Mori Hamada is one of Japan’s “Big 4” law firms. As a full-service law firm with headquarters in Tokyo, the root of the firm can be traced back to 1971 with the establishment of Mori Sogo. In December 2002, Mori Hamada & Matsumoto was established by the merger of Mori Sogo and Hamada & Matsumoto.
The firm now has more than 700 lawyers including 155 foreign lawyers in offices across major cities and regions such as Beijing, Shanghai and Singapore. The firm also offers broad local and international capability in ASEAN countries including Thailand (Chandler MHM), Myanmar (Myanmar Legal MHM), Vietnam (MHM Vietnam), and Indonesia (ATD Law in association with MHM). Apart from its Tokyo office, the firm also has branches in Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka and Takamatsu.
Highlights
The firm is best known for banking and finance, capital markets, M&A, private equity and project development, often assisting domestic and overseas conglomerates, financial institutions and government organisations.
The firm’s banking and finance team was very busy advising clients in major transactions and related regulatory mandates on corporate loans, structured finance, real estate finance, acquisition finance and mezzanine finance. Recent deal highlights including advised Japan Investment Corp (JIC) on its offer to buy out semiconductor packaging maker Shinko Electric Industries from Fujitsu for $4.71 billion.
In the M&A and private equity, the firm was preoccupied in major domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions advising both buy and sell side, including Nippon Life's acquisition of Nichii Holdings for about $1.41 billion.
In the project space, the firm leads on transactions in the energy sector including offshore wind, biomass, photovoltaic, PFI/PPP/infrastructure, and represented several major utilities in domestic and foreign projects assisting sponsors, lenders and other stakeholders. Recent deals include advised the $1 billion project financing for the Kitakyushu- Hibikinada Offshore Wind Farm.
Key clients
Key clients of the firm include The Japanese Bankers Association, Japan Syndication and Loan-trading Association, MUFG Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Mizuho Bank, Mizuho Securities, Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley, Daiwa Securities, SoftBank Group, KKR, Bain Capital, Blackstone, Tokyo Electric Power Company, and TEPCO Renewable Power.
Testimonials
“In-depth knowledge and client-centric approach.” (Banking and finance client)
“To understand our company's situation well and provide solutions that fit our company's needs.” (Debt capital markets client)
“They have a lot of experience of capital markets, especially for traditional Japanese companies.” (Debt capital markets client)
“They understand us as a company very well (the history and its nature).” (Debt capital markets client)
“The range of service they provide is broad. Equity offerings are very often tied to several other events including M&As, corporate/business restructurings, etc involving different types of legal issues. Mori Hamada & Matsumoto is very experienced and also well organised firm capable of giving high level advice on all these matters at one stop.” (Equity capital markets client)
“Equipped with the most updated legal/regulatory framework and practice such as S-1 method. Proactively engaging with the transaction, including quickness and frequency of meaningful advice. Understanding of investment bank's position/behavior, leading to more practical advice.” (Equity capital markets client)
“Price reasonable, enough staffs and good quality advice.” (Equity capital markets client)
“The characteristics of Bond-type Class Shares are that they combine the aspect of bonds that do not dilute voting rights, and the aspect of shares that contribute to the enrichment of equity. This type of shares' listing was the first in Japan and it was a deal that showed new capital-raising options to Japanese issuers. Mori Hamada & Matsumoto provided comprehensive legal advice to us on the issuance of the shares and corporate actions, significantly contributing to the success of this transaction. Unlike regular common stock capital increases, the issuance affected a wide range of areas, including changes to the articles of incorporation, but They guided the issuer successfully, running in parallel from the verification of related laws to the thorough documentation of institutional decisions, ensuring no oversights in the process.” (Equity capital markets client)
“Provided detailed explanations to committee members and presenting countermeasures.” (Equity capital markets client)
“Thier services were not only financial laws also other laws relating to the deals.” (Equity capital markets client)
