Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu is one of the “Big Four” law firms in Japan. Established in 2000, the firm now has nearly 600 lawyers and seven offices outside Japan including New York, Singapore, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Jakarta and Shanghai. 

Highlights 

The firm is well known for its integrated full-service capabilities, especially equipped with expertise in the corporate, finance and real estate market. With years of experience, the firm has gathered flexible teams of lawyers with extensive expertise both domestically and internationally covering a wide range of legal specialty areas that collaborate to handle cases expeditiously and efficiently. 

Throughout the research cycle, the banking team has been active in the areas of loans, credit transactions, structured and acquisition finance, and project and real estate finance. Notable transactions include advising on the acquisition of Chilled & Frozen Logistics Holdings by SG Holdings. 

The firm actively engaged in capital market transactions, encompassing a variety of global offerings by Japanese issuers in both equity and debt securities. Notable transactions include advising Panasonic Holdings Corporation’s US$500 million Senior Notes 144A/Reg S offering. 

The project team was active in advising renewable energy projects, hydrogen projects, corporate power purchase agreements, carbon credit transactions, as well as green bond/finance transactions, showcasing a commitment to climate and carbon reduction strategies. 

The firm announced the promotion of partner Ryuji Oka in the banking and finance sector, along with the promotion of corporate M&A partners Yusei Uji and Oki Osawa in 2025. Additionally, the projects team welcomed new counsel Tsutomu Kobayashi. 

Key clients 

Key clients of the firm include Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Mizuho Financial Group, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings, Morgan Stanley, Toshiba, Panasonic, Bain Capital, SoftBank, CVC Capital Partners, and Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings. 

Testimonials 

"High expertise on the product." (Banking and finance client) 

"They provide timely and quick responses. They have deep knowledge and experience of capital market work." (Equity capital markets client) 

"Not only advising the legal flame work but they tried to understand what we were trying to achieve by adopting the execution format of US listed company's offerings. Although there were no precedents, they helped us outline how we could get the deal done, although the deal has not come to live yet." (Equity Capital markets client) 

"Highly sophisticated. Ability to focus on business goals and to remain available for communication with us at all times. Clearly point out legal issues and propose practical solutions on the issues." (Equity capital markets client) 

"Providing well-balanced services between technical legal points and practical advice to drive a successful deal. I think its capital market partners are willing to share information with other partners and discuss with each other." (Equity capital markets client) 

"Rich experience and knowledge of renewable business and related public programs." (Project development client) 

"Partner (Kensuke Suzuki) quality of service (accuracy and timeliness)." (Investment funds client) 

"Team consists of senior partner Akemi Suzuki and other partners, associates, paralegals and translators. They not only provide accurate and business-oriented advice but also provide practical and concrete solutions to issues that have no precedent. They are proactive and act as a member of our business team, helping us tremendously to progress such a complex project with no precedent." (Financial services regulatory client) 

"Expertise is satisfactory. Response is quick." (M&A client) 

"Quick response, industry expertise, and reasonable cost for its quality." (Project finance client) 

Akemi Suzuki  

"Akemi cares about our company and our people. Akemi understands our company and our people, and our business. Akemi is proactive and identifies and highlights issues that we may not be aware of and acts as a holistic business advisor. Her advice is invaluable and essential to our business." 

Motoki Saito  

"He provided advice based on his experience at a securities company as a secondment." 

Shinichi Araki  

"He is highly accessible and responsive to our inquiries including general ones and provides practical solutions that satisfy our commercial objectives with understanding of commercial realities." 

Sosuke Kimura  

"Very flexible and can get hold of them even in a very busy time. Outstanding deep understanding of Japanese law and regulations related to capital markets. The above knowledge helps our global firm to seek new business opportunities, such as adopting new execution framework which is already precedented in other regions outside of Japan." 

Jiro Mikami 

"Communicates with the client as a partner and leads project finance-related contracts review." 

Kensuke Suzuki  

"The best lawyer available in Japan for asset management practice." 

Kiyoshi Honda  

"Responsive and their responses are quick." 

Tomohiro Koyasu  

"Provides quick response to my questions and effective approach." 

Yuichi Miyashita  

"Always pleasant to work with and responsive. Very familiar with the practice. Providing very logical and practical legal advice. Proposing solutions from a customer perspective." 

Yoshihisa Watanabe  

"Good at renewable energy sector business."