Mori Hamada & Matsumoto Tokyo Office‘s ’excellent’ team has extensive expertise in TMT-related litigation, restructuring, transactions, and regulation. The team, jointly by Koichiro Iida, Hiromi Hayashi, and Atsushi Okada, recently advised the Japanese government on addressing the challenges posed by Artificial Intelligence. Iida specialises in business regulation within the TMT sector, while Okada focuses on domestic and international compliance in areas like data protection, telecoms, and AI. Hayashi supports clients in launching new services and devices in the TMT industry. Daisuke Tsuta is noted for his cybersecurity and data protection expertise, while Norihito Sato brings significant experience in M&A within the automotive sector.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Mori Hamada & Matsumoto is one of the top law firms in Japan with many excellent lawyers that can handle any legal issue we consult. Excellency is the right term to describe the team.’

  • 'Norihito Sato is a star whose engagement is exceptional. He is an extremely reliable lawyer who always strives to understand the client's situation.'

  • ‘The team fully understands our complex business, situation and demand, in addition to its general legal and business knowledge. They always respond quickly, so the project goes smoothly and they are very helpful.’

  • 'The firm has lawyers with deep knowledge of the legal system and a wide range of digital technologies. The firm is proactive in disseminating information through seminars and other communication tools, always providing clients and stakeholders with the latest developments to support their decision-making.'

  • 'Mr. Atsushi Okada consistently educates himself to understand the pain points of clients and stakeholders and always provides recommendations tailored to their needs. He is among the top experts in AI governance in Japan, not only possessing extensive knowledge on the topic but also leading discussions to advance policies. He impacts both his clients and the entire industry by his activities.'

  • ‘In addition to understanding national regulatory trends in next-generation mobility, the team includes members with industry sector experience, which allows them to provide legal support with a business perspective. They have a strong network with key figures, high commitment to their work, and excellent communication skills.’

Key clients

  • Hitachi Ltd.
  • Toshiba Corporation
  • Z Holdings Corporation
  • Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT)
  • SoftBank Group Corp.
  • Safie, Inc.

Work highlights

  • Advised JIC Capital, Ltd. on its acquisition of Shinko Electric Industries Co., Ltd.
  • Advised Japan Industries Partners, Inc. as a fund counsel on its acquisition of Toshiba Corporation
  • Advised Hitachi, Ltd. on the capital restructuring of Hitachi Astemo, Ltd. including issuance of preferred shares of Hitachi Astemo, Ltd. to JIC Capital, Ltd. as a domestic private equity fund, and partial sale of Hitachi's shares in Hitachi Astemo, Lrd. to Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

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.

Koichiro Iida, Hiromi Hayashi, Atsushi Okada

Other key lawyers

Daisuke Tsuta, Norihito Sato