Antitrust and competition: International firms and joint ventures

Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)

Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)’s ‘exceptional’ antitrust and competition team in Toyko, widely praised for its ‘deep expertise and global reach’, regularly handles high-profile merger control, monopolisation, and unfair trade practice matters. Recent highlights for the group also include work on global cartel investigations concerning HDD spring technology and capacitor products. With expertise encompassing cartel investigations and multijurisdictional merger control issues as well as experience working at the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Junya Ae leads the team alongside Akira Inoue, who stands out for his experience in international cartel cases. Michio Suzuki’s practice covers merger control, cartel, and compliance work. Former Secretary General of the Japanese Fair Trade Commission Shuichi Sugahisa is also a key contact. Cartel specialists Hiroaki Nagahashi and Ryo Yamaguchi are noted for their contribution to the team.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘Akira Inoue and the Tokyo team are knowledgeable, responsive, and creative in providing excellent legal advice.'
'Junya Ae, Hiroaki Nagahashi and Ryo Yamaguchi fully understand our businesses, organisation and each committee activities. Under the leadership of Junya Ae, they take a commercial approach that is balanced with competition law compliance, making full use of their abundant knowledge and information as a competition law expert so that our business and our member companies may not infringe competition law.’
‘Akira Inoue and Mika Masumoto always do very excellent work for Japanese clients.'
‘The individuals at Baker & McKenzie distinguish themselves through their exceptional expertise, professionalism, and client-focused approach. Partners such as Junya Ae have consistently demonstrated outstanding dedication and competence. Their ability to provide clear, strategic advice and maintain open, transparent communication makes them invaluable. I have particularly appreciated their proactive approach and their readiness to go the extra mile to achieve the best possible outcomes for their clients.’
‘The team has long-time experience in providing antitrust law advice to clients in the chemical industry. They also have an international network as well as a pragmatic approach.'
‘Baker McKenzie has global capabilities as well as considerable experience and knowledge defending Japanese companies.’
‘The antitrust and competition practice at Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise) is truly exceptional due to its deep expertise and global reach. The team consists of highly skilled professionals who are not only knowledgeable when it comes to local regulations but also adept at handling complex international cases. This practice stands out for its innovative approach, incorporating cutting-edge technology and fostering a collaborative environment that ensures efficient and effective service delivery. Their commitment to diversity and inclusion, as well as transparent billing practices, further sets them apart from other firms.’

Key clients

Sumitomo Corporation
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.
FUJIFILM Corporation
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
AGC Inc.
Accenture PLC
Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Company
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group
Hitachi Ltd.
Sojitz Corporation
Toyota Tsusho Corporation
Nidec Corporation
Yazaki Corporation
Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
Japan Industrial Partners Corporation
Marubeni-Itochu Steel Inc.
Japan Bearing Industry Association
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT)
NHK Spring Co. Ltd.
Sanden Corporation
KYB Corporation
JERA Co., Inc.
Okaya Electric Industries Co., Ltd.
Bridgestone Corporation
Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
Nippon Steel Corporation
Panasonic Holdings Corporation
Daicel Corporation
Sony Group Corporation

Work highlights

Represented and advised NHK Spring and its subsidiaries in relation to the global cartel investigations and follow-on private litigations for the disk suspension used for hard disk drive in the U.S., Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Brazil and Taiwan.
Advising and representing Mitsubishi Electric Corporation in relation to the merger control/foreign investment review (FIR)/foreign subsidy regulations (FSR) aspects of its acquisition of shares in Coherent Corp.'s carved-out silicon carbide business entity together with other Japanese investor.
Representing and advising Sojitz Corporation in relation to the merger control aspects of its acquisition of all the shares in DaiTanViet Joint Stock Company.

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