Corporate specialist firm Tokyo International Law Office focuses on international and cross-border transactions. The firm has a solid record facilitating outbound M&A deals by Japanese corporations, joint venture projects with foreign partners, as well as inbound transactions including buyouts, tender offers, carve-outs and mergers. It has a wealth of experience in the automobile, chemicals, manufacturing, entertainment, consumer goods, healthcare and financial services industries. The firm also has close cooperation with more than 150 affiliated foreign local firms in a multitude of jurisdictions. Mikiharu Mori and Koki Yamada are co-managing partners. In recent personnel changes, the firm strengthened its team with several notable hires, including Naoki Uemura as counsel from Anderson Mori & Tomotsune, Jean-Denis Marx as partner from Baker & McKenzie, and Victor Sai and Honghai Tang joining as partner and counsel respectively. The firm saw the departure of Christopher Studebaker, who left his position as partner in December 2023.
Work highlights
Advised Terra Drone Corp on its $14 million equity financing from Wa'ed Ventures, the venture capital arm of Saudi Aramco. The firm served as legal counsel to Terra Drone in this cross-border transaction governed by Saudi Arabian law. This significant investment marks a strategic expansion for Terra Drone, a leading Japanese drone and urban air mobility technology provider, into the Middle Eastern market, particularly Saudi Arabia. The deal not only represents a substantial financial boost for Terra Drone but also signifies growing international interest in drone technology and its applications in the energy sector, potentially paving the way for future collaborations between Japanese tech firms and Middle Eastern investors.
Key clients
Konica Minolta, Kurita Water Industries, SBI Holdings, Sojitz Corporation
