About
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Welcome to the ALB Japan Law Awards 2018!
Date: 13 June 2018, wednesday
Asian Legal Business is proud to present the 14th annual ALB Japan Law Awards – |
For the full list of winners, click here.
Guest of Honour
MIKI SAKAKIBARA
President, Japan In-House Lawyers Association
Miki Sakakibara leads more than 1500 Japan In-House Lawyers Association (JILA) members working to enhance public perception of in-house counsel as the Association’s newly-elected president. JILA is the largest voluntary organisation serving professional and business interests of Japanese in-house counsel.
Sakakibara has been practicing IP laws and heavily involved with public policy and government affairs. She is currently an in-house counsel of Panasonic Corporation’s Risk Governances Division. Her practice focuses on global compliance since this Spring. She started her career at Century Law Office. After that, she had a stint at the multinational law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.
Some of Sakakibara’s notable accomplishments include being part of the government council in 2014 where defense rights, such as attorney client privilege, was discussed. She also advises on digital innovations to stimulate economic growth and inclusiveness which covers, among others, copyright issues on big data and cloud computing services.
Her varied interests led her to publish The Detailed Explanation of the Examination Procedure of the Anti-Trust Law in 2016 and moderate a session on legal risk of harassment of sexual orientation and gender identity at work with Pride (wwP), an LGBT event, in 2017. As part of her advocacy, Sakakibara also teaches part-time at Kobe University School of Law focusing on legal work of in-house counsel.
She is a member of the advisory committee on school management of Kobe University the Osaka University Law School and was chairman of the copyright committee of Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA) from 2011 to 2018.
In 1997, Miki Sakakibara was admitted to practice law in Japan and became a member of the State Bar of California in 2003.
Categories
DEAL CATEGORIES
- Debt Market Deal of the Year
- Equity Market Deal of the Year
- M&A Deal of the Year (Midsize)
- M&A Deal of the Year (Premium)
- Projects, Energy and Infrastructure Deal of the Year
- Real Estate Deal of the Year
- Technology, Media and Telecommunications Deal of the Year
- Japan Deal of the Year*
Individual Categories
- Dealmaker of the Year
- Dispute Resolution Lawyer of the Year (new category)
- Foreign Lawyer of the Year (new category)
- In-House Lawyer of the Year
- Managing Partner of the Year
- BMW Award Woman Lawyer of the Year
IN-HOUSE TEAM CATEGORIES
- Banking and Financial Services In-House Team of the Year
- Innovative In-House Team of the Year
- Manufacturing and Retail In-House Team of the Year (new category)
- Technology, Media and Telecommunications In-House Team of the Year
- Japan In-House Team of the Year
FIRM CATEGORIES
- Banking and Financial Services Law Firm of the Year
- Boutique Law Firm of the Year
- Healthcare and Life Sciences Law Firm of the Year (new category)
- Insolvency Law Firm of the Year
- International Arbitration Law Firm of the Year
- International Deal Firm of the Year
- International Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year
- Investment Fund Law Firm of the Year (new category)
- Japan Deal Firm of the Year
- Japan Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year
- Japan Practice Foreign Law Firm of the Year (new category)
- Labour and Employment Law Firm of the Year
- Litigation Law Firm of the Year
- Maritime Law Firm of the Year
- Overseas Practice Law Firm of the Year (new category)
- Projects, Energy and Infrastructure Law Firm of the Year
- Real Estate Law Firm of the Year
- Regulatory and Compliance Law Firm of the Year
- Space Law Firm of the Year (new category)
- Tax and Trusts Law Firm of the Year
- Japan Law Firm of the Year
* Not open for submissions
For inquiries, please contact Tracy on tracy.li@thomsonreuters.com.
Submit Today
Submissions Form:
(1) Research Methodology Summary
(2) Submission Forms
Individual Categories | In-House Categories | Deal Categories
- Download all files in .zip -
IMPORTANT DATES :
Opening of submissions | Feb 26
Deadline for submissions | April 4
Online announcement of finalists | Early May
Awards ceremony | June 13
Questions? Contact Tract on tracy.li@thomsonreuters.com / +852 28472046.
