Chuo Sogo LPC

Managing Partner: Masahiro Nakatsukasa

Number of partners: 28

Number of lawyers: 70

Languages: English, Japanese, Polish

Chuo Sogo LPC (ex-Chuo Sogo Law Office, P.C.) is a Japanese general practice law firm founded in 1968 by then solo practitioner Mr. Tsugujiro Nakatsukasa. It has offices in Osaka, where it was founded, as well as in Tokyo and Kyoto. With around 70 lawyers, Chuo Sogo delivers a comprehensive range of litigation and corporate services to both international and domestic clients, leveraging integrated expertise and many years of experience in an efficient and tailored manner. The firm's lawyers are leaders in their respective fields of practice, frequently lecturing in professional seminars, and publishing numerous books and articles on complex and leading-edge legal issues.

For more information, please visit our website or read our brochure.

Our practice areas are:

• Commercial
• Finance
• Compliance/Risk Management/Organised Crime Countermeasures
• M&A/Corporate Reorganisations
• Insurance & Reinsurance
• Transportation & Aviation
• Intellectual Property
• Securitisation Matters
• Bankruptcy/Business Rehabilitation
• Real Estate
• International Business Transactions
• Tax
• Administrative
• Labour
• Civil/Family
• Litigation & Dispute Resolution
• Criminal

Financial Services Agency (FSA) Experience:

Beginning 2005 and continuing on a yearly basis, Chuo Sogo has been loaning its attorneys to work at the FSA. This unique experience has given the firm insights into and better understanding of the workings of this complex governmental agency.

Chuo Sogo’s practice is well-balanced between domestic and international clients. About half of what it does is working for foreign entities and individuals or working on foreign-related transactions. By way of example, it regularly facilitates entry to Japan for multiple businesses, establishing their presence in Japan, obtaining regulatory authorisations and servicing their ongoing operations. As an active member of the major global networks of legal professionals such as Globalaw and TAGLaw, it is engaged on matters involving other member firms’ clients virtually on a daily basis.

Corporate/M&A:

M&A and corporate reorganisations, technology and telecommunications, real estate, insolvency and bankruptcy, debt collection, competition and antitrust, corporate governance.

Key Contacts: Masahiro Nakatsukasa, Koji Kanazawa, Yasuhiro Fujii, Akihisa Yamada, Chiyu Abo

Banking & Finance:

Commercial banking, credit cards, loans and mortgages, mobile payments, private equity, regulatory (including matters involving the Financial Services Agency).

Key Clients: Major large banking and financial institutions in Japan.

Key Contacts: Masahiro Nakatsukasa, Masao Kuniyoshi, Koji Kanazawa, Katsuya Hongyo

Insurance:

Advising in relation to regulatory issues and non-marine coverage, and disputes involving (re) insurers and insurance brokers and agencies. Having experience working for the Insurance Business Division of the Financial Services Agency.

Key Clients: Leading non-life and life insurance companies, brokers and agencies.

Key Contacts: Hironori Nishikino, Koji Kanazawa

Transportation & Aviation:

Advising in relation to various carriage contracts, international/domestic passenger and cargo claims and subrogation for airlines and their (re)insurers; also advising on issues related to aircraft purchases and leasing transactions.

Key Clients: Leading transportation companies and airlines.

Key Contacts: Hironori Nishikino, Koji Kanazawa, Chiyu Abo

Labour & Employment:

Counselling both the management and employees concerning employment terminations, lay-offs, redundancy and related matters; employment litigation.

Key Contacts: Masahiro Nakatsukasa

Intellectual Property:

Patents and other IP litigation, licensing, trademarks and copyrights, Internet and E-commerce.

Key Contacts: Naoko Nakatsukasa

Dispute Resolution & Litigation:

Complex business litigation and arbitration, domestic and international litigation, white-collar criminal defence.

Key Contacts: Masahiro Nakatsukasa , Koji Kanazawa , Yasuhiro Fujii , Akihisa Yamada

International Trade & Commerce:

International commercial transactions; cross-border litigation and dispute resolution; assisting foreign businesses with entry to the Japanese market and servicing their ongoing operations.

Key Contacts: Koji Kanazawa , Adam Newhouse , Yusaku Akasaki

Osaka (Head Office)

Osaka Dojimahama Tower 15^th Floor, 1-1-27 Dojimahama, Kita-ku, Osaka, 530-0004 Japan

Tel.: +81-6-6676-8834

Fax: +81-6-6676-8839

Tokyo

Hibiya Kokusai Building 18F, 2-2-3 Uchisaiwai-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan, 100-0011

Tel: +81-3-3539-1877

Fax: +81-3-3539-1878

Kyoto

Kyoto Mitsui Building 3F, 8 Naginataboko-cho Karasuma-Higashi-iru, Shijo-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-city, Kyoto 600-8008, Japan

Tel: +81-75-257-7411

Fax: +81-75-257-7433