SHIOMIZAKA

Contact Partner: Masanori Tsujikawa
Number of partners: 17
Number of lawyers: 5
Languages: English, Japanese

Firm Overview:
Shiomizaka was established on April 1, 2007 by eight lawyers who left one of Japan’s ‘big-four’ firms to form a new cuttingedge law firm. The firm changed its name from STW & Partners to Shiomizaka in May 2019. By welcoming new partners and associates, the firm is now able to provide even higher levels of legal service that is tailored to each individual matter. Each lawyer at Shiomizaka strives to fully understand the overall picture of each case, combine his or her expertise and experience through consultation with other lawyers, analyse and verify litigation strategies, with an aim to achieving the best possible outcomes for clients.

Main Areas of Practice:
As a midsize firm, Shiomizaka does not have any particular practice group but sets up a team comprising of lawyers with specialised knowledge and experience, which makes it a very unique international firm in Japan. The firm provides innovative legal representation to clients in a broad range of practice areas.

Litigation/Dispute Resolution:
All lawyers at Shiomizaka have vast experience in dealing with dispute resolution matters in both domestic and international aspects including matters with relation to the Companies Act (e.g. shareholder derivative action), intellectual property rights (e.g. patent infringement litigation), antitrust (e.g. conspiracy and cartels), intercompany transactions, real estate (e.g. warranties against defects and rent increase/decrease), insolvency (e.g. requests for avoidance), labour, tax and corporate crime.

Corporate/M&A:
Shiomizaka has wide-ranging experience in advising on various corporate matters including management decision, corporate governing structures, officers’ remuneration, stock options, internal governance system, capital policies (e.g. capital increase/decrease and treasury stock), information disclosure, insider trading, and shareholders agreements. The firm also handles various aspects of corporate disputes on behalf of companies in many industries, including actions seeking directors’ liability, disputes involving controlling rights, and M&A disputes. Shiomizaka represents a variety of clients involved in mergers and acquisitions. Regardless of the transaction structures (e.g. restructuring, business transfer, capital increase through third party allotment, acquisition of own shares, share purchase, tender offer, or management buyout), whether the companies involved are listed, or the volume of the transaction, the firm advises on the full range of M&A transactions from friendly acquisitions to hostile takeovers and transactions brought about by insolvency.

Intellectual Property/IT:
Shiomizaka has significant experience in handling infringement litigation, trials, and actions for trial decision revocations, and other disputes concerning intellectual property rights such as patents, trademarks, copyrights and unfair competition both in and outside of Japan. The firm’s practice in this area involves negotiating and reviewing license agreements on behalf of its clients across the world. The firm has actively handled various IT-related legal issues and disputes.

Restructuring/Insolvency:
Shiomizaka has significant experience acting on behalf of debtors, creditors, sponsors and other stakeholders in legal insolvency proceedings, including civil rehabilitation, corporate reorganisation, bankruptcy, special liquidation and voluntary liquidation. Various types of business entities, including listed companies and SMEs, rely on the high level of restructuring and insolvency expertise at the firm. The firm provides comprehensive legal advice to clients facing restructuring or insolvency issues in a timely manner, working closely with lawyers who have detailed knowledge of litigation, M&As, corporate matters, finance, intellectual property, real estate, and labour practice.

Antitrust/Competition:
Shiomizaka handles criminal and administrative procedures and civil cases involving violations of antitrust laws, including actions for compensation for damage and shareholder derivative actions. The firm has close relationships with law firms around the world, which enables the firm to provide the best possible solutions in negotiations with foreign executive agencies, class actions and other civil actions. The firm has assisted a number of clients with antitrust aspects in their commercial transactions and the establishment of compliance structures based on its extensive experience in cases in Japan and other jurisdictions. The firm aims to appropriately resolve cross-border disputes by strengthening relationships with firms in the US and EU and coordinating with Asian firms.