Judges
Hiroyuki Yasuda
Executive Officer and General Counsel Legal Affairs, Compliance and Intellectual Property, Yamato Holdings Co., Ltd.
As Executive Officer and General Counsel of Yamato Holdings Co., Ltd., Hiroyuki Yasuda is responsible for all matters relating to legal affairs, M&A, compliance and intellectual property of the Yamato group, primarily known for the business model “Kuroneko Yamato TA-Q-BIN,” including about 50 subsidiaries in 24 countries with more than 200,000 employees in total.
Prior to joining the Yamato group in 2015, he was in private practice with prominent law firms in New York City for ten years providing legal advice to clients on intellectual property, FCPA, anti-trust, labor and employment issues.
He is admitted to the bars of the State of New York, the District of Columbia, the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Saburo Nakao
Asia General Counsel, Dassault Systemes Group
Saburo has been the Asia General Counsel for the Dassault Systemes Group since 2015 and is in charge of all legal matters for the group in the Asia Pacific. While serving as the Asia General Counsel for the Dassault Systemes Group, he assumed interim duties as Representative Director of Dassault Systemes Biovia K.K. and certain other Japanese subsidiaries of the Dassault Systemes Group. Before joining Dassault Systemes in 2014, he was a partner of Squire Patten Boggs at their Tokyo and London offices specializing in cross border merger and acquisitions. He received a LL.M in Law from Doshisha University, and a LL.M from New York University School of Law. He is admitted as an attorney in the State of New York.
Dassault Systèmes (Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA) is a world leading European software company headquartered in Velizy, France that develops 3D design solutions, simulation and virtual modeling solutions and product lifecycle management solutions.
Mika Yano
Director, Head of Legal, Asia and the U.S., Colt Technology Services Co., Ltd.
Mika Yano is Director, Head of Legal, Asia and the U.S. at Colt Technology Services, Co., Ltd. She has held several in-house positions in Japan and the U.S., and was also in private practice at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. Mika is admitted to practice law in New York, and is a graduate of Keio University and Georgetown University Law Center.
Tomokazu Usagawa
Director, Global Legal Department, Dentsu Inc.
Tomokazu Usagawa started his legal career at Mitsubishi Motors and moved to Dentsu in 2004. He was promoted as the Director of the Global Legal Department in 2014. He covers M&A, global business, sports and entertainment business as well as media business.
In 2016 and 2017, Tomokazu was based in Singapore as the Senior Counsel helping the APAC legal team for integration while serving as the head of legal for North Asia.
Tomokazu received an LL.B from Tokyo University and an LL.M from the University of Virginia. He is admitted to practice law in New York.
Hiroshi Miyashita
Associate Professor of Law, Chuo University
Hiroshi Miyashita is Associate Professor of Law at Chuo University in Tokyo. He specializes in constitutional law and information law. Prior to the current position, Miyashita served for the Office of Personal Information Protection in the Cabinet Office of Japan. He received Doctor in Law from Hitotsubashi University. He was a visiting scholar at Harvard Law School, Brussels Privacy Hub, Vrijie Universiteit Brussel and CRIDS (Centre de Recherche Information, Droit et Société), University of Namur. He published five books on privacy including the EU GDPR Commentary in Japanese and over 100 academic articles including many on privacy and data protection.
