Atsumi & Sakai is a leading full-service law firm offering a range of counsel services pertaining to most financial and corporate law matters. The firm has an excellent reputation for assisting startups and financial institutions on fintech-related matters. It offers additional strength in the energy, infrastructure and real estate sectors. The firm is also known for its expertise in securitization, covered bonds and similar structured finance transactions. Go Fujimoto and Yusuke Miura are key contacts.
Client feedback
"Atsumi & Sakai has a well-integrated competition law practice with wide experience in all parts of the competition law field. It is flexible, business-oriented, has an open, international mindset and has one of the best diversity and inclusion profiles at the Tokyo bar." – Competition/antitrust
"They are responsive, insightful and concise." – Competition/antitrust
"The team has well-experienced partners with deep expertise." – Dispute resolution
"Atsumi & Sakai is our guiding light in Japanese employment law. They are a truly dedicated team going the extra mile. Always available and giving very concise and good legal advice that helps our business move forward." – Labour and employment
Saori Hanada
"Hanada-sensei is the head of Atsumi & Sakai's competition practice. She is a highly talented and hard-working, trusted force with extensive experience and expertise in cartel work and merger control. Her positive energy radiates throughout her team. She is also very comfortable and inspiring to work with on multi-jurisdictional projects."
Chie Kasahara
"As senior partner, she understands our business and tries to do what I request as best as she can."
Kimiharu Masaki
"He has a deep understanding of and experience in the power business, as well as excellent networks, including government agencies such as METI. He always supports us from the client's perspective, working proactively. This occasion he has created a very unique, useful, and valuable scope of work to support our business requirements and contribute to our business. We could rely on him in every aspect of the acquisition process, from due diligence, contract documentation, inquiries and verification with regulatory agencies, and negotiations, to post-acquisition work in the regulatory process. We have 100% satisfaction with his diligent work."
Takasuke Mizukami
"High-quality advice fitting our business policies. Excellent team-building to fit each project."
Tatsuo Yamashima
"He is very responsive and low key."
"Tatsuo is a very hard-working individual. He is a great person and definitely delivers what he promises and does what is needed. In such a different culture as the Japanese, it is key to have an accessible and open-minded contact. And Tatsuo is the best!"
Work highlights
Representing major foreign asset managers, global custodians, and foreign investment funds, including pension and governmental funds, in an ongoing lawsuit against Toshiba Corporation. The case seeks approximately ¥9 billion ($62.5 million) in damages due to alleged mis-statements in Toshiba's annual reports. This high-profile case involves laws from multiple jurisdictions, including Japan, Cayman Islands, Luxembourg, Germany, Ireland, UK and South Korea, highlighting its international significance in the realm of corporate accountability and investor protection.
Work highlights
Advised a major Japanese financial group on their digital accelerator programme, an initiative designed to foster innovation in financial services technologies. As a mentor to the programme, the firm provided legal and regulatory advice to participating companies. This programme, the first of its kind run by a Japanese bank since 2015, has successfully nurtured numerous promising Japanese and international companies in the fintech sector. The ongoing initiative continues to play a significant role in driving innovation within the financial services industry in Japan.
Work highlights
Advised Mitsubishi Research Institute and Nagoya city on a PFI project to design, build and operate meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions in Nagoya. The objective of this project is to construct an athlete village for utilisation during the 2026 Asian Games, as well as to establish a ‘new town’ for future use. The project has garnered considerable attention due to its expansive nature, encompassing the development of a residential area, university campus, kindergarten, sports facilities, shopping mall, and hospital.
Key clients
Mitsubishi HC Capital
