Daikin Industries, Ltd. - Capital and business alliance with Miura Co., Ltd.

Hiromune specializes in domestic and cross-border M&A cases, including hostile takeovers defenses, and organizational restructuring. Hiromune also handles a wide range of compliance-related cases in different practice areas, such as accounting fraud and antitrust violation cases, fact-finding investigations by board members and various corporate authorities, and the establishment of prevention measures. In addition to his broad expertise in general corporate matters, Hiromune has been advising well-known Japanese listed and blue-chip companies on general corporate law cases such as data protection cases, corporate governance cases, and defense cases against shareholder activists. Based on this extensive experience, Hiromune is committed to providing comprehensive and practical solutions to support his clients aiming for further challenges and growth.

Sakka’s practice covers private and public M&A transactions, cross-border deals, and day-to-day commercial business. She also has wide-ranging experience representing companies in defending against hostile takeovers. She was seconded to one of the biggest telecommunication company in Japan, working as a Manager in the Corporate Strategy Planning Division. During the secondment, she was put in charge of M&A involving many domestic and cross-border transactions from business and legal standpoints. She acquired qualification as an attorney in New York and Texas during her secondment to an American firm. Leveraging experience in the M&A division of the telecommunication company and an American firm, she focuses on providing strategic legal support in various sectors, including M&A (Inbound/Outbound) and business alliances. Sakka provides tailored legal services in a timely and flexible manner, and plays a leading role in various complex transactions.

Junko Wakabayashi specializes in antitrust and competition law. She has extensive experience with various antitrust matters and issues, including merger filings, cartels, transactional matters, and compliance, in both domestic and cross-border cases. She regularly engages with global clients and negotiates with competition authorities on their behalf. Due to her prior experience at the Ministry Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism, where she engaged in policy and rule making, as well as operations, and built a network of connections in government offices, Junko has a deep knowledge and understanding of regulations and government affairs, particularly those that impact transportation industries (e.g., aviation, automotive). She was seconded to a major energy company, where she acquired familiarity with the energy industry. Her wide range of experience enables her to provide precise, tailored advice that accurately addresses and responds to each client’s needs and business operations.

Masanori is known for his extensive experience in a wide range of legal matters in Myanmar, Bangladesh, Thailand, and other Asian countries. Masanori also has significant expertise in supporting matters in relation to Business and Human Rights. Masanori has worked as a secondee at local law firms in Singapore and Myanmar, and as an in-house lawyer at a major Japanese international electronics manufacturer. By leveraging his insight into Asian markets and industries, Masanori provides flexible and practical solutions to the challenges and difficulties that clients face in their daily business, as well as in regard to developing markets and new legal issues. Masanori also provides advice on domestic and international matters in a variety of legal fields, including M&A, joint ventures, and other corporate transactions, as well as financial transactions, labour matters, and restructuring transactions.

Kayo Kaneko advises domestic and international clients on a wide range of corporate matters, including M&A, governance, and regulatory-related issues. She is regularly involved in matters where corporate transactions or strategic decisions are shaped by regulatory constraints, institutional frameworks, and evolving legal regimes.
She brings a distinctive perspective informed by her experience at Japan’s Ministry of Justice, where she was engaged in legislative work relating to corporate law. This background enables her to approach legal issues not only from the standpoints of interpretation and compliance but also with an understanding of legislative intent and potential future developments in the regulatory environment.
Kayo also has substantial international experience in Europe, having studied and worked in Germany, including at a leading local law firm. Through this experience, she has gained practical insights into European legal frameworks and market practice, which she applies when advising on cross-border matters involving multiple jurisdictions and stakeholders.
In complex situations where multiple legal considerations intersect, she focuses on structuring key issues and framing the legal premises necessary for informed corporate decision-making. Clients value her ability to navigate uncertainty arising from regulatory change and to provide advice that remains grounded in both the institutional context and practical realities.