Finalists
FINALISTS
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FIRM CATEGORIES
Banking and Financial Services Law Firm of the Year
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Atsumi & Sakai
Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)
Clifford Chance
Davis Polk & Wardwell
K&L Gates
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Nishimura & Asahi
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison
Sullivan & Cromwell
White & Case
Boutique Law Firm of the Year
Kanagawa International Law Office
KUBOTA
Masuda & Partners Law Office
Southgate
Healthcare and Life Sciences Law Firm of the Year
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Atsumi & Sakai
Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)
Clifford Chance
Hogan Lovells
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Nishimura & Asahi
Insolvency Law Firm of the Year
Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Nishimura & Asahi
International Arbitration Law Firm of the Year
Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
Herbert Smith Freehills
King & Spalding Gaikokuho Jimu Bengoshi Jimusho
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Morrison & Foerster
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Nishimura & Asahi
International Deal Firm of the Year
Allen & Overy
Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)
Clifford Chance
Davis Polk & Wardwell
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
Morrison & Foerster
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
White & Case
International Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year
Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)
Hogan Lovells
Morrison & Foerster
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan
Investment Fund Law Firm of the Year
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Atsumi & Sakai
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Nishimura & Asahi
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
Japan Deal Firm of the Year
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Atsumi & Sakai
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Nishimura & Asahi
Japan Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year
Abe, Ikubo & Katayama
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Atsumi & Sakai
KUBOTA
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Nakamura & Partners
Nishimura & Asahi
TMI Associates
Japan Practice Foreign Law Firm of the Year
Chandler MHM Limited
Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas
Dwipo Lubis Baskoro & Partners
Khaitan & Co
Lee and Li
Rajah & Tann Singapore
Roosdiono & Partners
Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co
Trilegal
Labour and Employment Law Firm of the Year
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Atsumi & Sakai
Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Nishimura & Asahi
TMI Associates
Litigation Law Firm of the Year
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Atsumi & Sakai
Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Morrison & Foerster
Nishimura & Asahi
Maritime Law Firm of the Year
Atsumi & Sakai
Norton Rose Fulbright
TMI Associates
Overseas Practice Law Firm of the Year
Atsumi & Sakai
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Nishimura & Asahi
Projects, Energy and Infrastructure Law Firm of the Year
Allen & Overy
Atsumi & Sakai
Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)
Clifford Chance
Herbert Smith Freehills
Hogan Lovells
Latham & Watkins
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Nishimura & Asahi
Norton Rose Fulbright
White & Case
Real Estate Law Firm of the Year
Atsumi & Sakai
Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)
Clifford Chance
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Nishimura & Asahi
Regulatory and Compliance Law Firm of the Year
Atsumi & Sakai
Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Nishimura & Asahi
Sullivan & Cromwell
Space Law Firm of the Year
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Nishimura & Asahi
TMI Associates
Tax and Trusts Law Firm of the Year
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Atsumi & Sakai
Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Nishimura & Asahi
Withers Japan
Japan Law Firm of the Year
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Atsumi & Sakai
Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)
Clifford Chance
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Nishimura & Asahi
White & Case
INDIVIDUAL CATEGORIES
Dealmaker of the Year
Akifusa Takada - Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)
Alan G. Cannon - Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
