Banking & Finance: International
Asia-Pacific Guide 2025 : Japan
Band 1
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+81 (0)3 6271 9900Chambers Review
Baker McKenzie boasts a market-leading team renowned for providing expert advice on a diverse range of financing transactions, leveraging its extensive experience to advise prominent banks and financial institutions. The practice's areas of strength include acquisition and structured finance, and it is noted for its expertise in the financing of renewable power projects. The firm houses a considerable number of practitioners qualified in multiple jurisdictions and a deep bench of bengoshi also gives the firm a strong presence acting for clients on complex domestic matters.
Work Highlights
- Baker McKenzie's Tokyo, Zurich and Singapore offices advised DBS Bank, UBS and SBI Digital Asset Holdings in connection with the structuring, documentation and registration of a digital cross-border repo transaction, part of Project Guardian by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Baker McKenzie are very good at identifying their clients' concerns and proposing perspectives and mitigants to address them."
"Baker McKenzie is an excellent professional firm that can utilise its global network, make full use of its overseas knowledge and apply it to Japan."
"The partners are very responsive and they are good listeners, above all, to understand our questions and needs."
"Baker McKenzie are very good at identifying their clients' concerns and proposing perspectives and mitigants to address them."
"Baker McKenzie is an excellent professional firm that can utilise its global network, make full use of its overseas knowledge and apply it to Japan."
"The partners are very responsive and they are good listeners, above all, to understand our questions and needs."
Notable Practitioners
Gavin Raftery is co-managing partner of the firm's Tokyo office and co-heads Baker McKenzie's global fintech initiative. He has a diverse practice covering acquisition and project finance, ABS and the negotiation of credit facilities.
"His ability to think from the client's perspective to provide timely and succinct advice is highly valued."
"Gavin has great leadership and vision."
"He is a very well-regarded lawyer in the Japanese market, with strong local knowledge and contacts, but able to help foreign clients given his background as an Australian lawyer."
Shinichiro Kitamura heads Baker McKenzie's banking and finance team and is noted for his expertise in acquisition financing.
"He has an extremely good reputation in the market and I believe he can be called a top-class lawyer in Japan's LBO industry."
"We are strongly impressed by his command of the team in each transaction and overall management of Baker McKenzie's financing team in Tokyo."
"He listens to what clients want and what clients prioritise."