Capital Markets: International: US Law | Global

Clifford Chance has a market-leading team with in-depth expertise in Regulation S and 144A Rule debt issuance, including samurai, convertible and green bond products. The firm is also well known for its work on establishing MTN programmes. It is adept at 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.

Davis Polk & Wardwell has an exceptional reputation based on a strong track record of advising on high-profile debt and equity offerings. The firm is known for advising Japanese clients on the US law aspects of various products, including MTN programmes, IPOs and secondary share offerings. It is proficient in Regulation S, Rule 144A and SEC-registered deals. A diverse client base consists of mega banks as well as leading trading houses and local government entities. The team also acts for multinational conglomerate holding companies on their global offerings.

Linklaters maintains a highly experienced and well-known bench entrusted by clients with bond offerings and MTN drawdowns. The firm has a high profile for its expertise in handling hybrid products, such as stock and convertible bond offerings, as well as pure equity placements, including Regulation S and Rule 144A offerings. It is also adept at advising on a range of structured products-related matters, such as repackagings of loans, bonds and notes, and securitised margin loans. The team is frequently called upon by an impressive roster of leading financial institutions as well as regulatory bodies and associations, such as the FSA and ISDA.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett has an exceptional team with an illustrious reputation for handling US-focused equity and debt transactions, including senior bond offerings and IPOs. The firm regularly acts for Japanese businesses on overseas offerings and is a frequent adviser to underwriters, including some of the largest Japanese banks. The team possesses a strong bench of multilingual lawyers with significant experience in the market.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom has a respected team sought after for its experience advising on equity and debt offerings by Japanese corporations, financial institutions and sovereign entities. The firm has a notable market share of recent global IPOs of Japanese origin and is also extremely capable on REIT offerings. Clients benefit from the firm's knowledge and experience of both public and private cross-border M&A transactions.

Sullivan & Cromwell is a respected firm with extensive expertise in both SEC-registered and Rule 144A transactions. The team has a strong market position on equity offerings, including IPOs and secondary stock offerings, and also excels in acting for REITs on global offerings. The firm additionally handles a range of other deal types, including debt offerings, block trades and privatisations. Sullivan & Cromwell draws on longstanding presence in the Tokyo market and strong relationships with key issuers and underwriters.

A&O Shearman is valued for its knowledge of US securities regulations. The firm is skilled in assisting with SEC registration and deregistration, as well as filings related to business combinations, and is especially well known for its work on compliance and disclosure matters, including F-4 filings and investor relations issues. The team also advises issuers and selling shareholders on debt and equity offerings, with experience advising Japanese businesses on listing in the USA.

Morrison Foerster is well known for advising a range of businesses and financial institutions, including issuers, sponsors and initial purchasers. The firm is sought out for its experience in traditional ECM and DCM matters, and its key areas of focus also include acting on transactions involving government entities. It offers cross-border expertise by working in close conjunction with offices in its global network. The firm is increasingly active in restructurings through tender offerings as well as SEC-registered debt offerings.