Hiroyuki Sanbe - Atsumi & Sakai
Jon Gray - Davis Polk & Wardwell
Leng-Fong Lai - Clifford Chance
Mitsuhiro Kamiya - Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
Tong Yu - Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison
Dispute Resolution Lawyer of the Year
Bonnie L. Dixon - Atsumi & Sakai
Christopher J. Bailey - King & Spalding Gaikokuho Jimu Bengoshi Jimusho
David Gilmore - Herbert Smith Freehills
Louise Stoupe - Morrison & Foerster
Yoshiaki Muto - Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)
Yosuke Kanegae - Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Yoshihiro Takatori - Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe
Foreign Lawyer of the Year
Bonnie L. Dixon - Atsumi & Sakai
Brian Strawn - White & Case
Eric N. Roose - Withers Japan
Frederick Ch'en - Hogan Lovells
Gavin Raftery - Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)
Graeme Preston - Herbert Smith Freehills
Ken Siegel - Morrison & Foerster
Kenji Taneda - Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
Reiko Sakimura - Clifford Chance
In-House Lawyer of the Year
Anthony J. Luna - IBM Japan
Hiro Kato - INPEX Corporation
Jason Hall - Renesas Electronics
Katsuo Nagasawa - Schneider Electric
Niioka Shinji - Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation Daimler Trucks Asia
Pamela Yeo - AIG APAC
Yuichiro Watanabe - Airbnb
Managing Partner of the Year
Edward Cole - Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
Eiichi Kanda - Clifford Chance
Eiji Masuda - Masuda & Partners Law Office
George Gibson - Norton Rose Fulbright
Hiroo Atsumi - Atsumi & Sakai
Jeremy Pitts - Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)
Jon Gray - Davis Polk & Wardwell
Ken Siegel - Morrison & Foerster
Lloyd Parker - Hogan Lovells
Tetsuya Itoh - Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
BMW Award Woman Lawyer of the Year
Anna Hermelin - Ashurst
Emma Kratochvilova - Herbert Smith Freehills
Kaori Yamada - Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
Kaye Yoshino - Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison
Louise Stoupe - Morrison & Foerster
Miho Niunoya - Atsumi & Sakai
Minako Wakabayashi - Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe
Reiko Sakimura - Clifford Chance
IN-HOUSE TEAM CATEGORIES
Banking and Financial Services In-House Team of the Year
AIG Japan
Morgan Stanley
Innovative In-House Team of the Year
Accenture
AIG Japan
Airbnb
Bayer Holding
INPEX Corporation
Morgan Stanley
Renesas Electronics
Schneider Electric
Manufacturing and Retail In-House Team of the Year
Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation Daimler Trucks Asia
Renesas Electronics
Schneider Electric
Technology, Media and Telecommunications In-House Team of the Year
Asurion
FOX Networks Group Japan
IBM Japan
Renesas Electronics
Softbank Group
Japan In-House Team of the Year
Accenture
Airbnb
Asurion
FOX Networks Group Japan
IBM Japan
Inpex Corporation
Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation Daimler Trucks Asia
Morgan Stanley
Renesas Electronics
Schneider Electric
Softbank Group
DEAL CATEGORIES
Debt Market Deal of the Year
ANA Holding’s Offering of Convertible Bonds
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Clifford Chance; Clifford Chance (London); Marunouchi International Law Office
Banks: Goldman Sachs; SMBC Nikko Capital Markets
Asahi Group’s Senior Notes Offering
Law firms: Linklaters ; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Credit Agricole’s Samurai Bonds Offering
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Nishimura & Asahi
Kyushu Electric's Issuance of Convertible Bonds
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Clifford Chance; Clifford Chance (London)
Banks: Citigroup; Daiwa Capital Markets; Morgan Stanley; SMBC Nikko Capital Markets
Mitsubishi Chemical’s Issuance of Convertible Bonds
Law firms: Linklaters; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group’s Public Offerings of TLAC Notes
Law firms: Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
Bank: Morgan Stanley
Mizuho Financial Group’s Senior Notes Offerings
Law firms: Davis Polk & Wardwell; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
Series of Government-Guaranteed Bonds Issuances by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation
Law firms: Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
SoftBank Group’s Hybrid Notes Offering
Law firms: Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Sullivan & Cromwell
SoftBank Group’s Senior Notes Offering
Law firms: Latham & Watkins; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Sullivan & Cromwell
Banks: Citigroup; Deutsche Bank; Goldman Sachs; Morgan Stanley
