Lawyers

Nobuo Nakata　　Representative Partner

Nobuo at Allen & Overy started and established M&A practice of Tokyo office and participated in the global management as a member of Global Corporate Board. To flexibly respond to the demands in the new era, he established Hibiya-Nakata in 2012. His major practice is to advise on cross-border M&A transactions using the global network of law firms in collaboration.

Areas of Practice

M&A (Out-bound and in-bound cross-border M&A, Domestic M&A of listed companies)

Education & Professional Career

1981　The University of Tokyo (LL.B.)
1985　Ishiguro Law Office (-1987, Associate)
1987　Asahi Law Office (-2004, Partner since 1992　*currently “Nishimura & Asahi”)
1990　University of Pennsylvania Law School (LL.M.)
1990　New York office of Sullivan & Cromwell (-1991, International Associate)
2004　Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (-2006, Partner)
2007　Allen & Overy (-2011, Partner)
2012　Hibiya-Nakata (-current, Representative Partner)
2018　Kirin Holdings Company, Limited (-2022, Audit & Supervisory Board Member)
2019　NEC Corporation (-2023, Audit & Supervisory Board Member)

Bar Association

1985　Tokyo Bar Association
1991　New York Bar

Publications & Contributions

“Getting the Deal Through: Foreign Investment Review” (2014-2019/Law Business Research)
“Getting the Deal Through: Joint Ventures” (2018-2022/Law Business Research)
“Getting the Deal Through: Practice Guides – Japan M&A” (2021-2023/Law Business Research)
“Getting the Deal Through: Public Mergers & Acquisitions” (2022-2023/Law Business Research)

Kazutaka Mizuochi　　Partner

With over 25 years of experience in M&A and other international transactions, Kazutaka specializes in contract negotiations between Japanese and foreign companies. He is also actively involved in engagement activities by foreign investors with Japanese listed companies, acting as a bridge between foreign investors and the management of Japanese listed companies.

Areas of Practice

M&A (Out-bound and in-bound cross border M&A, Domestic M&A transactions)
Domestic Commercial Transactions
International Commercial Transactions

Education & Professional Career

1992　Keio University (LL.B.)
1997　Baker & McKenzie Tokyo (-2018, Partner since 2006)
2002　University of Illinois College of Law (LL.M.)
2002　Baker & McKenzie Chicago (-2003)
2018　Hibiya-Nakata (-current, Partner)

Bar Association

1997　Tokyo Bar Association

Tatsuya Soeda　　Partner

Tatsuya handled, while he worked at Anderson Mori & Tomotsune and at Hibiya Nakata, a large number of M&A transactions in various industries also with cross border context. He also worked as a financial advisor at M&A department of major securities company in Japan. He was one of the starting member of Singapore Branch of Anderson Mori & Tomotsune at which he assisted number of cross border transactions in SEA area.

Areas of Practice

M&A (Out-bound and in-bound cross border M&A, Domestic M&A transactions)
Emerging Markets

Education & Professional Career

2005　The University of Tokyo (LL.B.)
2006　Anderson Mori & Tomotsune (-2017, Special Counsel and Associate)
2009　Daiwa Securities SMBC (-2010, M&A Advisory Department　*currently “Daiwa Securities”)
2012　New York University School of Law (LL.M.)
2012　Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP (-2013, Foreign Lawyer)
2013　Anderson Mori & Tomotsune (Singapore) LLP (-2014)
2017　Hibiya-Nakata (-current, Partner since January 2019)

Bar Association

2006　Daini Tokyo Bar Association
2013　New York Bar Association

Takanari Sekiguchi　　Partner

Takanari has been dealing with various M&A transactions for more than 15 years, recently leading cutting-edge M&A practices, including cross-boarder M&A, W&I insurance and invest in startups. He also has been actively exploring academic fields, receiving Ph.D. in law and publishing books and papers regarding M&A.

Areas of Practice

M&A (Out-bound and in-bound cross border M&A, Domestic M&A transactions)
CVC (Corporate Venture Capital)
W&I Insurance
Merger Control
Disputes
Compliance

Education & Professional Career

2004　The University of Tokyo (LL.B.)
2006　Meiji University Law School (J.D.)
2008　Nishimura & Asahi (-2019)
2012　Meiji University Law School (-2013, Lecturer)
2015　Columbia Law School (LL.M.)
2015　MUFG Bank, Ltd., London Branch (-2016, Seconded)
2016　Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission (-2018, Deputy Director of Cross-border Investigation Office)
2018　The Japan Negotiation Society (-current, Member)
2019　Hibiya-Nakata (-current, Partner since July 2021)
2020　Dai-ichi Life Realty Asset Management Co., Ltd. (-current, Compliance Committee member)
2021　The Small and Medium Enterprise Agency (-current, Advisory Committee member)
2023　Kobe University Graduate School of Law (Ph.D. in Law)
2023　BLP-Network (-current, Member)

Bar Association

2007　Dai-Ichi Tokyo Bar Association
2016　New York Bar Association

Publications & Contributions

“Getting the Deal Through: Practice Guides – Japan M&A” (2021-2023/Law Business Research)

Shunsuke Inoue　　Partner

Shunsuke has extensive experience and expertise in competition law, merger filings, M&A, corporate governance, regulatory compliance. He has advised many major global companies, banks, funds as well as small tech startups. Prior to joining Hibiya-Nakata, he worked at Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.

