About Our Firm

Uniqueness of Our Service

Top class track record in advising Japanese cross-border M&A

Hibiya-Nakata specializes in advising Japanese companies on their Japanese out-bound M&A transactions and international companies on their Japanese in-bound M&A transactions with close cooperation with affiliated foreign local firms in plural global networks.

Our selected small number of Japanese Bengoshi team manages the overall transaction by effectively collaborating with excellent foreign local team fully in accordance with the client’s strategic plan and intention.

In addition, we are advising good number of Japanese domestic M&A transactions.

Multiple Global Law Firm Networks

Covers over 100 countries worldwide supported by multiple global law firm networks

Hibiya-Nakata covers over 100 countries worldwide supported by multiple global law firm networks.

Our Basic Approach and Strength

Providing practical advice and creative solutions based on deeper understanding of the business

Based on our in-depth understanding of the business of the target companies obtained by our close communication with our clients, we aim to provide practical advice to the clients and creative solution when necessary to proceed the transaction.

Recognition by International Media

Firm Awards

Hibiya-Nakata is highly recognized by international media.

Acquisition International

• “M&A Law Firm of the Year – Japan” (2013, 2014)
• “Best for Japanese Outbound M&A” (2015)
• “Best Boutique M&A Law Firm – Japan” (2018)

ACQ5

• Law Awards “Foreign Investment Law Firm of the Year – Japan” (2018)
• Global Awards “Foreign Investment Law Firm of the Year – Japan” (2019, 2020)
• Global Awards “Joint Ventures Law Firm of the Year – Japan” (2019, 2020)
• Global Awards “Cross-Border M&A Law Firm of the Year – Japan” (2020)

AI Magazine – Global Excellence Awards

• “Best Boutique M&A Law Firm – Japan” (2018)

Asialaw Profiles

• Corporate and M&A “Highly Recommended Firm” (2017, 2018, 2019)
• Corporate and M&A “Recommended Firm” (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)

Asian Legal Business

• “The Best Asian M&A Law Firms” (2019, 2020, 2022)
• ALB Asia M&A Rankings – Japan Domestic – Tier 2 (2024)

Chambers Asia-Pacific Guide

• Corporate/M&A: Domestic in Japan Legal Rankings – Band 4 (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)

Corporate Insider

• “Boutique M&A Law Firm of the Year – Japan” (2017, 2019)

Corporate INTL Magazine – Global Award

• “Cross Border M&A Law Firm of the Year in Japan” (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
• “Joint Ventures Law Firm of the Year in Japan” (2020, 2021, 2023, 2024)
• “Foreign Investment Law Firm of the Year in Japan” (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
• “M&A Advisory Firm of the Year in Japan” (2024)

Corporate LiveWire – Global Award

• “M&A Law Firm of the Year – Japan” (2017)
• “Dispute Resolution Law Firm of the Year – Japan” (2017)

Finance Monthly

• Global Awards “Mergers & Acquisitions Law Firm of the Year – Japan” (2017, 2018)
• Law Awards “Mergers & Acquisitions – Law Firm of the Year – Japan” (2017)

Global Law Experts & Global Advisory Experts

• “Cross Border M&A Law Firm of the Year in Japan” (2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
• “Joint Ventures Law Firm of the Year in Japan” (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
• “Foreign Investment Law Firm of the Year in Japan” (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
• “International Transactions Law Firm of the Year in Japan” (2019)
• “M&A Advisory Firm of the Year in Japan” (2024)

IFLR1000

• “Recommended Firm” (2017, 2019, 2020, 2020 30th edition, 2021 31st edition, 2022 32nd edition, 2023 33rd edition)

Lawyers Worldwide Awards – Super Lawyers

• “Mergers & Acquisitions Law Firm of the Year – Japan” (2025)

Leaders in Law – Global Awards

• “Cross-Border M&A Firm of the Year in Japan” (2020)

The Lawyer Network – Annual Awards

• “Foreign Investment Law Firm of the Year in Japan” (2021, 2023)
• “Cross-Border M&A Law Firm of the Year in Japan” (2021, 2022, 2023)
• “Joint Ventures Law Firm of the Year in Japan” (2022, 2023)

The Legal 500

• The foundation of Hibiya-Nakata was featured in the “Legal Market Overview” of Japan (2013 edition)
• Ranked in “Asia Pacific – Japan – Corporate And M&A: Independent Local Firms” (2017, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)

Top Ranked Legal

• Top Ranked Law Firms: Japan: Corporate/M&A – Band 4 (2023)

