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※1 (-2004, Partner since 1992)
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 (-present, 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
‣ Lexology PANORAMIC (formerly GTDT): Foreign Investment Review (2014-2019), Joint Ventures (2018-2022), Practice Guides Japan M&A (2021-2023), Public M&A Japan (2022-2024) /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 (-present, Partner)
2025 Helios Techno Holding Co., Ltd. (-present, Director)
2026 HONDA Co., Ltd. (-present, Representative Director)
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※2 (-2010, M&A Advisory Department)
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 (-present, Partner since Jan. 2019)
Bar Association
2006 Daini Tokyo Bar Association
2013 New York Bar Association
Takanari Sekiguchi Partner
Takanari has been at the forefront of M&A practice for approximately 20 years, specializing in high-stakes transactions including cross-border M&A, W&I insurance, and startup investments. Alongside his clinical practice, he remains deeply engaged in academia; he holds a Ph.D. in law and has authored numerous books and papers on 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
M&A 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 (-present, Member)
2019 Hibiya-Nakata (-present, Partner since July 2021)
2020 Dai-ichi Life Realty Asset Management Co., Ltd. (-present, Compliance Committee member)
2021 The Small and Medium Enterprise Agency (-March 2025, Advisory Committee member)
2023 Kobe University Graduate School of Law (Ph.D. in Law)
2023 BLP-Network (-present, Member)
2024 General Incorporated Association Socially Supported Foster Care Regional Support Network (-present, Auditor)
2024 Tokyo Metro Asset Management Co., Ltd. (-present, Compliance Committee member)
2026 Global Alliance Realty Co., Ltd. (-present, Compliance Committee member)
Bar Association
2007 Dai-Ichi Tokyo Bar Association
2016 New York Bar Association
Publications & Contributions
‣ Lexology PANORAMIC (formerly GTDT): Practice Guides M&A Japan (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※3 (-2016, Associate)
2016 London School of Economics and Political Science (LL.M.)
2016 Hibiya-Nakata (-present, Partner since Jan. 2020)
2018 The University of Tokyo School of Law (-present, Advisory Lecturer for Students without Prior Legal Education)
2022 Certified Nonprofit Corporation 3keys (-present, Director)
2022 Dai-Ichi Tokyo Bar Association Legal Education Committee (-2024, Vice Chairman)
2023 Japan Society for Law and Education (-present, Member)
Bar Association
2009 Dai-Ichi Tokyo Bar Association
Publications & Contributions
Kaori Ota Partner
Specializing in Corporate Law and M&A with qualifications in both Japan and New York, Kaori possesses unparalleled experience as an in-house lawyer at a large Japanese enterprise, participating in deal teams for business investment projects. Following her tenure at a major international firm in Singapore, she provides strategic advice on international business transactions, as well as multinational reorganization and M&A transactions.
Areas of Practice
M&A (Out-bound and in-bound cross border M&A, Domestic M&A transactions)
Compliance
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 (-present, Partner since July 2023)
2025 Intelligent Wave Inc. (-present, Outside Director)
2025 KOSHIDAKA HOLDINGS Co., LTD. (-present, Outside Director)
Bar Association
2011 Osaka Bar Association
2018 New York Bar Association
2019 Tokyo Bar Association
Publications & Contributions
‣ Lexology PANORAMIC (formerly GTDT): Public M&A Japan (2022-2024) /Law Business Research
Miki Kinoshita Counsel
Areas of Practice
M&A
Financial Regulation and Financial Transactions
General Corporate
Education & Professional Career
2006 Hitotsubashi University (LL.B.)
2008 Keio University Law School (J.D.)
2010 City-Yuwa Partners (-2014, Associate)
2012 Financial Markets Division, Planning and Coordination Bureau, Financial Services Agency (-2014, Legal Officer)
2014 Transaction Legal Department, Nomura Securities Co., Ltd. (-2024, Corporate Attorney)
2023 Georgetown University Law Center (LL.M.)
2024 Hibiya-Nakata (-present, Counsel)
Bar Association
2009 Dai-Ichi Tokyo Bar Association
2024 New York Bar Association
Hideyuki Nagoya Senior 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.)
2018 Law firm (-2022, Associate)
2022 Hibiya-Nakata (-present, Senior 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 (-present, Associate)
Bar Association
2018 Daini Tokyo Bar Association
Publications & Contributions
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 (-present, 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 (-present, Associate)
Bar Association
2022 Dai-Ichi Tokyo Bar Association
Publications & Contributions
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Anna Kurata Associate
Areas of Practice
M&A
General corporate
Education & Professional Career
2017 Chuo University (LL.B.)
2019 Waseda Law School (J.D.)
2022 Law firm (-2026, Associate)
2026 Hibiya-Nakata (-present, Associate)
Bar Association
2022 Daini Tokyo Bar Association
Ryo Sakai Associate
Areas of Practice
M&A
General Corporate
Litigation
Education & Professional Career
2022 Keio University (LL.B.)
2024 Keio University Law School (J.D.)
2025 Law Firm (-2026, Attorney at Law)
2026 Hibiya-Nakata (-present, Associate)
Bar Association
2025 Dai-Ichi Tokyo Bar Association
Takeo Nagamori Associate
Areas of Practice
M&A (Out-bound and in-bound cross border M&A, Domestic M&A transactions)
Education & Professional Career
2018 Hosei University (LL.B.)
2020 Keio University Law School (J.D.)
2020 Boutique M&A Advisory Firm (-2021)
2021 Passed the Japanese Bar Examination
2021 FRONTIER MANAGEMENT INC. M&A Advisory Division (-2023)
2023 FRONTIER MANAGEMENT INC. New York Branch (-2025)
2026 Hibiya-Nakata (-present, Associate)
Bar Association
2026 Tokyo Bar Association
Yuri Tanaka Associate
Education & Professional Career
2022 Chuo University (LL.B.)
2026 Hibiya-Nakata (-present, Associate)
Bar Association
2026 Dai-Ichi Tokyo Bar Association
※1 Currently Nishimura & Asahi
※2 Currently Daiwa Securities Co. Ltd.
※3 Currently Freshfields