LAWYERS
Masahiro NAKATSUKASA Managing Partner
OSAKA
Admitted in Japan and New York
| Practice Areas | Corporate law, M&A, corporate recovery, finance law, civil and commercial litigation |
|---|---|
| Education | Northwestern University School of Law, Chicago, Illinois: LL.M., May 2005 Kyoto University Faculty of Law, Kyoto, Japan: LL.B. (J.D. equivalent), 1992 |
| Languages | Japanese/ English |
Professional Experience and Expertise
- Attorney admitted in Japan (1994) and the State of New York (2006). Pre-eminent counsel in the areas of cross-border M&A and financial transactions in the Kansai area (Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto). Also has handled numerous litigation cases, spanning the entire range of the Japanese domestic legal spectrum, with particular expertise in complex commercial litigation, real estate, and finance law-related disputes. Extensive experience in lawsuits filed in the United States (patent infringement cases in the Federal Court (7th circuit) tort claims in California and Texas state courts).
- Selected for inclusion of Best Lawyers in Japan in the practice areas of Banking and Finance Law (2014 to 2022) and Insolvency and Reorganization(2017 to 2022).
- Former Vice President of Osaka Bar Association (2015-2016)
- External auditor of Sakai City (2019-2021)
- Outside Director at:
Nakayama Steel Works, Ltd.
Arakawa Chemical Industries, Ltd.
Asaka Industrial Co., Ltd.
Cases and Matters Handled
- Advised BVI company in acquisition of Japanese real restate (2021)
- Advised a Japanese company in regard to formation of U.S. fund (limited partnership) (2020)
- Advised a Japanese listed company in regard to subsidization of European company (steel business) (2018-2019)
- Advised a Japanese client in regard to formation of joint venture in Thailand (2018)
- Advised a Japanese company in regard to subsidization of joint venture (steel business) in India (2018)
- Advised a Japanese company on business transfer in China (2017)
- Advised a Hong Kong company on inbound investment in Japan
- Represented multiple Japanese companies of varying sizes in varying industries in cross-border transactions in Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and China
- Represented a Japanese Steel company in establishing a joint venture in the steel industry in India (2012)
- Represented a Japanese Chemical company in its £40 million acquisition of Hydro Carbon chemical business in Germany (2010), and in its domestic US$30 million acquisition (2003)
- Acted as Japanese counsel for a multinational U.S. company in the transfer of memory media business of a Japanese major technology company ($300 million), as well as for a Singaporean company in its acquisition of a Japanese commodity futures brokerage firm
- Advised multiple Japanese companies as defendants in U.S. litigation (Federal Courts, State Courts of Texas, Massachusetts, Illinois, and California)
- Advised large consumers’ cooperative (10,000+ members) on business transfer scheme development for consumers’ cooperative (first-ever bankruptcy case of this type in Japan)
- Handled numerous domestic M&A transactions and domestic corporate and consumer litigation
- Appeared in Habeas Corpus Action in international parental child abduction case
Professional Career
- Chuo Sogo Law Office, P.C., Partner, 2000-present, Associate, 1999-2000; 1994-1997
- Kyoto University Law School, Kyoto, Japan: Lecturer, 2008-2012
- Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Chicago, Illinois: Visiting attorney, 2005-2006; Intellectual Property Department; frequently involved in U.S. patent infringement litigation, conducted trial discovery procedures and depositions in Japan.
- Outside Director at Asaka Industrial Co., Ltd, Arakawa Chemical Industries, Ltd., Nakayama Steel Works, Ltd.
- External auditor of Sakai City (2019-2021)
Professional Affiliations
- Vice President of Osaka Bar Association (2015-2016)
- Member of Councils of Osaka Bar Association (2013-2015, 2016 to date)
- Member of the Equity Commission of Kaizuka City, Osaka (2010）
- Mediator of Dispute Resolution Center in Osaka (2011 to date)
Publications
- Publication
- “Global Legal Insights - Merger Control (Japan Chapter),” author, (Global Legal Group, 2018 Seventh Edition)
- Publication
- “Global Legal Insights – Merger Control (Japan Chapter),” author, (Global Legal Group, 2017 sixth edition)
- Publication
- “Enforcement of Foreign Judgments,” Japan chapter, author (Getting the Deal Through, 2011, updated 2012, 2013, 2014)
- Publication
- “Doing Business in Asia-Pacific,” Japan Chapter, author (Globalaw, 2011)
- Publication
- “A Legal Guide to Doing Business in the Asia-Pacific,” co-author (ABA, 2010)
- Publication
- “Tokyo Stock Exchange IPO overview” (Legalink International IPO Guide, 2010)
Seminar
- Seminar
- “Role of outside directors for achieving the effective corporate governance, covering global perspective,“ Speaker, at joint seminar of Kansai Economic Federation (Kankeiren) and Osaka Bar Association (Osaka, 2018)
- Seminar
- “An Open Dialogue on the Challenges of Global Practice,” Speaker, at the Transnational Law Summit sponsored by the International Law Section of the State Bar of California (Los Angeles, in English, 2016)
- Seminar
- “Risk Management in Asian countries,” Speaker, at Chuo Sogo Law Office and Dentons Rodyk & Davidson joint seminar (Osaka, 2016)
- Seminar
- “Doing business in Asia and Risk management,” Moderator, at Globalaw seminar (Tokyo, in English, 2015)
- Seminar
- “Important Issues in Cross-Border M&A Transactions,” Speaker, at Osaka Bar Association (2013), Japan Auditor’s Association (2012)
- Seminar
- “Recent Important Issues in Asset-Based Lending,” Speaker, at Japan Federation of Bar Associations (2011)
- Seminar
- “Legal Due Diligence: How can we improve? Developing a Client-centered DD Model,” Speaker, at IPBA 20th Annual Meeting Conference (Kyoto, in English, 2011)
| Practice Areas | Corporate law, M&A, corporate recovery, finance law, civil and commercial litigation |
|---|---|
| Education | Northwestern University School of Law, Chicago, Illinois: LL.M., May 2005 Kyoto University Faculty of Law, Kyoto, Japan: LL.B. (J.D. equivalent), 1992 |
| Languages | Japanese/ English |