SMBC's financing of Asahi Group Holding's acquisition of AB InBev’s brands and businesses
Law firms: Allen & Overy; Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)
Sumitomo Life Insurance’s Subordinated Notes Offering
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Davis Polk & Wardwell; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
Banks: Bank of America Merrill Lynch; Goldman Sachs; J.P. Morgan; SMBC Nikko
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group’s SEC-Registered Notes Offerings
Law firms: Davis Polk & Wardwell; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
Equity Market Deal of the Year
Equity Investment of Roivant Sciences
Law firms: Conyers Dill & Pearman
Global Initial Public Offering of SG Holdings
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; Sullivan & Cromwell
Global Offering of Idemitsu Kosan
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Nishimura & Asahi; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; Sullivan & Cromwell
Banks: Daiwa Securities; Goldman Sachs; J.P. Morgan
Global Offering of Renesas Electronics Corporation
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Nishimura & Asahi; Shearman & Sterling; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; Sullivan & Cromwell
Banks: Morgan Stanley
Global Offering of Sushiro Global Holdings
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Davis Polk & Wardwell; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
Global Public Offering of Japan Post Holdings
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; Sullivan & Cromwell
Initial Public Offering of Macromill on Tokyo Stock Exchange
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Davis Polk & Wardwell; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto;
Ropes & Gray
Lixil Viva Lists on the Tokyo Stock Exchange
Law firms: Nishimura & Asahi; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
Toshiba's Share Placement
Law firms: Clifford Chance; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Nishimura & Asahi; Sullivan & Cromwell; White & Case
Banks: Goldman Sachs
M&A Deal of the Year (Midsize)
Asahi's Sale of Stake in Tsingtao Brewery
Law firms: Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Banks: Morgan Stanley
Heineken’s Acquisition of Brasil Kirin
Law firms: Allen & Overy; Davis Polk & Wardwell
Integration of USEN Corporation and U-NEXT
Law firms: City-Yuwa Partners; Nishimura & Asahi; Shearman & Sterling
Banks: Daiwa Securities Group
JSR Corporation’s Acquisition of Crown Bioscience International
Law firms: Cooley; Conyers Dill & Pearman; Lee and Li
Banks: Jefferies; Yuanta Commercial Bank
KM Holdings’ Buyout of Kuroda Electrics
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; TMI Associates
Konica Minolta and Innovation Network Corp of Japan’s Acquisition of Ambry Genetics
Law firms: Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise); Jones Day
Banks: GCA Corporation; Intrepid Investment Bankers
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group’s Acquisition of Mitsubishi UFJ Nicos Co
Law firms: Jones Day; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Nishimura & Asahi
Banks: Morgan Stanley
NEC Corporation's Acquisition of Northgate Public Services
Law firms: Allen & Overy; Carey Olsen; Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer; KHaitan & Co
Nippon Steel & Sumikin Bussan Corporation’s Acquisition of Mitsui & Co’s Iron & Steel Businesses
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Nishimura & Asahi
Banks: Nomura
ORIX Corporation’s Purchase of Shipping Loans
Law firms: Ashurst; Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer; Nishimura & Asahi; Norton Rose Fulbright; Watson Farley & Williams
Persol Holdings' Acquisition of Programmed Maintenance Services
Law firms: Allen & Overy; Ashurst; Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)
Tokyo Century Corporation Cross-Border Aviation Acquisition
Law firms: Debevoise & Plimpton; Deloitte & Touche LLP; Galicia Abogados; K&L Gates
Banks: Goldman Sachs; Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities
Toray’s Acquisition of Pacific Textiles Holdings
Law firms: Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
Banks: UBS Investment Bank
M&A Deal of the Year (Premium)
Asahi Group Holding's Acquisition of AB InBev’s brands and businesses
Law firms: Allen & Overy; Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise); Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
Business Integration of JX Holdings and Tonen General Sekiyu
Law firms: Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Nishimura & Asahi
Chinese Consortium’s Acquisition of Global Logistic Properties
