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.
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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