Competition/Antitrust | Asia-Pacific

Anderson Mori & Tomotsune fields a top-tier practice offering expertise in the full gamut of competition issues, including merger control, international cartel investigations and conduct cases. The firm offers plentiful experience representing clients before the JFTC as well as working in conjunction with foreign co-counsel in major international antitrust forums, including the US Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission, the European Commission and China’s Ministry of Commerce. Recent clients include Apollo Global Management, Tomoku and Hanwha.

Mori Hamada & Matsumoto maintains a highly esteemed practice that is regularly called upon to provide advice on the Japanese aspects of multi-jurisdictional merger control. The firm defends domestic corporations from sanctions and administrative orders issued by the JFTC, as well as from cartel investigations both in Japan and abroad. The team also assists clients with establishing competition law compliance programmes as well as drafting related manuals and providing training to employees. It is bolstered by the expertise of former JFTC officials within the team.

Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu is a go-to group for domestic and international corporates looking to secure JFTC clearances on cross-border M&A transactions, including Phase I and II reviews. The firm also possesses noteworthy expertise in cartel investigations, and assists companies with investigations into unfair trade practices. The team regularly works in conjunction with international co-counsel to provide Japanese law advice on multi-jurisdictional mandates. Key clients include Toshiba, Panasonic and Ricoh.

Nishimura & Asahi is widely acknowledged as a leading name in merger clearance and cartel cases, both domestic and international. The firm houses additional expertise in handling deregulation and market liberalisation matters. The team regularly works on merger filings in respect of domestic and cross-border acquisitions, and excels in assisting clients with Phase II merger investigations. It assists clients from a diverse range of industries spanning energy, finance, hospitality, pharmaceuticals, technology, shipping and steel, among others. Its key clients include Bain Capital, Honda and Mitsui Chemicals.

Baker McKenzie's comprehensive antitrust practice has global reach, and is especially looked to for its track record on international cartel cases. The firm leverages its network to regularly coordinate with colleagues based across Europe, Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region to assist domestic companies with investigations by foreign authorities across the globe. The team is well versed in acting for trading houses and automotive and electrical companies. It also offers merger control advice including during gun-jumping investigations by the JFTC. Its key clients include Sumitomo, Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Corporation and Okaya Electric Industries.

Oh-Ebashi LPC & Partners maintains a distinguished reputation for acting on JFTC investigations into cartel activity such as bid rigging and price fixing, as well as unilateral conduct such as abuse of superior bargaining position and other Antimonopoly Act violations. The firm is well equipped to advise clients following dawn raids. The team represents a wide range of manufacturers in industrial sectors such as energy, telecommunications, electronics, chemicals and metals. It also handles domestic mergers.

Atsumi & Sakai is very active in domestic and international cartels, covering dawn raids, leniency applications, and criminal and civil litigation. The firm is frequently instructed by domestic clients in the automotive, manufacturing, shipping and financial services sectors on highly contentious matters. The team also provides compliance training outside of formal investigations, as well as advice on vertical restraint issues under Japanese law. It regularly works in conjunction with international counsel and advises on the Japanese law aspects of multi-jurisdictional mandates. The team is capable of advising domestic corporations on the competition law aspects of their transactional activity.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is recognised for its strong capabilities on complex global mergers. The firm works closely with its market-leading EU and China antitrust teams to advise on the competition aspects of multi-jurisdictional transactions. The team regularly assists pharmaceutical and retail companies, manufacturers and trading houses. It is also noted for its global compliance programmes and behavioural work around technology and intellectual property. Key clients include Google, Sumitomo Chemical and Nomura.

Jones Day is active in global merger filings and cartel investigations before the JFTC, the US DOJ and FTC, the European Commission and a number of regulatory bodies across the Asia-Pacific region. The firm's client base includes large corporations active in sectors such as automotive parts, chemicals and manufacturing. The team's areas of focus include bid-rigging and price-fixing investigations and US civil litigation. It works in conjunction with its outstanding US antitrust team and impressive competition groups in Brussels and China, to provide global assistance on multi-jurisdictional issues.

Momo-o, Matsuo & Namba maintains a respected team highlighted for its prowess in antitrust compliance issues and often mandated as lead counsel in investigations. The firm frequently represents Japanese corporates in reviews into anti-competitive conduct by the JFTC as well as in conjunction with international co-counsel in other jurisdictions.

Morrison Foerster fields a respected team well versed in transactional and investigatory matters, including cartels, anti-monopoly cases and merger reviews. The firm provides counsel to manufacturers and electronic companies, with strengths in tackling issues involving the US DOJ, and it works with overseas offices to offer seamless assistance on US and EU antitrust issues. Morrison Foerster is also active on investigations involving allegations of unfair trade practice.

TMI Associates is often seen defending corporates and individual defendants from investigations into behavioural violations, such as price-fixing and bid-rigging cartels, as well as unilateral conduct and unfair trade practices. The firm is regularly mandated side-by-side with international law firms during global cases reviewed by regulators at home and abroad. The team also offers compliance advice, as well as assistance with the antitrust aspects of M&A transactions. The firm's clientele includes automotive and industrial manufacturers.

White & Case is regularly mandated by domestic and international clients in cartel and unfair trade investigations and ensuing class actions, as well as Phase I and II merger reviews. The firm leverages its notable US antitrust team to represent Japanese corporations in overseas investigations and also works closely with its offices elsewhere in Asia as well as Europe to obtain clearance for large-cap M&A deals.