Koichiro Hanamoto

Practice Areas

Antitrust/ Competition, including Multijurisdictional Merger Control; Domestic and International Cartel and Bid-Riggings; Monopolization; Unfair Trade Practices; The Subcontract Act of Japan; The Act against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations of Japan; Competition Litigations; Counselling on Compliance with Competition Law

Koichiro has substantial experience in competition law, including working experience for a major Japanese chemical company and at the Japan Fair Trade Commission. Koichiro provides a broad range of transactional and regulatory advice to a diverse client group. Koichiro is highly skilled in advising on complicated merger control matters, providing support to clients which are the subject of large-scale government investigations, and counseling on compliance with competition law. In particular, Koichiro has significant experience, including where necessary working with TMI’s overseas offices as well as with local counsel, in handling international competition matters that involve multiple jurisdictions, such as obtaining merger clearances in cross-border transactions involving entities operating in multiple countries around the world and coordinating responses to investigations being conducted by multiple governmental authorities.

Career

TMI Associates (Partner, 2017-Present; Associate, 2007-2011, 2014-2016)

Lecturer of Law (International Business Law), Rikkyo University (2024-Present)

Japan Fair Trade Commission (Chief Investigation Officer, 2011-2014); Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. (Legal Staff Member, 1990-2001)

Professional Memberships

Dai-Ni Tokyo Bar Association (2007-Present); New York State Bar Association (1994-Present); Japan Competition Law Forum (Riji, 2023-Present)

Publications

Data Utilization: Business and Legal Affairs (Co-authored, Chuokeizai-Sha, 2024)

Guideposts to the Antimonopoly Act to Promote Business (Co-authored, Dai-Ichi Hoki, 2023)

COMPETITION LAW TREATMENT OF JOINT VENTURES (Co-authored, Concurrences, 2022)

Clients

Japanese Bankers Association; Japan Pharmaceutical Wholesalers Association

Companies in chemical, pesticide, pharmaceutical, auto-parts, industrial machinery, bedding, sporting goods, shipping, wholesale and retail industries

Work Highlights

The acquisition of Toshiba Corporation by Japan Industry Partners, Inc. in 2023; Carve-out of non-woven fabric business by Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. and Asahi Kasei Corporation in 2023.

Advised buyer in connection with multijurisdictional merger filings in an unsolicited buyout matter.

Advised clients in connection with forming joint ventures among competitors.

Advised clients in connection with cartel investigation by the JFTC and other competition authorities and leniency application.

Advised defendants in connection with follow-on bid-rigging litigations for damages.

Provided antitrust compliance training to trade associations.

Education

Awards