Law firms: Allen & Gledhill; Clifford Chance; Davis Polk & Wardwell; JunHe, Kirkland & Ellis; Morrison & Foerster; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom; WongPartnership
Comcast NBCUniversal's Investment in Universal Studios Japan
Law firms: Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise); Clifford Chance; Davis Polk & Wardwell; Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Nishimura & Asahi; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
Global Infrastructure Partners’ Acquisition of Equis Energy
Law firms: Atsumi & Sakai; Clifford Chance; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
Global restructuring of Takata and sale of its global assets and operations to Key Safety Systems
Law firms: Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise); Covington & Burling; Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer; Jones Day; Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom; Tokyo Fuji Law Office; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Weil Gotshal & Manges
KKR’s Acquisition of Calsonic Kansei
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
Banks: Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley
Renesas Electronics Corporation’s Acquisition of Intersil Corporation
Law firms: Morrison & Foerster
SoftBank Group and SoftBank Vision Fund‘s Investment in WeWork
Law firms: Morrison & Foerster; Nautadutilh; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom; Stibbe
SoftBank Group’s Acquisition of Fortress Investment Group
Law firms: Davis Polk & Wardwell; Kirkland & Ellis; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom; Weil, Gotshal & Manges
SoftBank Group's Investment in Uber
Law firms: Cooley; Morrison & Foerster; Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co
Sompo Holdings’ Acquisition of Endurance Specialty Holdings
Law firms: ASW Law; Conyers Dill & Pearman; Homburger; Mori, Hamada & Matsumoto; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Polsinelli; Shearman & Sterling; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom; WongPartnership;
Takeda Pharmaceutical’s Acquisition of ARIAD Pharmaceuticals
Law firms: Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton; Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison
Toshiba's Sale of Toshiba Memory Corporation
Law firms: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld; Dechert; Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer; Kim & Chang; Linklaters; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Morrison & Foerster; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Nishimura & Asahi; Pillsbury; Ropes & Gray; Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati;
Banks: Credit Suisse; Goldman Sachs; Morgan Stanley; Nomura Holdings
Projects, Energy and Infrastructure Deal of the Year
257.7 MW (DC) Sakuto Mega Solar Power Plant Project
Law firms: Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise); Nishimura & Asahi
Canadian Solar Infrastructure Fund Global IPO
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Morgan Lewis; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Cirebon Power Plant Expansion Project
Law firms: Ali Budiardjo Nugroho Reksodiputro; Bae, Kim & Lee; Latham & Watkins; Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy; Stibbe
Coral South FLNG Project
Law firms: Allen & Overy; Herbert Smith Freehills, Linklaters
Fukushima Natural Gas Power Plant Project
Law firms: Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise); Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Global Infrastructure Partners’ Acquisition of Equis Energy
Law firms: Atsumi & Sakai; Clifford Chance; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
Kyushu Electric's Issuance of Convertible Bonds
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Clifford Chance; Clifford Chance (London)
Banks: Citigroup; Daiwa Capital Markets; Morgan Stanley; SMBC Nikko Capital Markets
Project Financing for Clean Fuel Project of Kuwait National Petroleum Company
Law firms: Clifford Chance; Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer; Latham & Watkins
Banks: Mizuho Bank; Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Tokyo branch of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited
Project Financing for Nacala Railway Corridor Project
Law firms: Latham & Watkins; Linklaters; White & Case
Project Financing for Tokyo International (Haneda) Airport Expansion
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Nishimura & Asahi
Banks: Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ; Japan Policy Development Bank
Tanjung Jati B 5 & 6 Power Project
Law firms: Allen & Overy; Ali Budiardjo Nugroho Reksodiputro; Latham & Watkins; Makarim & Taira S.
