; PricewaterhouseCoopers Arata

    Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation’s GMTN Program Set Up and Senior Notes Offering

    Firms: Davis Polk & Wardwell; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett

    Banks: Barclays Securities Japan Limited; Citigroup Global Markets Japan Inc.; Goldman Sachs Japan Co., Ltd.; J.P. Morgan Securities Japan Co., Ltd.; SMBC Nikko Securities Inc.

    Accountancy Firm: KPMG AZSA LLC

    Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation’s GMTN Program Update and Senior Notes Offering

    Firms: Davis Polk & Wardwell; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett

    Banks: Barclays Securities Japan Limited; Citigroup Global Markets Japan Inc.; Goldman Sachs Japan Co., Ltd.; J.P. Morgan Securities Japan Co., Ltd.; SMBC Nikko Securities Inc.

    Accountancy Firm: KPMG AZSA LLC

    Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group’s Tier 2 Subordinated Bond Offering

    Firms: Davis Polk & Wardwell; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett

    Banks: Barclays Securities Japan Limited; Citigroup Global Markets Japan Inc.; Goldman Sachs Japan Co., Ltd.; SMBC Nikko Securities Inc.

    Accountancy Firm: KPMG AZSA LLC

    Suntory Holdings Limited’s Senior Notes Offering

    Firms: Linklaters; Nishimura & Asahi; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett

    Banks: Citigroup; Barclays; BNP Paribas; BofA Merrill Lynch; J.P. Morgan; Morgan Stanley

    The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd. (BTMU)’s Senior Debt Offering

    Firms: City-Yuwa Partners; Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett

     

    Equity Market Deal of the Year

    The winner is:

    Skylark’s IPO

    Firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Ropes & Gray; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; Sullivan & Cromwell

    Banks: BofA Merrill Lynch; Goldman Sachs Japan Co., Ltd.; JPMorgan Securities Japan Co., Ltd.; Mizuho Securities; Morgan Stanley; Nomura Securities Co., Ltd.

    Accountancy Firms: Deloitte Touche & Tohmatsu LLC; KPMG AZSA LLC; PricewaterhouseCoopers Arata

     

    The finalists are:

    Business Transfer, Formation and IPO of a business trust in Singapore, Loan with Share Acquisition Rights, and Self Tender Offer

    Firms: Allen & Gledhill; Miyakezaka Law Offices; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu

    Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company’s stock offering

    Firms: Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Nishimura & Asahi; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; Sullivan & Cromwell

    Banks: Mizuho Securities; Nomura Securities

    Fast Retailing's listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange

    Firms: Commerce & Finance Law Offices; Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom

    Hulic Reit, Inc’s Global IPO and follow-on PO

    Firms: Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Morrison & Foerster; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Sullivan & Cromwell

    Issuance of Debt-like preferred stock by Kyushu Electric Power Company, Incorporated

    Firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto

    Issuance of new shares by third-party allotment by ITOCHU Corporation as part of its strategic alliance with Charoen Pokphand Group Limited

    Firms: Ashurst; Chandler and Thong-Ek Law Offices; Frasers Law Company; Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Morrison & Foerster

    Itochu, CP Group’s investment in Citic

    Firm: Ashurst; Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Sidley Austin

    Japan Display Inc’s IPO

    Firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; Sullivan & Cromwell

    Banks: Goldman Sachs International; Morgan Stanley; Nomura International

    Mitsubishi Motors Corporation’s global offering of its common stock

    Firms: Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; Sullivan & Cromwell

    Banks: BofA Merrill Lynch; Morgan Stanley; Nomura Securities

    Mitsui Fudosan Co. Ltd’s global offering of common stock

    Firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; Sullivan & Cromwell

    Banks: Daiwa Securities Inc., Ltd.; Merrill Lynch Japan Securities Co., Ltd.; Nomura Securities Co., Ltd.; SMBC Nikko Securities Inc.

    Accountancy Firm: KPMG AZSA LLC

    Recruit Holdings’ IPO

    Firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; Sullivan & Cromwell

    Banks: Mitsubishi UFJ; Mizuho Securities; Morgan Stanley; Nomura Securities; SMBC Nikko Securities

    Seibu Holdings’ global IPO

    Firm: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Linklaters; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Nishimura & Asahi; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett

    Banks: Citigroup Global Markets Limited; J.P. Morgan Securities plc; Merrill Lynch International; Mizuho International plc; Nomura International plc; UBS Limited

    Skylark’s IPO

    Firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Ropes & Gray; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; Sullivan & Cromwell

    Banks: BofA Merrill Lynch; Goldman Sachs Japan Co., Ltd.; JPMorgan Securities Japan Co., Ltd.; Mizuho Securities; Morgan Stanley; Nomura Securities Co., Ltd.