“Professional, high expertise.” (Equity capital markets client)
“They have a deep team with experienced junior lawyers.” (Equity capital markets client)
“They have a wide range of partners, as well as junior teachers, and that they provide appropriate support as a team.” (Equity capital markets client)
“They have a lot of experience in small LBO loans and our bank can get a clear explanation of the problems from them. They are quick to respond while we are required to consider LBO loans in a short period of time.” (Leveraged finance client)
“They are a very experienced firm, and one of the best firms in Japan.” (M&A client)
“They are knowledgeable about our business and provide accurate, useful and supportive advice.” (M&A client)
“Cost effective and responsive.” (M&A client)
“The MHM team worked extremely hard on this transaction, making themselves fully available to the client and turning things around at short notice when required. In particular, Kenichi Sekiguchi was excellent, providing clear and user-friendly advice in a high-pressure situation.” (M&A client)
“Appropriate advice based on the overall experience of the project. A balanced response to a question for which there is no clear answer.” (M&A client)
“We can form a highly specialized team and provide detailed services.” (M&A client)
“Support for countermeasures to be taken as a listed company in Japan. Timely and appropriate advice for global clients.” (M&A client)
“The firm has expertise on Japanese regulations of energy sector, drafting and negotiating project contracts or project finance agreements related to PV projects.” (M&A client)
“As in the past, they provided us with very prompt and high-quality advice. The attorneys at MHM understand our company's situation and provide flexible and reasonable advice, which has been very helpful.” (M&A client)
“Their response was very quick and was to the point with plain explanation for us.” (Private equity client)
“He is highly specialized, has a wealth of knowledge and experience, and is more professional than any other law firm I have ever worked with.” (Private equity client)
Akira Matsushita
“He gave us very professional advice in a timely manner.”
“They were knowledgeable about the law and quickly responded to our needs.”
Katsumasa Suzuki
“Deep knowledge on capital markets.”
“His consulting stances are always for customers.”
“He likes innovative transactions and tries to be flexible to tackle new areas."
Katsuyuki Tainaka
“Very reliable, very understanding of our company's situation and always respond in a timely and shrewd manner. He always gives us careful and appropriate advice on matters that are difficult to resolve.”
“He is very capable of managing a variety of transactions particularly as a legal adviser to the issuer, who constantly gives high quality legal advice to the issuer and gains high credit for his dedicated performance.”
“He is very experienced at ESG related securities issuance.”
“He understands our business not only from historical point of view but also our nature and give us clear answer and provide us with better solution.”
Kenichi Sekiguchi
“Kenichi Sekiguchi is extremely impressive. He has an excellent legal brain and can communicate complicated legal issues clearly and concisely in English.”
Kohei Morita
“Risk sensitivity that also takes into account business perspectives.”
Koji Toshima
“Response time is fast. Advice is accurate, analytical and comprehensive.”
Masahito Saeki
“Familiarity with the renewable energy industry.”
Takafumi Goto
“He can understand what his clients truly desire, concretizes it, and propose towards its realization. Also, He is capable of explaining complex legal interpretations in easy-to-understand manner to his clients.”
“Although he was involved as the issuer's lawyer, he acted as a lubricant between the client and the underwriters, which made the case run extremely smoothly.”
Takahiro Kobayashi
“Swiftly build a project team, appropriately balance the work allocation among the team.”
“He has strengths in finance and renewable energy. Above all, he understands the client's business and provides support. We were greatly helped by him during a renewable energy project finance deal. He also provided substantial support during the previously mentioned M&A of SB Energy.”
Toshimitsu Nemoto
“Continuously provide the latest update in terms of finance together with backed experience.”
Yohsuke Higashi
“In-depth knowledge.”
Yoshihito Kuramochi
“He is a specialist in the field of finance, focusing on LBO finance, real estate finance and project finance.”
Yoshiiro Kojima
“I believe he is one of the best experienced M&A lawyers in Japan.”
Yuki Matsuda
“He knows a lot about LBO loans.”
