Antitrust Considerations in Japan M&A Transactions

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.

Madoka advises clients on various matters of competition law, including domestic and international cartels, bid-rigging, M&A transactions, investigations by the JFTC, leniency applications and general antitrust law compliance. She is especially active in cross-border transactions. She has represented clients in connection with investigations into various global cartels, involving air cargo, marine hoses, TFT-LCDs, airlines, and bearings, and also in various merger-control cases, including a vertical integration between semiconductor equipment manufacturers, and major global merger transactions in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. She has particular strength and experience handling IT-industry mega deals. Madoka is also active in advising in the international trade area, in particular, government procurement and export control. In addition, she advises on laws preventing unfair competition, including trade secret cases. She served as lead counsel to Nippon Steel Corporation in multinational trade secret litigation against POSCO (a South Korean steel company), a landmark case in this area, and successfully negotiated a favorable settlement for her client. She was a member of the Subcommittee on Unfair Trade Policies and Measures of the Industrial Structure Council at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry from 2013 to 2023.