- International Trade / Foreign Investment Screening
International Investment Agreements & ISDS


As a pioneer in international trade law practice in Japan, we have extensive experience and the capability to cover a broad spectrum of matters relating to international trade from WTO, EPA, and investment treaties to customs, export controls, and economic sanctions.
International investment agreements (IIAs) aim to promote mutually beneficial investment by liberalizing and protecting foreign investments. Japan has a number of IIAs between emerging and developing economies and will introduce an agreement between developed nations after the TPP Agreement becomes effective. The fundamental aims of IIAs are non-discrimination of foreign investors and investments, protection of legitimate expectations of investors and prohibition of direct and indirect expropriation without fair compensation. Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) is an effective mechanism to enforce these core substantive disciplines of IIAs and Nishimura & Asahi provides effective support to Japanese government and companies utilizing ISDS by collaborating with our network of law firms in countries advanced in investment agreement arbitration such as the U.S. and EU.
We draw on the many individual strengths across the firm and assemble the most experienced and skilled practice group to suit the particular area of Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS). The team includes not only litigators with extensive experience on international arbitrations, but also lawyers involved in the drafting and negotiation of investment treaties and free trade agreements as well as those regularly and extensively handling international trade disputes, including those utilizing the WTO. The team works together closely to counsel our clients on risk management and finding solutions to issues regarding their foreign investments and their relationships with host governments.
Further, Nishimura & Asahi efficiently supports Japanese investors as well as the Japanese government in ISDS and investment treaties arbitration through our strong relationships with law firms outside of Japan, such as the U.S. and EU, where investment treaties arbitration is frequently utilized.
Awards & Rankings
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Nishimura & Asahi offers an accomplished group of practitioners with expertise in anti-dumping investigations, state subsidies and export controls. Sought out on the basis of its track record of advising Japanese government agencies on WTO disputes and trade remedy investigations. Clients benefit from the team's in-depth understanding of WTO rules, as well as international trade agreements and treaties.
Chambers, Global International Trade (Japan) Band 1
Seminars
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Speaking engagement: Frontiers of International Economic Dispute Resolution: Prospects and Challenges of Arbitration and Mediation
Tokyo, Online
External Seminars
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Current Issues of ISD and ESG in International Trade and Economic Law
Online
External Seminars
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Country Risk and Its Countermeasures for Foreign Investment in the Future
Online
External Seminars
Publications
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The Investment Treaty Arbitration Review: The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership
Articles
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Article: Establishing your ISDS case
Articles
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Article: Full enforcement of the Act regulating the use of land important from a national security perspective, the initial designation of the covered area, and its impact on foreign operators
Legal Outlook by Nishimura & Asahi