Norton Rose Fulbright expands capabilities in Japan

Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright has expanded its capabilities in Japan with the hire of a new Japanese-law qualified banking, finance and restructuring partner, Akihiko (Aki) Takamatsu. 

Norton Rose Fulbright will now operate as a Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo, or foreign law joint enterprise, in the country and be able to offer Japanese law advice for the first time.

Aki has more than 15 years of banking, finance and restructuring experience with a specialist focus on the aviation and wider transport sectors. He advises a wide range of clients, including banks, financial institutions, export credit agencies, lessors, trading houses, airlines and investors on aviation finance and leasing. He has extensive experience of various sorts of aviation businesses related to Japan, including operating leases to Japanese airlines, Japanese operating leases (JOL) and Japanese operating leases with call options (JOLCO) financings as well as any insolvencies and restructurings of airlines.

Aki is recognised as a leading individual for banking and finance as well as projects and energy in top tier legal directories including Chambers and Legal 500.

George Gibson, partner and head of Tokyo at Norton Rose Fulbright, commented: “We are celebrating two major milestones this year as we form a Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo in our 15^th year in Japan. With the addition of Aki and as a foreign law joint enterprise, we are now able to provide seamless local and foreign law support to our diverse client base, including Japanese banks and financial institutions, government agencies, trading houses, utilities and other energy companies amongst many others.”

Aki commented: “I am excited to join the Tokyo office of Norton Rose Fulbright, one of the world’s preeminent law firms. I look forward to working with the team to expand and enhance our offering to clients in Japan and around the world.”