Banking & Finance: Domestic | Global

Anderson Mori & Tomotsune offers a highly sought-after team for expert advice on high-value financings. The team's broad expertise covers project and debt financing in a range of sectors, including energy and real estate. The law firm is trusted for its expertise in regulatory issues and for its experience working on significant cross-border matters. Anderson Mori & Tomotsune is also highly regarded for the strength of its acquisition finance offering. Notable clients include Bain Capital, Apollo Global Management and MCP Partners.

Clifford Chance offers unparalleled knowledge in advising major banks, private equity sponsors and corporates on a wide range of financings. The practice covers negotiating revolving credit facilities, refinancing and acquisition financing, as well as offering services on syndicated and corporate loans. The law firm offers notable strength in asset finance, showing particular expertise in aircraft financings, and is also called upon regularly by major institutions to advise on a range of regulatory issues. The team leverages the support of colleagues in Hong Kong, New York and Singapore to advise on cross-border mandates.

Mori Hamada & Matsumoto boasts a premier team known for regularly assisting renowned financial institutions and corporations with a variety of financing transactions, including LBOs, and corporate and syndicated loans. The practice demonstrates expertise in equity and diverse sector experience, includes financing in the power and real estate industries. The team is also well versed in advising on financial regulatory matters and is active on high-end project financing mandates and turnaround finance. Clients of the firm include Mizuho Securities, Marelli Holdings and Nomura Babcock & Brown.

Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu offers a successful practice advising on structured and real estate financing, with particular strength in banking regulatory matters. The team has experience advising on high-value acquisition finance deals and is able to advise on high-value asset finance transactions. The firm is recognised as being counsel of choice for major domestic lenders and investors and international financial institutions. Notable clients include AXA Real Estate Investment Managers Japan, Resona Bank and SBI Shinsei Bank.

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.

White & Case boasts a respected asset finance practice, most notably representing major clients in significant aircraft finance transactions, and is known for advising on transactions incorporating JOLCO structures. The team additionally represents clients in regulatory and structured finance matters and possesses experience in export credit financing. The practice is also active on cross-border securitisation and privatisation issues and has additional expertise in refinancing and cross-border acquisition finance. Notable clients include Mizuho Bank, SMBC and MUFG.

Atsumi & Sakai has an excellent reputation for assisting domestic banks and financial institutions with complex syndicated loan transactions. The law firm offers further strength on the borrower side and has prowess in shipping finance and in providing advice on security documents. The team also possesses experience in cross-border compliance issues and has been active advising startups and financial institutions on fintech-related matters.

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. The team 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.

Morrison Foerster is frequently instructed by Japanese banks on cross-border transactions, including on acquisition finance. The team demonstrates notable strength in banking regulatory work and counts a roster of major banks amongst its clients. The law firm often acts on transactions in the technology, life sciences and energy sectors and is also able to advise clients in the fintech space on issues involving blockchain technology.

City-Yuwa Partners is a highly regarded boutique firm noted for its depth of expertise in a wide range of domestic finance transactions, including real estate financing. The team is also able to advise on domestic regulatory issues and project finance matters and has strong expertise in non-recourse asset finance.

TMI Associates is noted for its heavy involvement in real estate, project and asset finance. The team demonstrates expertise in hybrid financing and the creation of funds in relation to a range of property acquisitions, including residential, retail and hotels. Some of the law firm's key clients include Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, First REIT Management and Resona Bank.