Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)’s real estate and construction team in Tokyo offers a comprehensive service to domestic and international clients, covering inbound acquisitions of and investments in office buildings, data centres, hotels, and nursing homes, among other assets, on the real estate side, and large-scale project developments on the construction front. With over 25 years’ experience in domestic and cross-border real estate transactions, development, and financing, including in TMK and GK-TK investment structures, Seishi Ikeda leads the real estate team. Construction head Ean Mac Pherson regularly advises both EPC contractors and project developers on renewable energy, data centre, and aquafarming construction projects. Taijiro Suzuki focuses on real estate finance. Maki Kawamura has experience in office, residential, retail, and resort projects. Chris Hodgens retired from practice in 2024.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The team has expertise in clean energy.'
Key clients
- Air Trunk
- Blue Melon Capital
- Deutsche Bank AG, Tokyo Branch
- Gaw Capital Partners
- ING Bank
- InterContinental Hotels Group
- Ito-en, Ltd.
- Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR)
- Lone Star Group
- Niseko Real Estate
- Pacifico Energy K.K.
- Pacific Century Group
- Travel + Leisure (Wyndham Destinations Japan Ltd.)
- Uni-Asia Capital
Work highlights
- Advised Travel + Leisure, a US-based membership travel company, on its acquisition of the Yushi Chikumakan hot spring ryokan in Chikuma City (Nagano prefecture), which will reopen as Club Wyndham Chikumakan Nagano after undergoing renovation.
- Advised Gaw Capital Partners on its partnership with GDS Holdings Limited to build a 40MW carrier-neutral data centre campus in Fuchu, West Tokyo.
- Acted as counsel to Mandarin Oriental in respect of its agreements with a consortium led by Shikoku Electric Power Co., Ltd. in relation to the development of three distinctive boutique properties in Japan, branded as Mandarin Oriental, Setouchi, strategically located around the picturesque Seto Inland Sea.
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.
Leading partners: Gaiben
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Chris Hodgens
Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)Next Generation Partners: Bengoshi
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Maki Kawamura
Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Seishi Ikeda, Ean Mac Pherson