The team at Anderson Mori & Tomotsune has been preached by clients not only for their ‘profound legal expertise’, but also their ’comprehensive understanding of technology’. Led by Ken Kawai, the team has in-depth knowledge of financial regulations, information technology, intellectual property rights, and information security. Kawai specialises in advising clients on a wide range of fintech-related legal matters, including cryptocurrencies, digital securities, and cross-border electronic payments. Shunsuke Aoki primarily advises on fintech regulations and corporate finance transactions in both domestic and international capital markets, with additional expertise in security tokens. Other key members include Keisuke Hatano, who specialises in finance transactions and settlement-related matters, and Takato Fukui, who advises fintech companies and institutions on legal issues concerning crypto assets.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Anderson Mori & Tomotsune (AMT) has been a phenomenal partner for us in Japan. Their depth of knowledge of digital assets, creativity in solving business problems, and responsiveness to our requests are first-class. ’

  • ‘Ken Kawai, who leads the fintech practice, is core to our partnership with the firm. He has made himself available to brainstorm creative solutions, share insights, and create dedicated teams to solve our specific challenge.’

  • 'AMT's team excels not only in their profound legal expertise but also in their comprehensive understanding of the underlying technology. This dual proficiency enables them to provide clients with the most effective and informed advice.’
  • ‘I have had the privilege of collaborating on various projects with two exceptional partners at AMT: Ken Kawai and Shunsuke Aoki.'

  • 'Ken Kawai and Shunsuke Aoki both bring extensive expertise in capital markets and finance, along with a profound understanding of blockchain technology. Their deep knowledge of the regulatory landscape governed by Japan's Financial Services Agency is particularly valuable, enabling them to navigate the complexities of the industry with ease.'
  • 'What sets Anderson Mori & Tomotsune apart is its ability to seamlessly integrate legal, technological, and regulatory insights. Its forward-thinking approach and strategic acumen have been instrumental in achieving top-tier results in the issuance of tokenized securities within Japan.'
  • 'The strength of the firm is that it not only provides answers and interpretations that comply with current regulations but also looks at what is possible in terms of moving the business forward. It understands industry trends and issues very well.'
  • ‘This firm has extensive experience in Japanese financial regulations and can provide clients with valuable advice for their business, including on trends of regulatory authorities.’

Key clients

  • Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation
  • NTT Digital, Inc.
  • FTX Japan K.K.
  • Circle Internet Financial, LLC
  • Japan Security Token Offering Association
  • Daiwa Securities Group Inc.
  • Progmat Inc.
  • Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association
  • SMBC Trust Bank Ltd.
  • HashPort Inc.

Work highlights

  • Advised NTT Digital on a stablecoin project and noncustodial digital wallet project.
  • Advised SMBC Trust Bank Ltd., Kenedix, Inc., Daiwa Securities Co. Ltd., and Osaka Digital ExchangeCo., Ltd. on their security token projects for the proprietary trading system.
  • Advised Circle Internet Financial on its stablecoin project in Japan.

Lawyers

Leading partners: Bengoshi
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.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Ken Kawai

Other key lawyers

Shunsuke Aoki, Keisuke Hatano, Takato Fukui, Takeshi Nagase