Turkish Hospital Public-Private Partnership Project
Law firms: Ashurst; Bezen & Partners; Hergüner Bilgen Özeke; Loyens & Loeff ; White & Case; Willkie Farr and Gallagher
Real Estate Deal of the Year
Acquisition of the Minatomirai Center Building
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune ; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Nishimura & Asahi
Acquisition of the Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Morrison & Foerster; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Nishimura & Asahi
Global Follow-on Offering for Nippon Prologis REIT
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; Sullivan & Cromwell
Bank: Morgan Stanley
Global Offering of Daiwa House REIT
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
Global Offering of GLP J-REIT
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Morrison & Foerster; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Sullivan & Cromwell
MORI TRUST Hotel REIT’s IPO
Law firms: Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Nishimura & Asahi
Nippon Building Fund’s Acquisition and Disposition of Assets
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Norges Bank and Tokyu Land Corporation’s Acquisition of Real Estate Portfolio
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Nishimura & Asahi; Ushijima & Partners
Sale of Portfolio by Astro Japan Property Group to Blackstone
Law firms: Ashurst; Herbert Smith Freehills; Morrison & Foerster; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Nishimura & Asahi; White & Case
Technology, Media and Telecommunications Deal of the Year
KKR’s Acquisition of Hitachi Koki
Law firms: Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Nishimura & Asahi; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
Banks: Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities; SMBC Nikko Securities
KKR’s Acquisition of Hitachi Kokusai Electric
Law firms: Nishimura & Asahi; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; Torikai Law Office
Banks: Citigroup; Nomura Securities; SMBC Nikko Securities
SoftBank Group’s Hybrid Notes Offering
Law firms: Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Sullivan & Cromwell
SoftBank Group's Investment in Uber
Law firms: Cooley; Morrison & Foerster; Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co
Toshiba's Sale of Toshiba Memory Corporation
Law firms: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld; Dechert; Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer; Kim & Chang; Linklaters; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Morrison & Foerster; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Nishimura & Asahi; Pillsbury; Ropes & Gray; Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati;
Banks: Credit Suisse; Goldman Sachs; Morgan Stanley; Nomura Holdings
Toshiba's Share Placement
Law firms: Clifford Chance; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Nishimura & Asahi; Sullivan & Cromwell
Banks: Goldman Sachs
Japan Deal of the Year
The finalists for this category will be announced at the awards ceremony on June 13, 2018.
**COMPLETENESS AND ACCURACY OF INFORMATION
Winners
ALB JAPAN LAW AWARDS 2018 – WINNERS LIST
Deal Categories
Debt Market Deal of the Year
ANA Holding’s Offering of Convertible Bonds
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Clifford Chance; Clifford Chance (London); Marunouchi International Law Office
Banks: Goldman Sachs; SMBC Nikko Capital Markets
Equity Market Deal of the Year
Toshiba's Share Placement
Law firms: Clifford Chance; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Nishimura & Asahi; Sullivan & Cromwell; White & Case
Bank: Goldman Sachs
M&A Deal of the Year (Midsize)
Konica Minolta and Innovation Network Corp of Japan’s Acquisition of Ambry Genetics
Law firms: Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise); Jones Day
Banks: GCA Corporation; Intrepid Investment Bankers
M&A Deal of the Year (Premium)
Toshiba's Sale of Toshiba Memory Corporation
Law firms: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld; Dechert; Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer; Kim & Chang; Linklaters; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Morrison & Foerster; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Nishimura & Asahi; Pillsbury; Ropes & Gray; Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Banks: Credit Suisse; Goldman Sachs; Morgan Stanley; Nomura Holdings
Projects, Energy and Infrastructure Deal of the Year
Fukushima Natural Gas Power Plant Project
Law firms: Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise); Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Real Estate Deal of the Year
Acquisition of the Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel
Law firms: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Morrison & Foerster; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Nishimura & Asahi
Technology, Media and Telecommunications Deal of the Year
Toshiba's Sale of Toshiba Memory Corporation
Law firms: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld; Dechert; Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer; Kim & Chang; Linklaters; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Morrison & Foerster; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Nishimura & Asahi; Pillsbury; Ropes & Gray; Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Banks: Credit Suisse; Goldman Sachs; Morgan Stanley; Nomura Holdings
Japan Deal of the Year
Toshiba's Sale of Toshiba Memory Corporation
