Peripheral Fields of M&A of a Start-Up Company - Legal -

Akihisa is a partner in our M&A team. He handles many domestic and international M&As, business alliances including JVs, business succession, equity finance, and hostile takeovers. He has abundant practical experience for both listed and unlisted companies and wide range of company sizes and transaction types, knowledge of cutting-edge practical trends and laws and regulations, and the ability to respond flexibly and hands-on.
In addition, he active in start-up finance support, IPO support, and daily legal support.
Recently, using the network and knowledge cultivated through studying abroad in Europe and the United States, he also deals with sustainability-related topics such as sustainable finance, including ESG investment and impact investment, social enterprise, B Corp certification, and social IPO.

Yuki Matsumoto provides comprehensive and hands-on legal support tailored to each client’s needs, regardless of industry or scale. His practice spans a wide range of areas including domestic and cross-border M&A, litigation, regulatory compliance, crisis management, strategic alliances, and corporate governance. He has particular expertise in the entertainment sector—especially gaming, esports, and immersive technologies such as VR/XR—where he offers practical, industry-specific advice based on a deep understanding of business models and legal frameworks.

He has also supported IPOs as an outside auditor for listed companies and draws on secondment experience at a major securities firm and both domestic and international companies. This background enables him to provide legal advice aligned with management and investor perspectives. Actively involved in startup support, he advises on fundraising, governance for listing preparation, and has led the introduction of standardized seed financing documentation in collaboration with industry associations.

In recent years, he has expanded his practice in intellectual property, representing clients in patent infringement litigation and assisting with tailored patent filings. He also engages in complex regulatory work, including lobbying and compliance related to the Act against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations, as well as the Entertainment Business Act, bridging both policy and legal practice.

At Nishimura & Asahi, he leads the firm's Game and Esports Practice Team, overseeing legal services dedicated to the gaming industry. In recognition of his continued contribution to the field, he was the only lawyer awarded the “Esports Distinguished Service Award” at the Japan Esports Awards in January 2024.