    Accountancy Firms: Deloitte Touche & Tohmatsu LLC; KPMG AZSA LLC; PricewaterhouseCoopers Arata

    Terumo Corporation’s Dual-Tranche Convertible Bond issuance

    Firms: Clifford Chance; Nishimura & Asahi

    Banks: Goldman Sachs International; Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc; Nomura International plc; SMBC Nikko Capital Markets Limited

    Accountancy Firm: KPMG AZSA LLC

    Toray Industry, Inc’s Dual-Tranche "Recap" Convertible Bond issuance

    Firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Clifford Chance

    Banks: Daiwa Capital Markets Europe Limited; Goldman Sachs International; Nomura International plc; SMBC Nikko Capital Markets Limited

    Accountancy Firm: Ernst & Young ShinNihon LLC

     

    Energy and Resources Deal of the Year

    The winner is:

    Donggi Senoro LNG Project in Sulawesi, Indonesia

    Firm: Allen & Overy; Ashurst

     

    The finalists are:

    480 MW photovoltaic power plant project on the island of Ukujima, Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan

    Firms: Atsumi & Sakai; Janssen Foreign Law Office

    Debt financing for the Cameron LNG liquefaction-export project in Hackberry, Louisiana

    Firm: Latham & Watkins

    Development and Project Financing of 230MW photovoltaic plant in Setouchi Japan

    Firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Okamura Sogo Law Office; Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe

    Donggi Senoro LNG Project in Sulawesi, Indonesia

    Firm: Allen & Overy; Ashurst

    Financing for the Safi Independent Power Project in Morocco

    Firms: Clifford Chance; Linklaters

    Freeport LNG Liquefaction Facility

    Firms: Chadbourne & Parke; Hunton & Williams; Morrison & Foerster; Nishimura & Asahi; White & Case

    Banks: Macquarie Capital

    Nippon Steel and ArcelorMittal’s purchase of ThyssenKrupp Steel USA, LLC

    Firms: Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher; Linklaters; Nishimura & Asahi; Shearman & Sterling; Sullivan & Cromwell

    Banks: Lazard Ltd.; Rothschild

    Petra Nova’s Carbon Capture Sequestration/Enhanced Oil Recovery (“CCS/EOR”) Project

    Firms: Andrews Kurth; Haynes Boone; Hogan Lovells; Jones Day; Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy

    Project financing for the construction of the Roy Hill iron ore project in the Pilbara region of Western Australia

    Firm: Allen & Overy; Herbert Smith Freehills; Latham & Watkins

    Banks: Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited; Bank of China Limited; BNP Paribas; Commonwealth Bank of Australia; Industrial and Commercial Bank of China; ING Bank N.V.; Mizuho Bank, Ltd; National Australia Bank Limited; Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited; Societe Generale S.A.;Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation; The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.;The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited; Westpac Banking Corporation

    Project financing for Ultra-Deepwater FPSO operation project in Carioca area of Brazil

    Firms: Ashurst Horitsu Jimusho Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo; C. Rameh & Advogados Associados; J&A Garrigues; King&Wood Mallesons; Lennox Paton; Nishimura & Asahi; Norton Rose Fulbright; Stibbe; Tostes e Associados Advogados

    Sarulla Geothermal Power Project

    Firms: ABNR; Hadiputranto, Hadinoto & Partners; Latham & Watkins; Maples and Calder; Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy; Mochtar Karuwin & Komar

    Tepco BPS long-term LNG purchase contract

    Firm: Norton Rose Fulbright

     

    M&A Deal of the Year

    The winner is:

    Suntory Holdings Limited's acquisition of Beam Inc.

    Firm: Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise); Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton; Kirkland & Ellis; Nishimura & Asahi; Sidley Austin; White & Case

    Banks: Centerview Partners; Credit Suisse; Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.; Morgan Stanley

     

    The finalists are:

    Acquisition of Windsor Quality Holdings, LP by Ajinomoto North America, Inc.

