Capital Markets: International: Securitisation & Derivatives
Asia-Pacific Guide 2025 : Japan
Band 1
Contact number
+81 3 5561 6600Chambers Review
Clifford Chance has a market-leading team with in-depth expertise in Regulation S debt issuance, including samurai, convertible and green bond products. The firm is also well known for its work on establishing MTN programmes. It is capable in placing equity, with experience in IPOs and secondary offerings, as well as hybrid products. The team has particularly specialist knowledge of underwriter representation as counsel to major Japanese and international investment banks. The firm is also highly skilled at advising on derivatives transactions involving repackagings and structured note programmes linked to equity, currency and credit.
Work Highlights
- Clifford Chance advised on BNP Paribas's arranging of a fixed annuity insurance hedging transaction with Dai-ichi Frontier Life Insurance. The deal involved Bermudian reinsurance companies with BNP Paribas as arranger and hedge and index provider and DFL offering fixed annuity insurance products denominated in US dollars, Australian dollars and Japanese yen to Japanese policyholders.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"They are familiar with past cases and the history of changes in laws and regulations, and we receive reasonable and appropriate advice even when it comes to difficult consultations."
"Clifford Chance are very experienced at the top level, with good support from junior members, and the quality of service is unquestionable."
"They are familiar with past cases and the history of changes in laws and regulations, and we receive reasonable and appropriate advice even when it comes to difficult consultations."
"Clifford Chance are very experienced at the top level, with good support from junior members, and the quality of service is unquestionable."
Notable Practitioners
Leng-Fong Lai is an international derivatives expert who assists prominent global banks with development products such as swaps, repackaging and structured note programmes. He is admitted in the UK and Singapore, and is a foreign registered lawyer in Japan.
"Leng-Fong is a fantastic lawyer with excellent experience in his field, great commercial awareness and judgement."
Reiko Sakimura is widely regarded as a high-calibre capital markets adviser with a well-rounded practice covering both debt and equity work.
"Reiko Sakimura has a thorough grasp of the intricacies of the cases."
"She is a well-known lawyer in our industry who is knowledgeable and reliable, and her approach to work is also wonderful."
Hajime Saito represents clients in the structured finance space and regularly assists with banking transactions and financial regulatory advice.