Areas of Practice

M&A (Out-bound and in-bound cross border M&A, Domestic M&A transactions)
Competition Law
Financial Regulations
IT/Information Law and Compliance

Education & Professional Career

2005　Waseda University (B.A.)
2008　The University of Tokyo School of Law (J.D.)
2009　Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu (-2012, Associate)
2012　Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (-2016, Associate)
2016　London School of Economics and Political Science (LL.M.)
2016　Hibiya-Nakata (-current, Partner since January 2020)
2018　The University of Tokyo School of Law (-current, Advisory Lecturer for Students without Prior Legal Education)
2022　Certified Nonprofit Corporation 3keys (-current, Director)

Bar Association

2009　Dai-Ichi Tokyo Bar Association

Kaori Ota　　Partner

Specialized in Corporate Law and M&A with qualifications in Japan and New York. Having unparalleled experiences as an in-house lawyer at a large Japanese enterprise while participating on deal teams for business investment projects. After working at a major international firm in Singapore, providing strategic advice on international business transaction and multi-national reorganization and M&A.

Areas of Practice

M&A (Business investment)
Dispute Resolutions (litigation, arbitration and other disputes)

Education & Professional Career

2008　Kobe University School of Law (J.D.)
2011　Law firm (-2013, Attorney)
2015　University of Southern California Law School (LL.M.)
2015　Corporate Department of Dentons Rodyk LLP, Singapore office (-2016, Foreign Lawyer)
2016　The Business Investment and Operation Headquarters of ORIX Corporation (-2019, Corporate attorney)
2019　Hibiya-Nakata (-current, Partner since July 2023)

Bar Association

2011　Osaka Bar Association
2018　New York Bar Association
2019　Tokyo Bar Association

Publications & Contributions

“Getting the Deal Through: Public Mergers & Acquisitions” (2022-2023/Law Business Research)

Naoko Nakai　　Senior Associate

Areas of Practice

M&A
Funds
Private Equity
Capital Markets

Education & Professional Career

2002　The University of Tokyo (LL.B.)
2004　The London School of Economics and Political Science (MSc Public Policy and Administration)
2004　Morgan Stanley Japan Limited (-2009　*currently “Morgan Stanley MUFG Securities Co. Ltd.”)
2004　Investment Banking Division & Credit Suisse Securities Japan Limited Equity Research Division (-2009)
2012　University of Pennsylvania Law School (LL.M.)
2013　Waseda Law School (J.D.)
2013　Start-up/venture companies (-2017, Business consulting)
2019　Hibiya-Nakata (-current, Senior associate)

Bar Association

2016　New York Bar Association
2018　Dai-Ichi Tokyo Bar Association

Hideyuki Nagoya　　Associate

Areas of Practice

M&A
General corporate
Litigation

Education & Professional Career

2013　Yokohama National University (BEc)
2015　The University of Tokyo School of Law (J.D.)
2022　Hibiya-Nakata (-current, Associate)
2018　Law firm (-2022, Associate)

Bar Association

2017　Daini Tokyo Bar Association

Mari Yamasaki　　Associate

Areas of Practice

M&A
General Corporate
Financial Regulation

Education & Professional Career

2015　Keio University (LL.B.)
2017　The University of Tokyo School of Law (J.D.)
2018　Anderson Mori & Tomotsune (-2022, Associate)
2022　Corporate planning department of one of the leading Japanese securities firms (-2023)
2023　Hibiya-Nakata (-current, Associate)

Bar Association

2018　Daini Tokyo Bar Association

Mitsuki Tsujiura　　Associate

Areas of Practice

M&A
General corporate

Education & Professional Career

2016　Hitotsubashi University (LL.B.)
2018　The University of Tokyo School of Law (J.D.)
2019　Nishimura & Asahi (-2020, Associate)
2020　A stay in Mexico City (-2022)
2022　Hibiya-Nakata (-current, Associate)

Bar Association

2019　Daini Tokyo Bar Association

Risa Haruyama　　Associate

Education & Professional Career

2018　Chuo University (LL.B.)
2020　The University of Tokyo School of Law (J.D.)
2022　Hibiya-Nakata (-current, Associate)

Bar Association

2022　Dai-Ichi Tokyo Bar Association