    Firms: Baker Botts; Jones Day

    Banks: Morgan Stanley; Price Horne

    Accountancy Firm: Ernst & Young

    Charoen Pokphand’s cross investment and business alliance with ITOCHU

    Firms: Ashurst; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Morrison & Foerster

    Dai-ichi Life Insurance’s acquisition of Protective Life Corporation

    Firms: Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise); Debevoise & Plimpton; Willkie, Farr & Gallagher

    Banks: Goldman Sachs; Morgan Stanley

    Daiichi Sankyo’s Sale of Ranbaxy to Sun Pharma

    Firms: Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A. Shroff & Co.; Crawford Bayley & Co.; Davis Polk & Wardwell; Luthra & Luthra Law Offices; Shearman & Sterling

    Banks: Citigroup Inc.; Evercore; Goldman Sachs & Co.; ICICI Securities

    Itochu, CP Group’s investment in Citic

    Firm: Ashurst; Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Sidley Austin

    KDDI and Sumitomo’s telecoms joint venture in Myanmar with Myanmar Posts and Telecommunications

    Firm: Linklaters; Nishimura & Asahi

    Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation’s tender offer for Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation

    Firms: Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Nishimura & Asahi; Shearman & Sterling

    Mizkan Holdings’ acquisition of the Ragú and Bertolli pasta sauce business from Unilever

    Firms: Cravath, Swaine & Moore; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Shearman & Sterling

    Nippon Steel and ArcelorMittal’s purchase of ThyssenKrupp Steel USA, LLC

    Firms: Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher; Linklaters; Nishimura & Asahi; Shearman & Sterling; Sullivan & Cromwell

    Banks: Lazard Ltd.; Rothschild

    Otsuka Pharamaceutical Co. Ltd’s Acquisition of Avanir Pharmaceuticals

    Firm: Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom

    Panasonic Corporation’s sale of Panasonic Healthcare to KKR

    Firms: Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Nishimura & Asahi; Shearman & Sterling; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett

    Sale of residential real estate business by GE Capital Real Estate to Blackstone

    Firms: Morrison & Foerster; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Nishimura & Asahi

    Banks: Mitsubishi UFJ; Morgan Stanley

    SoftBank’s acquisition of Brightstar

    Firms: Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton; Cahill Gordon & Reindel; K&L Gates; Morrison & Cohen; Morrison & Foerster; Weil, Gotshal & Manges

    Banks: Goldman Sachs; The Raine Group

    Accountancy Firms: Deloitte; KPMG

    Starbucks Corporation's acquisition of Starbucks Coffee Japan Ltd. through dual tender offers transaction

    Firms: Latham & Watkins; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Ohara Law Office

    Strategic alliance between Nippon Paint Co., Ltd. and Wuthelam group

    Firms: Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Nishimura & Asahi

    Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation’s acquisition of Flagship Rail Services, LLC

    Firm: Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom

    Suntory Holdings Limited's acquisition of Beam Inc.

    Firm: Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise); Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton; Kirkland & Ellis; Nishimura & Asahi; Sidley Austin; White & Case

    Banks: Centerview Partners; Credit Suisse; Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.; Morgan Stanley

    Toyota Industries Corporation’s acquisition of a commercial business from Toyota Motor Credit Corporation

    Firms: Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom

     

    Real Estate Deal of the Year

    The winner is:

    Mitsui Fudosan Co. Ltd’s global offering of common stock

    Firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; Sullivan & Cromwell

    Banks: Daiwa Securities Inc., Ltd.; Merrill Lynch Japan Securities Co., Ltd.; Nomura Securities Co., Ltd.; SMBC Nikko Securities Inc.

     

    The finalists are:

    Fortune REIT's Loan Facility

    Firms: Allen & Overy; Appleby; Baker & McKenzie

    Hulic Reit, Inc’s Global IPO and follow-on PO

    Firms: Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Morrison & Foerster; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Sullivan & Cromwell

    Accountancy Firm: KPMG AZSA LLC

    Mitsui Fudosan Co. Ltd’s global offering of common stock

    Firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; Sullivan & Cromwell

    Banks: Daiwa Securities Inc., Ltd.; Merrill Lynch Japan Securities Co., Ltd.; Nomura Securities Co., Ltd.; SMBC Nikko Securities Inc.

