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, 2025)

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, 2026)

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, 2025)
“Joint Ventures Law Firm of the Year in Japan” (2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026)
“Foreign Investment Law Firm of the Year in Japan” (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026)
“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, 2025)
“Joint Ventures Law Firm of the Year in Japan” (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)
“Foreign Investment Law Firm of the Year in Japan” (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)
“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, 2021 30th edition, 2022 31st edition, 2023 32nd edition, 2024 33rd edition, 2025 34th edition, 2026 35th edition)

Lawyers Worldwide Awards Magazine

Super Lawyers “Mergers & Acquisitions Law Firm of the Year – Japan” (2025)
Experts in Law “Mergers & Acquisitions Law Firm of the Year – Japan” (2025)
Five Star Lawyers “Mergers & Acquisitions Law Firm of the Year – Japan” (2025)
Top Lawyers Worldwide “Mergers & Acquisitions Law Firm of the Year – Japan” (2025)
Global Leading Lawyers “Mergers & Acquisitions Law Firm of the Year – Japan” (2025)
Prestige 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, 2025, 2026)
“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, 2025, 2026)

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, 2025, 2026)

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, 2025, 2026)

Asialaw Leading Lawyers

Corporate and M&A “Distinguished Practitioner” (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)

Best Lawyers

Corporate and M&A Law “The Best Lawyers in Japan” (2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, Global Business Edition 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2026)

Chambers Asia-Pacific Guide

“Leaders in Their Field” (2018)
Corporate/M&A: Domestic in Japan Legal Rankings – Band 4 (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026)

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, 2025)

IFLR1000

“Leading Lawyer for Financial & Corporate Law” (2017)
“Leading Lawyer – Highly Regarded” (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 30th edition, 2022 31st edition, 2023 32nd edition, 2024 33rd edition, 2025 34th edition, 2026 35th 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)
Recognized as a Leading Individual in Corporate and M&A for 12 consecutive years, Nobuo was inducted into The Legal 500 Hall of Fame (2020–2026).

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”
Ranked 8th in the Cross-Border M&A category of the “Top-performing Lawyers” ranking (selected by companies) in Nikkei’s “Corporate Legal and Tax Affairs Survey 2025”.

Kazutaka Mizuochi

Best Lawyers

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

The Lawyer Network – Annual Awards

“Commercial Transactions Law Expert of the Year in Japan” (2026)

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 30th edition, 2022 31st edition, 2023 32nd edition, 2024 33rd edition)
“Leading Lawyer – Notable practitioner” (2025 34th edition, 2026 35th edition)

Lawyer International

Legal 100 Awards “Excellence in Business Leadership – Global 100” (2025)

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, 2025)
Asia Pacific – Corporate and M&A – Independent Local Firms – Japan “Leading Partners: Bengoshi” (2026)

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, 2026)

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” (2024 33rd edition, 2025 34th edition)
“Leading Lawyer – Rising star partner” (2026 35th edition)