Crisis Management: Domestic
Asia-Pacific Guide 2024 : Japan
Spotlight
About
Provided by Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
One of our legacy firms, Mori Sogo, was established as a domestic dispute resolution firm, with our dispute resolution team rapidly expanding after integration with Hamada & Matsumoto into international practice, including international litigation and arbitration, together with the expansion of overseas investments made by our clients. Our firm has established a strong presence in East Asia and the ASEAN region through our offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore, Bangkok, Yangon, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Jakarta. In 2017, the leading law firm in Thailand, Chandler & Thong-ek Law Offices Limited, integrated its operations with our Bangkok office under the name Chandler MHM Limited.
As a full-service firm, our dispute resolution practitioners benefit from complementary experience in related areas such as corporate, finance, anti-trust, tax, bankruptcy, employment and other areas of expertise essential to being successful in a wide range of commercial dispute representation matters. We have built on that practice and established our position as a leading international dispute resolution firm for both Japanese clients overseas and non-Japanese clients in Japan.
Chambers Review
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto is recognised as a litigation powerhouse with an experienced bench of practitioners skilled in handling the full range of domestic and cross-border disputes. The firm is active in providing advice in the general commercial area and on product liability, employment and bankruptcy disputes. The team is frequently instructed by major domestic corporations from various industries, such as technology, financial services and construction and also assists international clients with their dispute resolution mandates in the Asia region. The firm is also recognised as a vital resource for both Japanese and foreign clients requiring crisis management services. Its key clients include Japan Post, Daio Paper and Toshiba.
Work Highlights
- Mori Hamada & Matsumoto advised Japan Display on an accounting fraud investigation, including the administrative inspection by the Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission of Japan and the disciplinary action by Japan Exchange Regulation, as well as advising on liability assessments of ex-directors and officers.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"The Mori Hamada & Matsumoto team is highly sophisticated, incisive and gets to the issue quickly. The team is always responsive, regardless of the hour, and over the weekend."
"When it comes to cross-border issues, their experts are able to navigate overseas legal systems accurately. They are also backed with their international network, so make sure there are always multiple ways to understand the context precisely."
"The Mori Hamada & Matsumoto team is highly sophisticated, incisive and gets to the issue quickly. The team is always responsive, regardless of the hour, and over the weekend."
"When it comes to cross-border issues, their experts are able to navigate overseas legal systems accurately. They are also backed with their international network, so make sure there are always multiple ways to understand the context precisely."
Notable Practitioners
Mugi Sekido is renowned for his litigation and arbitration skills on a range of product liability, financial services and corporate disputes.
"Mugi clearly understands the commercial demand and is very responsive. Commercial clients want a cost-efficient sensei and he did a very good job. He explains things in very clear instructions and is very helpful."
"Sekido-sensei uses his experience to resolve things and cover the demands of all parties in a cost-efficient way."
"He is responsive, commercial and practical and a real expert in his field. He is very highly regarded for arbitration and litigation in the Japanese courts."
"He's a very competent lawyer who is not only capable in handling domestic issues, but also international arbitration."
Koichiro Iida provides skilful handling of commercial and civil litigation mandates, and is noted for his work handling disputes in the TMT sector.
Daniel Allen is experienced representing domestic and foreign clients in commercial arbitration proceedings brought under ICC and JCAA rules. He has particular expertise in cases involving international investment treaties and joint venture agreements.
Hideaki Umetsu co-heads the firm's crisis management practice group focusing on cross-border crisis and risk management and investigation matters.
"He is a top-notch lawyer with excellent awareness going beyond the legal."
"In a complex situation where it was difficult to find a solution he persistently negotiated and advised us, to secure our interests."
"He has abundant experience in international cases and can provide advice to our foreign management colleagues with a global point of view. He is very easy to communicate with."
"He is very friendly and has easy-to-understand explanations and good communication skills. Competent advice is given based on the user's business and risks."
Hiroshi Yamauchi is a well-regarded practitioner with extensive experience in the areas of crisis management and dispute resolutions. He is co-head of the firm's crisis management team.
"I'm happy to work with him; he has very sophisticated knowledge regarding digital forensics in the internal investigation field."
"He is very strong in domestic matters, including handling complicated internal politics."
"His business acumen and responsiveness are the biggest strong points."
"Hiroshi Yamauchi has a good understanding of the environment, position and corporate culture of the company. He responds quickly to any case, even on holidays, and is close to the feelings of clients who are in distress, giving them peace of mind."
"His legal knowledge, experience, speed, attitude to understand business, communication with clients, are all at a very high level, and he can be trusted not only as a lawyer but also as a person."
Yasuhiko Fujitsu regularly advises on crisis management as a co-lead in the firm's crisis management team, with a strong emphasis on capital market-related matters such as accounting irregularities and financial inspections.
"Yasuhiko is experienced in the field of crisis management and able to provide accurate advice tailored to the situation."
"He powerfully leads his team and is always aware of the importance of client satisfaction."
"He's a very strong disputes lawyer, specifically for crisis management."
Ranked Lawyers at
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Japan
Members
Provided by Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Chia Chi Chong
Colin Trehearne
Dai Katagiri
Kana Manabe
Kunihiro Watanabe
Lexi Takamatsu
Ryo Kawabata
Seri Takahashi
Shiho Ono
Shinichiro Yokota
Tomoaki Kutami
Yoshinori Tatsuno
Yuta Kawashima