    Purchase of Meguro Gajoen by Mori Trust

    Firms: Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu

    Sale of Pacific Century Place Offices

    Firms: White & Case

    Sale of residential real estate business by GE Capital Real Estate to Blackstone

    Firms: Morrison & Foerster; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Nishimura & Asahi

    Banks: Mitsubishi UFJ; Morgan Stanley

     

    TMT Deal of the Year

    The winner is:

    Recruit Holdings’ IPO

    Firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; Sullivan & Cromwell

    Banks: Mitsubishi UFJ; Mizuho Securities; Morgan Stanley; Nomura Securities; SMBC Nikko Securities

     

    The finalists are:

    Alibaba’s sale of assets primarily relating to its SME loan business to Zhejiang Ant Small and Micro Financial Services Company

    Firms: Appleby; Maples and Calder; Morrison & Foerster; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom; Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz

    Bellsystem24 Sale, Dividend Recapitalization and Restructuring

    Firms: Linklaters; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Ropes & Gray

    Japan Display Inc’s IPO

    Firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett ; Sullivan & Cromwell

    Banks: Goldman Sachs International; Morgan Stanley; Nomura International

    KDDI and Sumitomo’s telecoms joint venture in Myanmar with Myanmar Posts and Telecommunications

    Firm: Linklaters; Nishimura & Asahi

    Private finance initiative (PFI) and project finance scheme for the “Quasi-Zenith Satellite System” project

    Firms: Baker & McKenzie; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Nishimura & Asahi

    Rakuten Inc.’s acquisition of Viber Media Ltd.

    Firms: GKH Law Offices; Linklaters; Meister Seelig & Fein; Morrison & Foerster; Nishimura & Asahi; White & Case

    Banks: Goldman Sachs

    Recruit Holdings’ IPO

    Firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; Sullivan & Cromwell

    Banks: Mitsubishi UFJ; Mizuho Securities; Morgan Stanley; Nomura Securities; SMBC Nikko Securities

     

    Accountancy Deal Firm of the Year

    The winner is:

    KPMG

    The finalists are:

    Deloitte

    Ernst & Young

    KPMG

    PricewaterhouseCoopers

     

    Japan Deal the Year

    The winner is:

    Suntory Holdings Limited's acquisition of Beam Inc.

    Firm: Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise); Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton; Kirkland & Ellis; Nishimura & Asahi; Sidley Austin; White & Case

    Banks: Centerview Partners; Credit Suisse; Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.; Morgan Stanley

     

    The Japan In-House Counsel Network Award Banking & Financial Services In-House Team of the Year

    The winner is:

    Morgan Stanley MUFG Securities Co

    The finalists are:

    J.P. Morgan Securities Japan Co

    Morgan Stanley MUFG Securities Co

    Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc

     

    Japanese Investment Bank In-House Team of the Year

    The winner is:

    Mizuho Securities Co., Ltd.

    The finalists are:

    Daiwa Securities Co. Ltd.

    Mizuho Securities Co., Ltd.

    SMBC Nikko Securities Inc.

     

    International Investment Bank In-House Team of the Year

    The winner is:

    Morgan Stanley MUFG Securities Co

    The finalists are:

    Goldman Sachs Japan Co

    JP Morgan Securities Japan Co

    Morgan Stanley MUFG Securities Co

     

    TMT In-House Team of the Year

    The winner is:

    Softbank

    The finalists are:

    IBM Japan

    KDDI

    Softbank

     

    Innovative In-House Team of the Year

    The winner is:

    Itochu Corporation

    The finalists are:

    IBM Japan

    Itochu Corporation

    JP Morgan Securities Japan Co

    KVH

    Morgan Stanley MUFG Securities Co

     

    Japan In-House Lawyer of the Year

    The winner is:

    Morgan Stanley MUFG Securities Co       Christopher O. Hathaway

    The finalists are:

    Goldman Sachs Japan Co                        Yutaka Miura

    JPMorgan Securities Japan Co                 Jeremy Entwisle

    Morgan Stanley MUFG Securities Co       Christopher O. Hathaway

     

    Japan In-House Team of the Year

    The winner is:

    Morgan Stanley MUFG Securities Co

     

    Banking Law Firm of the Year

    The winner is:

    Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu

    The finalists are:

    Anderson Mori & Tomotsune

    Atsumi & Sakai

    Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)

    Davis Polk & Wardwell

    Mori Hamada & Matsumoto

    Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu

    Nishimura & Asahi

     

    Employment Law Firm of the Year

    The winner is:

    Anderson Mori & Tomotsune

    The finalists are:

    Anderson Mori & Tomotsune

    Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

    Mori Hamada & Matsumoto

    Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu

    Nishimura & Asahi

     

    Insolvency Law Firm of the Year

    The winner is:

    Mori Hamada & Matsumoto

    The finalists are:

    Anderson Mori & Tomotsune

    Mori Hamada & Matsumoto

    Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu

    Nishimura & Asahi

    Oh-Ebashi LPC & Partners

     

