Katsumasa has been recognized as a top-tier lawyer in capital markets, M&A and corporate crisis/governmental, investigation areas, but recently has become active in contentious matters as well, particularly those relating to activist shareholders and other issues in capital markets and M&A.
He is a lawyer qualified in Japan and NY and a certified member of the Securities Analysts Association of Japan. His thorough knowledge of
business, accounting and markets, together with plentiful experience in various kinds of deals and legal matters, enable him to provide uniquely valuable legal and strategic advice to his clients.
He has been selected as a leading lawyer in Japan by major publications including WWL, Chambers, Legal 500, nasialaw and Best Lawyers, and ranked as a top-ten outstanding FT Asia-Pacific Innovative Lawyers Report by the Financial Times in 2016 (as the first-ever lawyer with the honor in Japan). In 2021, he received “Dealmaker of the Year” by ALB and in 2022, he was selected Asia Top 15 Capital Markets Lawyers by ALB. He has been selected as the “Market Leader” both in M&A and Capital Markets areas in Japan by IFLR since 2024.
He publishes various articles relating to capital markets and M&A, which lead new regulations and practice.
Katsumasa has been a member of the Securities Law Committee of the International Bar Association since 2018 (Regional Representative Asia Pacific of the Securities and Capital Markets Committee from 2025 to present) and co-chaired IBA Asia-based International Financial Law Conference in Tokyo in 2023.
- Global offering of Japan Post Bank (2025)
- Acquisition of Seiyu by Trial from KKR (2025)
- Acquisition of Jamco by Bain Capital (2025)
- Capital markets
- M&A
- Crisis management
- Litigation
- Banking
- Financial services
- Consumer goods and services
- Industrials
- Media
- Charterd Member of the Security Analysts Association of Japan (2006-)
- Regional Representative Asia Pacific of the Securities and Capital Markets Committee (2025-)
- Keio University (LL.B., 1998)
- Columbia University School of Law (LL.M., 2004)