Law firms: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld; Dechert; Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer; Kim & Chang; Linklaters; Mori Hamada & Matsumoto; Morrison & Foerster; Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu; Nishimura & Asahi; Pillsbury; Ropes & Gray; Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Banks: Credit Suisse; Goldman Sachs; Morgan Stanley; Nomura Holdings
Firm Categories
Banking and Financial Services Law Firm of the Year
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Boutique Law Firm of the Year
Masuda & Partners
Healthcare and Life Sciences Law Firm of the Year
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Insolvency Law Firm of the Year
Nishimura & Asahi
International Arbitration Law Firm of the Year
Herbert Smith Freehills
International Deal Firm of the Year
Morrison & Foerster
International Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year
Hogan Lovells
Investment Fund Law Firm of the Year
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Japan Deal Firm of the Year
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Japan Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year
TMI Associates
Japan Practice Foreign Law Firm of the Year
Lee and Li
Labour and Employment Law Firm of the Year
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Litigation Law Firm of the Year
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Maritime Law Firm of the Year
TMI Associates
Overseas Practice Law Firm of the Year
Atsumi & Sakai
Projects, Energy and Infrastructure Law Firm of the Year
Allen & Overy
Real Estate Law Firm of the Year
Atsumi & Sakai
Regulatory and Compliance Law Firm of the Year
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Space Law Firm of the Year
Nishimura & Asahi
Tax and Trusts Law Firm of the Year
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Japan Law Firm of the Year
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
In-House Categories
Banking and Financial Services In-House Team of the Year
AIG Japan
Innovative In-House Team of the Year
Airbnb
Manufacturing and Retail In-House Team of the Year
Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation Daimler Trucks Asia
Technology, Media and Telecommunications In-House Team of the Year
Softbank Group
Japan In-House Team of the Year
IBM Japan
Individual Categories
Dealmaker of the Year
Akifusa Takada - Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)
Dispute Resolution Lawyer of the Year
Louise Stoupe - Morrison & Foerster
Foreign Lawyer of the Year
Ken Siegel - Morrison & Foerster
In-House Lawyer of the Year
Yuichiro Watanabe - Airbnb
Managing Partner of the Year
Edward Cole - Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
BMW Award Woman Lawyer of the Year
Louise Stoupe - Morrison & Foerster
Quotes
+852 2847 2046
tracy.li@thomsonreuters.com
Head of Legal Media Business, ASEAN and North Asia
+65 6870 3917
amantha.chia@thomsonreuters.com
Book Now
Event details:
Date: Wednesday, June 13, 2018
Time: 6:30pm sharp
Venue: The Ritz-Carlton Tokyo, 2/F Grand Ballroom 9 Chome-7-1 Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo
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. The full list of award categories and nomination forms can be found at legalbusinessonline.com/awards/japan-law-awards-2018.
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 on 13 June 2018 in Tokyo, Japan.
When do the submissions open? When is the deadline to submit?
The submissions will open in March. For any questions relating to submissions and deadlines, please contact Tracy.Li@thomsonreuters.com.
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.
Who will be on the judging panel for the ALB Japan Law Awards 2018?
There will be an independent judging panel of about 40 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 Asian Legal Business 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) 6870 3917 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 Azrielle.Looi@thomsonreuters.com.
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 Tracy.Li@thomsonreuters.com or (+852) 2847 2046.
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; key dates for 2018 and information listed below.
ALB Malaysia Law Awards | March 22 2018 (Kuala Lumpur)
JC Consulting Thomson Reuters ALB China Law Awards | April 19 2018 (Beijing)
ALB Hong Kong Legal Marketing Awards | April 20 2018 (Hong Kong)
ALB SE Asia Law Awards | May 10 2018 (Singapore)
ALB Japan Law Awards | June 13 2018 (Tokyo)
ALB SE Asia Legal Marketing Awards | August 2018 (Singapore)
ALB Hong Kong Law Awards | September 7 2018 (Hong Kong)
ALB Indonesia Law Awards | October 4 2018 (Jakarta)
ALB Philippine Law Awards | October 26 2018 (Manila)
ALB Korea Law Awards | November 15 2018 (Seoul)
Who should attend the Awards Ceremony? Can I attend?
We welcome all finalists and non-finalists to join the Awards Ceremony; please contact Amy.Sim@thomsonreuters.com or call (+65) 6870 3348.
I would like to order a winner’s trophy and/or certificate (for finalists and winners).
Please contact Amy.Sim@thomsonreuters.com or call (+65) 6870 3348.
How can I receive communications related to the ALB Law Awards?
Please email Tracy.Li@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.
Asian Legal Business – 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, the Philippines and China. 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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