Lawyers Awards

Nobuo Nakata

Acquisition International Leading Adviser Awards

• “Leading Cross Border Mergers and Acquisitions Lawyer of the Year – Japan” (2019)
• “Leading Corporate M&A Transactions Lawyer of the Year – Japan” (2019)
• “Leading M&A Lawyer of the Year – Tokyo” (2023)

Asia Business Law Journal

• “The A-List – Japan’s Top 100 Lawyers” (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)

Asialaw Leading Lawyers

• Corporate and M&A “Distinguished Practitioner” (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)

Best Lawyers

• Corporate and M&A Law “The Best Lawyers in Japan” (2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, Global Business Edition 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)

Chambers Asia-Pacific Guide

• “Leaders in Their Field” (2018)
• Corporate/M&A: Domestic in Japan Legal Rankings – Band4 (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)
  

  Corporate LiveWire Global Awards

  • “Cross-Border M&A Lawyer of the Year – Japan” (2018)

  Finance Monthly

  • Legal Awards “Mergers and Acquisitions – Lawyer of the Year – Japan” (2019)
  • M&A Awards “Mergers and Acquisitions – Lawyer of the Year – Japan” (2017, 2018, 2020)
  • “Deal Maker of The Year Awards” (2024)

  IFLR1000

  • “Leading Lawyer for Financial & Corporate Law” (2017)
  • “Leading Lawyer – Highly Regarded” (2018, 2019, 2020, 2020 30th Edition, 2022 32nd edition, 2023 33rd edition, 2024 34th edition)

  International Advisory Experts Awards

  • “Cross Border M&A Lawyer of the Year in Japan” (2017, 2018)

  Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards

  • “M&A Lawyer of the Year – Japan” (2018, 2019, 2022)

  Leaders in Law Global Awards

  • “M&A Expert of the Year in Japan” (2020, 2021)
  • “M&A Lawyer of the Year in Japan” (2020)

  The Legal 500

  • Asia Pacific – Guide to outstanding lawyers “Leading Lawyer” (2017, 2020)
  • Asia Pacific – Japan – Corporate and M&A “Recommended Lawyer” (2017, 2020)
  • Inducted into the Hall of Fame in The Legal 500, having been recommended as a Leading Individual within Corporate and M&A for the last 12 years, in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.

  Top Ranked Legal

  • Top Ranked Lawyers: Japan: Corporate/M&A – Band 3 (2023)

  Other Awards

  • The winner of “Finance Monthly Global Awards 2019”
  • The winner of “International Advisory Experts Award 2019”

  Kazutaka Mizuochi

  Best Lawyers

  • Corporate and M&A Law “The Best Lawyers in Japan” (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)

  The Legal 500

  • Asia Pacific – Corporate and M&A – Independent Local Firms “Recommended Lawyer” (2020)

  Tatsuya Soeda

  Best Lawyers

  • Corporate and M&A Law “The Best Lawyers in Japan” (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
  • International Business Transactions “The Best Lawyers in Japan” (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)

  IFLR1000

  • “Leading Lawyer – Rising star partner” (2021 31st edition, 2022 32nd edition, 2023 33rd edition, 2024 34th edition)

  The Legal 500

  • Asia Pacific – Corporate and M&A – Independent Local Firms – Japan “Recommended Lawyer” (2020)
  • Asia Pacific – Corporate and M&A – Independent Local Firms – Japan “Next Generation Partners: Bengoshi” (2024)

  Shunsuke Inoue

  Acquisition International Magazine

  • “Leading Corporate Lawyer of the Year in Japan” (2024)

  Advisory Excellence

  • “Recommended M&A Expert in Japan” (2023)

  Best Lawyers

  • Corporate and M&A Law “The Best Lawyers in Japan” (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
  • Antitrust/Competition Law “The Best Lawyers in Japan” (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)

  Corporate INTL

  • “Who’s Who Lawyer” (2023)

  Global Law Experts

  • “Recommended Attorney in Japan” (2023)

  Leaders in Law

  • “Recommended M&A Law Expert in Japan” (2023)
  • “M&A Law Expert of the Year in Japan” (2023)

  Kaori Ota

  IFLR1000

  • “Leading Lawyer – Rising star” (2023 33rd edition, 2024 34th edition)

Firm Profile

Firm Name	Hibiya-Nakata
Office	Fukoku Seimei Bldg. 22F, 2-2-2 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0011, Japan
Telephone	+81-3-5532-3100
Facsimile	+81-3-5532-3101
Established	January 1, 2012
Representative Partner	Nobuo Nakata
Office Manager	Misao Sato