    American Chamber of Commerce In Japan Award International Arbitration Law Firm of the Year

    The winner is:

    Herbert Smith Freehills

    The finalists are:

    Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

    Herbert Smith Freehills

    Mori Hamada & Matsumoto

    Morrison & Foerster

    Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu

    Nishimura & Asahi

    Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe

     

    IP Law Firm of the Year

    The winner is:

    Morrison & Foerster

    The finalists are:

    Anderson Mori & Tomotsune

    Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)

    Hogan Lovells

    Momo-o, Matsuo & Namba

    Mori Hamada & Matsumoto

    Morrison & Foerster

    Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu

    Nishimura & Asahi

    Ohno & Partners

    Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe

    Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan

    Ropes & Gray

    SUGIMURA International Patent & Trademark Attorneys

    TMI Associates

     

    Regulatory and Compliance Law Firm of the Year

    The winner is:

    Mori Hamada & Matsumoto

    The finalists are:

    Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)

    Davis Polk & Wardwell

    Mori Hamada & Matsumoto

    Morrison & Foerster

    Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu

     

    Litigation Specialist Law Firm of the Year

    The winner is:

    Mori Hamada & Matsumoto

    The finalists are:

    Anderson Mori & Tomotsune

    Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

    Mori Hamada & Matsumoto

    Morrison & Foerster

    Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu

    Nishimura & Asahi

    Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe

    Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan

     

    Tax Law Firm of the Year

    The winner is:

    Nishimura & Asahi

    The finalists are:

    Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)

    Mori Hamada & Matsumoto

    Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu

    Nishimura & Asahi

     

    Best Southeast Asia Practice Law Firm of the Year

    The winner is:

    Mori Hamada & Matsumoto

    The finalists are:

    Anderson Mori & Tomotsune

    Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)

    Mori Hamada & Matsumoto

    Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu

    Nishimura & Asahi

    TMI Associates

     

    Best China Practice Law Firm of the Year

    The winner is:

    Anderson Mori & Tomotsune

    The finalists are:

    Anderson Mori & Tomotsune

    Mori Hamada & Matsumoto

    Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu

    Nishimura & Asahi

    TMI Associates

     

    Offshore Law Firm of the Year

    The winner is:

    Maples and Calder

    The finalists are:

    Appleby

    Conyers Dill & Pearman

    Maples and Calder

    Walkers

     

    Managing Partner of the Year

    The winner is:

    Anderson Mori & Tomotsune                                                     Ryu Umezu

    The finalists are:

    Anderson Mori & Tomotsune                                                     Ryu Umezu

    Atsumi & Sakai                                                                           Hiroo Atsumi

    Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)                       Jeremy Pitts

    Davis Polk & Wardwell                                                                Theodore A. Paradise

    Herbert Smith Freehills                                                               Peter Godwin

    Morrison & Foerster                                                                    Ken Siegel

    Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe                                                       L. Mark Weeks

    Sullivan & Cromwell                                                                     Izumi Akai

     

    International Deal Firm of the Year

    The winner is:

    Simpson Thacher & Bartlett

    The finalists are:

    Clifford Chance

    Davis Polk & Wardwell

    Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

    Morrison & Foerster

    Simpson Thacher & Bartlett

    Sullivan & Cromwell

     

    Japanese Deal Firm of the Year

    The winner is:

    Mori Hamada & Matsumoto

    The finalists are:

    Anderson Mori & Tomotsune

    Atsumi & Sakai

    Mori Hamada & Matsumoto

    Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu

    Nishimura & Asahi

     

    Japan Law Firm of the Year

    The winner is:

    Mori Hamada & Matsumoto

     

     

    CONTACT PERSONS

     

    About the event

    Colin Wang

    Award Researcher

    Phone: (+86-10) 62674306

    Email: colin.wang@thomsonreuters.com

     

    For sponsorship opportunities

    Amantha Chia

    Publisher and Head of Sales

    Legal Media Group

    Phone: (65) 6870 3917

    Mobile: (65) 9642 9895

    Email: amantha.chia@thomsonreuters.com

     

     

     

    Date:  Thursday, June 18, 2015

    Venue:  The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo
                   Tokyo Midtown, 9-7-1, Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-6245 Japan

    Price of table/seat includes:
    •   Drinks reception
    •   Four-course gourmet dinner
    •   Unlimited wine, beer and soft drinks
    •   Gala black tie award ceremony announcing the winners of each award

    For enquiries please contact Tracy Li through email tracy.li@thomsonreuters.com or telephone +852 2847 2046.

     

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