About

Provided by Nishimura & Asahi

Our team regularly assists renowned banks and financial institutions with various types of significant banking transactions, including asset financing, acquisition financing, and corporate and syndicated loans. Our team has the largest asset financing practice team in Japan, which regularly advises major Japanese leasing companies on various types of leasing transactions that include aircraft financing, ship financing, container leasing transactions and plant facilities leasing.

With respect to acquisition financing, a remarkable aspect that differentiates our team from other law firms is that our team has been providing advice not only to the financier side (i.e., banks and other financial institutions) but also to the borrower side. Indeed, our important clients in this practice area include domestic and international private equity funds actively making investments and borrowing money therefor in the sphere of acquisition financing. Another defining aspect of our team is that our key clients in this practice area include regional banks as well as major banks and financial institutions. Our team has been assisting many regional banks with various types of transactions, including corporate and syndicated loans and consolidation of regional banks. Recently, our team expanded its practice into the field of FinTech, where we assisted a start-up venture with its IPO.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers
Banking & Finance: Domestic - Japan
1
Band 1
What the team is known for

Nishimura & Asahi houses a highly reputed team advising on a variety of transactions, including hybrid financings and asset financing, with additional experience acting for major domestic and global financial institutions on complex regulatory issues. The practice is notable for its work advising both the lender and borrower sides in acquisition finance transactions. The law firm can handle acquisitions across a range of industries such as real estate, manufacturing and the medical sphere. Notable clients include T-Capital Partners, Mizuho Bank and SMBC.

Work Highlights

Provided by Nishimura & Asahi
  • Nishimura & Asahi advised Nomura Capital Investment on its LBO financing for Renewable Energy’s going-private transaction for Renewable Japan Energy Infrastructure Fund, one of the listed infrastructure investment corporations investing in renewable energy projects in Japan.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers
Katsu Sengoku
1
Katsu Sengoku
1
Band 1

Katsu Sengoku is head of Nishimura & Asahi's banking and finance team and is well versed in handling asset financing matters, with a particular emphasis on ship and aircraft financing.

"He is a legendary figure."

Adrian Joyce
2
Adrian Joyce
2
Band 2

Adrian Joyce covers shipping issues and project finance, including infrastructure and mining projects.

"I like his approach. He takes quick actions and when he thinks we should push, he pushes quickly. I thought he took the appropriate action."

Kosuke Shibukawa
2
Kosuke Shibukawa
2
Band 2

Kosuke Shibukawa is sought after for his expertise advising borrowers and lenders on ship leasing and asset finance transactions. He advises on JOLCO transaction structures for both shipping and aviation finance assets.

"He has deep experience and is well known in the asset finance area. He has a lot of experience and is reliable."

Nobuhiko Harada
2
Nobuhiko Harada
2
Band 2

Nobuhiko Harada is an active member of the team advising on JOLCO transactions in the aviation and maritime asset finance space.

Takashi Saito
3
Takashi Saito
3
Band 3

Takashi Saito is a seasoned specialist in acquisition financing transactions, including leveraged buyouts and management buyouts.

"He provides an easy-to-understand explanation, not just from a legal perspective, but also due to the business-commercial mind he has."

Ranked Lawyers at
Nishimura & Asahi

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

Japan

Banking & Finance: Domestic

Takashi Saito
3
Takashi Saito
3
Band 3
Banking & Finance: Domestic Asset Finance

Katsu Sengoku
1
Katsu Sengoku
1
Band 1
Kosuke Shibukawa
2
Kosuke Shibukawa
2
Band 2
Nobuhiko Harada
2
Nobuhiko Harada
2
Band 2
Banking & Finance: International Asset Finance

Adrian Joyce
2
Adrian Joyce
2
Band 2

Industries

Provided by Nishimura & Asahi

Banks

Energy

Financial Services

Goverment

Real Estate

Real Estate Finance