Company, M&A and Employment Law Guide 2023

Katsuyuki has been the Managing Partner of our New York office since its inception through 2024, and currently serves as the Chair of our New York office. He has over 30 years of experience as an M&A and corporate lawyer, and his clients include numerous listed and private companies, both in Japan and internationally. He utilizes his expertise and in-depth knowledge of both Japanese and U.S. laws to provide practical advice and solutions to clients. Katsuyuki has significant experience in Cross-border M&A, Reorganization, Joint Ventures, and Public/Startups, for both mega and middle market transactions. As a corporate lawyer, he provides advice on Shareholders' Meetings & Investor Relations, Corporate Governance, Disputes, Corporate Crisis Management, IP, Information Law, Life Sciences, and Business Succession, primarily in relation to the service, manufacturing, healthcare, telecom, and entertainment industries. Katsuyuki maintains connections with lawyers around the world, which enhances his ability to provide one-stop legal advice to Japanese companies that are doing business globally, including those expanding into the United States, Europe, China, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa. Katsuyuki sits on the board of several Japanese listed companies, which provides him with the unique advantage of being familiar with both legal requirements and the needs of management, making his advice practical, insightful, and meaningful.

Stephen is a leader of our Cross-Border Transactions Group. Stephen was previously associated with top-tier U.S. international law firms for 12 years, and has experience running cross-border transactions on the ground in the United States, Japan, Singapore, India, Indonesia, and Thailand. Stephen has represented U.S. and non-U.S. buyers and sellers in cross-border corporate transactions in various industries and deal structures, including stock and asset acquisitions, mergers, private equity and venture capital investments, joint ventures and strategic alliances. 
 
 Since joining Nishimura & Asahi in 2004, Stephen has represented numerous multi-national clients in connection with their investments into Japan and their ongoing general commercial transactions (including franchising, licensing, employment, corporate governance and commercial real estate leasing matters). Stephen also has extensive experience leading and documenting Japanese and cross-border due diligence exercises with respect to various industries, and representing Japanese clients in connection with their multi-jurisdiction corporate acquisitions. Stephen is frequently praised by clients for providing cutting edge practical solutions.
 
 Stephen also has represented U.S. issuers in the United States, foreign private issuers from numerous jurisdictions in Asia and global investment banks in connection with their capital markets transactions, including registered initial and follow-on public offerings in the United States, Rule 144A/Regulation S equity and debt offerings, block trades, dual listings and privatizations, and also assessing whether exemptions exist to the application of U.S. securities laws to overseas business transactions.
 
 Stephen writes and lectures widely on his legal practice specialties.

Based in New York, Yusuke has advised on numerous M&A transactions, such as domestic/cross-border acquisitions and alliances, TOB transactions, going private/MBO transactions, joint venture transactions, venture capital investments, and group reorganizations, with a focus on Japan-U.S. cross-border M&A transactions. He has also handled various cross border cartel cases for domestic and foreign clients. He also regularly provides U.S. and global clients doing business in Japan with corporate governance, compliance, risk management, labor, intellectual property, and other general corporate advice.