Asia
Tokyo
The firm established the Tokyo office in 2010 to provide full-service Japanese legal services, in addition to cross-border transactional advice, to our domestic and multinational clients.
Lawyers and patent lawyers in our Tokyo office are well versed in advising on domestic and international deals, disputes, and complex regulatory matters. They have trained and qualified in a variety of jurisdictions in addition to Japan, including the United States, England, and Germany. They are also fluent in English and Japanese, as all Tokyo-based lawyers are either Japanese nationals or long-standing local residents. Working closely with lawyers in Asia and through our firm’s integrated global network, lawyers in our Tokyo office seamlessly advise domestic and multinational companies on:
- Cross-border deals, foreign direct investment in Japan and overseas, aircraft and shipping finance and other international finance matters, cross-border mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures, real estate acquisitions, and finance, as well as on Japanese regulatory matters, including financial services (Japan’s Financial Instruments and Exchange Law), renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, and health care.
- Complex disputes being litigated in Japanese courts, including complex commercial and employment disputes, and domestic and international arbitration and mediation.
- Japanese and international intellectual property (patent and trademark) prosecution matters.
We have comprehensive industry experience, having worked with clients operating across the energy, trading, technology, and transportation sectors. We also regularly instruct export credit agencies, multilateral banks, commercial banks, international private equity firms, securities companies, and other financial institutions. Our strengths include aircraft and equipment leasing, equipment finance, project finance, oil and gas upstream projects, sovereign lending, licensing and distribution arrangements, real estate finance, and high-tech ventures.
Capabilities:
- Banking and Asset Finance
- Corporate
- Finance
- Financial Services
- Health Care
- Intellectual Property (including Japanese patents and trademarks)
- Labor, Employment, and Workplace Safety
- Litigation and Dispute Resolution (domestic and international arbitration and mediation)
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Policy and Regulatory
- Project Finance
- Real Estate
- Restructuring and Insolvency
Chambers
Ranked by Chambers Global for Banking & Finance: International in Japan, 2024
Ranked by Chambers Asia-Pacific for Banking & Finance: International in Japan, 2024
Legal 500
Ranked by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific for Banking and finance: International firms and joint ventures in Japan, 2024
Ranked by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific for Labour and employment: International firms and joint ventures in Japan, 2024
Other Recognitions
Nine lawyers from the Tokyo office were listed among The Best Lawyers in Japan™ and three lawyers were listed among Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Japan™, 2025
Ranked by Asian Legal Business, ALB Southeast Asia Law Awards: M&A Deal of the Year Winner – VTAC’s Business Combination with 17Live Inc., 2024
- The deal team included lawyers located in our Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, Taipei, Tokyo, and Pittsburgh offices
The Benchmark Litigation Guide ranked the firm among leaders in Japan in the disputes area of commercial and transactions in the international firms category, 2023
Ranked by ILFR 1000 Asia-Pacific Guide in Japan for Banking in the foreign firm category, 2023
K&L Gates is our first choice for any complex and sophisticated aviation legal finance matter.
The team displays quick and attentive action, deep knowledge and expertise in aircraft leasing and financing.
K&L Gates is one of the strongest aviation legal firms in Asia but with particular experience, know-how and strength in depth in the Japan market.
K&L Gates is the best partner for us because they can give useful and appropriate support for our issues. We haven’t found any other firm which can provide such a great contribution to us.