The antitrust and competition department at Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise) is lauded by clients for its ‘exemplary high standards of responsiveness and commercially sound advice’ and for its ‘consistently very high standards of professionalism’. The practice is dually headed by Junya Ae and Akira Inoue. Ae, who brings previous experience in competition policy matters, is an expert in cartel and merger control, while Inoue is especially experienced in international cartel cases and general antitrust matters. Other notable names within the ‘extremely knowledgeable’ team include the former secretary general of the Japan Fair Trade Commission Shuichi Sugahisa, Michio Suzuki for advice on the merger control aspects of M&A transactions, and associates Ryo Yamaguchi and Hiroaki Nagahashi.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘They provide accurate advice on a wide range of areas.’
- ‘They can provide seamless services with their own broad global network.’
- ‘Consistently very high standards of professionalism, responsiveness especially on time sensitive matters, commercially realistic and sound advice.’
- ‘Their long lasting deep involvements and experiences within our industry, including relationships with our member companies, and their expertise, is unique to them and valuable strength of them.’
- ‘Akira Inoue and his team are extremely knowledgeable regarding competition law and antitrust issues in Japan, more specifically as it relates to IP transactions and licensing issues.’
- ‘Junya Ae is the most reliable and talented lawyer in Japan's antitrust law community. His response is always swift, insightful and balanced.’
- ‘We continue to choose to work with them due to their exemplary high standards of responsiveness and commercially sound advice.’
- ‘They have deep expertise in antitrust law, in particular public policy issues including green society.’
Key clients
- Sumitomo Corporation
- MUFG Bank, Ltd.
- FUJIFILM Corporation
- Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
- AGC Inc.
- Accenture PLC
- Maiji 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.
Work highlights
- Advised NHK Spring and its subsidiaries in relation to the global cartel investigations for the disk suspension used for hard disk drive in the U.S., Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Brazil and Taiwan.
- Advised Japan Industrial Partners, Inc. in relation to foreign investment review aspects of the transaction where JIP jointly acquires 26% shares in Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. from Hitachi Ltd. with Itochu Corporation.
- Advised Sumitomo Corporation / Sojitz Corporation in relation to merger control aspects of Sumitomo / Sojitz's important M&A/investment projects.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Rising stars: Bengoshi
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Michio Suzuki
Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)Leading individuals: Bengoshi
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Junya Ae, Akira Inoue