Baker McKenzie is a Chicago-based international law firm with over 6000 lawyers across 77 offices. In Asia-Pacific it has 17 offices including in Tokyo where it is firmly entrenched in Japan’s legal market with a large practice and abundant bengoshi,

Focusses / specialisms

The firm’s Tokyo practitioners advise global and domestic clients on legal and business issues in Japan and overseas with transactional expertise in capital markets, projects and M&A.

Key clients

Key clients of the firm include Pacifico Energy, Export-Import Bank of India, 3M Company, Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation, Northland Power and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation. 

Research period review: 30th edition (2019/2020)

During the research period the firm’s debt capital markets team was highly active advising on corporate, samurai, uridashi and renewable energy projects bonds, while the equity capital markets team handled stock options. 

The finance team handled acquisition financing mandates, and projects were busy with airport privatisation, solar, offshore wind, biomass, and outbound projects in cogeneration, lithium, LNG, thermal, coal, waste to energy and electricity.

The corporate team advised on joint ventures, investments, disposals and acquisitions in manufacturing, print, pulp, oil and gas, financial services, technology and consumer goods. 

In December 2019 partner Jeremy Pitts retired from the firm’s banking and finance practice. The firm’s projects team was also hit with the departures of partner Anne Hung and counsel Toshio Sasaki. Counsel Yumi Watanabe also left the firm’s corporate practice. 

Deal highlights: 30th edition (2019/2020)

-Ako 102MW utility scale solar power plant 

-Asahi Group Holdings $11 billion acquisition financing 

-Export-Import Bank of India ¥32 billion dual-tranche samurai bond issue 

-KT Corporation ¥30 billion samurai bond issue 

-Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation $2.9 billion acquisition of Colonial First State Global Asset Management

-Shingu cogeneration (3800KW heat/1800KW power) project 

Client feedback: 30th edition (2019/2020)

Banking

“Timeliness on meeting our demands.”

“B&M's global network is very helpful for us to confirm the feasibility in creating a Japanese security. Also, they do their best to negotiate with borrower counsels.”

M&A

“Proactively analysed the situation and gave us the right advice. Properly coordinates with other external professional firms to proceed with the transaction. Timeliness when completing the tasks.”

“Creativity and advanced knowledge on tax structuring. They have plenty of experience and knowledge especially for the complex Japanese tax regime. In addition to that, they are always focusing on the clients' issues.”

“BM effectively advised the client coordinating with us in a very smooth manner in a situation that is not so precedented (acquisition of a Japanese listed target through tender offer by a foreign strategic company). The advisory work covered due diligence, negotiation with seller, coordination with administrator in the context of a tender offer process, and documentation were delivered in a very efficient manner, during an extremely tight timeframe, while also bridging language and cultural gaps.”

“Commercially realistic, solid client advice. Overall excellence.”

“Flexible approach and attentive service at reasonable fee levels.”

“Prompt response times, commercially relevant advice.”

“I worked opposite Mr. Yutaka Kimura. He represented the highest standard of professionalism, dedication, being business oriented and a real deal-maker. Mr. Kimura bridged the cultures and language and was an instrumental and crucial part in the parties’ ability to close the deal.”

“They have knowledge about M&A all over the world.”

“They minimise our risk on the asset purchase agreement and relative agreements. Also, they flexibly dealt with the seller's unreasonable requests and guided us to settle the deal smoothly.”

“Their tenacious and prompt practice to my team.”

“The law firm takes a very practical approach and understands clients' business needs.”

“They work very closely with the legal and the business team, and diligently with perseverance. Both the legal team and the business team really count on their practical advice and conscientious support.  Especially, Mr. Kiyoshi Endo, a partner of the Tokyo office, we really appreciate his hands-on approach to the on-going matter. He does not delegate all the work to junior lawyers and instead, he himself understands issues very well and directly provides detailed analysis and advice to us.”

“They are responsive, approachable, they give commercial and pragmatic advice and are always happy to help.”

“They have US M&A expertise.”

“BM has a good spread of offices in locations where we do business. Our primary contacts in Japan help to facilitate involvement with the local offices whilst maintaining oversight and cost control.”

“BM consistently delivers timely, accurate, and useful advice for our teams. The level of service and priority we receive is exceptional.”

“They provided appropriate risk awareness and pre-emptive countermeasures.”

Project development

“Excellent client service, very committed to ensuring strong, open communication channels.”

“Well-resourced and client friendly; fit-for-purpose advice and solution-oriented; specialist knowledge and technical expertise in niche areas not widely available in the market.”