Legal Practices for Companies Investing in Asia

Mr. Ota has a wealth of practical international and domestic legal experience, focusing on the areas of hostile takeovers, shareholder activism, M&A transactions (including cross-border deals), corporate governance and other corporate matters, domestic/international taxation, and personal information/data protection, and works on a wide range of corporate legal affairs cases. In the NIKKEI’s "Most Successful Lawyers" awards he was ranked in the corporate law category (1st) and the tax category (2nd) in 2024; in the corporate law category (1st) and the M&A category (1st) in 2023; and in the corporate law category (1st) in 2022. In addition, he dedicates himself to research and writing activities that bridge academia and legal practice on cutting-edge issues related to the Companies Act, the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, tax law, the Act on the Protection of Personal Information, etc. He has edited and authored many books and papers, such as "Introduction to Corporate Governance" (Iwanami Shinsho), "Hostile Takeovers and Activists" (Iwanami Shinsho), “Schemes and Tax Issues of M&A and Corporate Restructuring, 4th Ed.”, “Corpus Juris M&A - Completely Revised Edition (first volume) (second volume)”, “Handbook on Share Options (Fifth Edition)”, “Corpus Juris Series - Personal Information Protection Legislation (Global)”, “Handbook on Class Shares”, etc.

Hikaru took the initiative in launching the firm’s ASEAN practice in 2010, and since she has supported various Japanese and international companies' new entry, expansion of their business, strategic investment, group restructuring, risk management, disputes, as well as exit deals. With her deep understanding of the nature of issues, as well as the business background and cultural and political context in each country, she is known for providing practical advice by working closely with the clients' business team in each jurisdiction. As a key member of our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee, she has played a key role in many of our diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, particularly over the past few years. Our firm was named the winner of the region’s Law Firm: Diversity & Inclusion Category at FT Innovative Lawyers Awards Asia-Pacific 2021 and winner of Outstanding Firm for D&I (Regional) at Chambers D&I Awards Asia-Pacific 2020.

Mr. Yoshimoto has been engaging in general corporate legal affairs in Indonesia and other emerging countries for nearly 10 years. He was seconded to the legal and compliance departments of both the headquarters and U.S. regional headquarters of a major Japanese general trading company, as well as to one of the largest law firms in Indonesia. During his secondment at the Indonesian law firm, he was involved in a wide variety of matters, including M&A, finance, litigation, criminal matters, and insolvency proceedings. As a key member of the Indonesian Practice Team, he was able to develop a strong network of Indonesian lawyers, which he has been able to utilize, to handle cases efficiently and flexibly with due consideration to local customs and practices. He has also been involved in many M&A and crisis management cases in other ASEAN countries, such as the Philippines and Cambodia, as well as other emerging countries, such as Bangladesh and Brazil, during which he was able to draw upon his experience from his secondment to the trading company to the clients’ benefit.

Ing-Chian is a lead partner of our Taiwan practice group. As one of the few Taiwanese lawyers based in Japan, she handles a wide variety of matters for clients that conduct business in relation to Taiwan, such as M&A, finance, real estate, competition law/antitrust law, IP, and other international legal matters.
Notably, she was the first Taiwanese lawyer ever to be registered as a Gaikokuho-Jimu-Bengoshi (Registered Foreign Lawyer in Japan) qualified to practice law in Taiwan. She is based in Japan, but serves as a Co-Representative of our Taipei office, and provides our Japanese and Taiwanese clients with seamless, timely legal support for both their inbound and outbound legal needs.

Mihoko was admitted in Japan in 2000, and worked on domestic and cross-border M&A transactions and other corporate matters, including corporate law, labor law and compliance matters, for several years at the Tokyo office. After the completion of her studies at a law school in the United States, she worked at a law firm in New York and at the legal and compliance department of a company in the United States. She also worked in the firm’s Ho Chi Minh City office in 2011 and Hanoi office in 2016. In Vietnam, based on her extensive experiences in Japan and the United States, she quickly captured clients’ needs and provided the best solutions to companies operating in Vietnam, closely working with local counsel. Utilizing her deep understanding and knowledge on local culture and business practices of emerging countries, she has extensive experience advising many clients on matters relating to South-East Asian countries, especially Vietnam.