Linklaters is a go-to for major financial institutions and is active in advising financial sponsors on public M&A and take-privates involving listed companies. Tracy Whiriskey and Yoshiyuki Asaoka co-lead the team. Whiriskey has deep expertise in matters involving cross-border M&A, joint ventures and strategic investments. The ‘highly experienced’ Asaoka routinely handles the Japanese law aspects of significant multijurisdictional transactions, including recently advising Meiji Yasuda on its acquisition of Legal & General America Inc.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘The team always provide support in a timely manner. A go-to firm for M&A deals.’
- ‘Yoshiyuki Asaoka is highly experienced in complicated domestic and cross-border M&A deals and provides excellent and clear advice whenever we need.’
- ‘They are knowledgeable and responsive.’
- 'Keen to support us and share industry expertise and development.'
- 'Excellent commercial input from knowledgeable lawyers who have great market experience and can apply that to our deals.'
- 'Tracy Whiriskey is a standout partner in the reinsurance space - she is clear, calm, authoritative, and very responsive when we need fast turnaround times on our transactions.'
- 'Yoshiyuki Asaoka and Tracy Whiriskey are the partners I work most with. They are available all time to support our institution.'
- 'Always aware of the client's commercial goal in the M&A project, and great advice on the legal structure of the contemplated transaction.'
- 'The firm has many wonderful professionals. In particular, Yoshiyuki Asaoka stands out.'
- 'We worked together on a number of offshore wind transactions in Japan.'
Key clients
- ABC Impact Fund II LP (Temasek)
- Asahi Group Foods, Ltd.
- Citadel Enterprise Europe Limited
- Corebridge Financial Inc
- Dai-ichi Life Holdings, Inc.
- Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Company
- Resolution Re Ltd
Work highlights
Advising Dai-ichi Life Holdings, Inc. on its long-term strategic partnership with UK investment manager M&G plc, coupled with a proposed acquisition of a c.15% stake in M&G plc.
Advising on Meiji Yasuda’s 100% acquisition of U.S. insurance entity, Legal & General America Inc, and its U.S. protection and pension risk transfer (“PRT”) business written by subsidiaries, Banner Life Insurance Company and William Penn Life Insurance Company of New York (private M&A transaction) from UK-listed multinational insurance and financial services company, Legal & General Group plc, coupled with an approximate 5% minority investment in the listed seller (public M&A transaction), and creation of a long-term strategic partnership regarding the U.S. PRT and asset management businesses.
Advised on the acquisition of the German brewer's yeast company Leiber GmbH by Asahi Group Foods, Ltd., a subsidiary of Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd.
Lawyers
Leading partners: Gaiben
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next Generation Partners: Bengoshi
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Yoshiyuki Asaoka
Practice head
Tracy Whiriskey; Yoshiyuki Asaoka