The Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Australia Japan Practice is a unique team of experienced bilingual and bicultural lawyers. We have deep experience in advising Japanese businesses on their investments and operations in Australia.
Global Network
Our offices in Japan and Australia, supported by a global network of offices, means you will always be advised by the best and most experienced team.
- In Australia – We are the largest law firm and consistently ranked No.1 in M&A (both in number of deals advised and value of deals) and as the market leader in banking & finance, dispute resolution, employment, infrastructure, construction, real estate, restructuring & insolvency, intellectual property, information technology and competition law. We have been awarded Australian Deal Team of the Year in 2021 and 2022 by the Australasian Law Awards.
- In Japan – Our Tokyo office opened in 2000 and is one of the leading law firms in Japan. We are recognised as having one of the largest and most experienced teams of registered foreign lawyers in Tokyo. Our corporate/M&A, dispute resolution, projects and energy, construction and TMT practices in Japan are consistently ranked on top by legal directories.
Japan market leader
We have more experience advising Japanese businesses on Australian investments than any other law firm. Our clients benefit from our strategic advice and ability to identify potential deal issues early in an investment. This means we are also well positioned to advise Japanese companies on any Australian disputes or investigations that may arise.
We understand Japan
Most of our team have worked at leading Japanese companies, giving us a distinctive insight into the internal processes of Japanese businesses. We have a deep understanding of Japan’s economy, and the commercial drivers and risk tolerance of Japanese businesses.
Advice to fit your specific needs
We advise Japanese clients from all sectors, from major trading houses to companies considering investing in Australia for the first time. We are also increasingly working with Australian businesses on Japan-related transactions.
Experience
Obayashi Corporation
Obayashi Corporation on the US$650 million acquisition of Multiplex Global Limited from Brookfield
Sumitomo Metal Mining
Sumitomo Metal Mining on its A$430m acquisition of a 30% stake in Rio Tinto’s Winu Project
Nippon Sanso Holdings
Nippon Sanso Holdings on its A$770 million acquisition of the Coregas Group, Wesfarmers Group’s industrial gas business in Australia & New Zealand
Toyota
Toyota in class action proceedings involving Takata airbags
HORIBA Group
HORIBA Group on establishing its first Australian subsidiary (HORIBA Australia Pty Ltd) and the acquisition of Australian Scientific Pty Limited
JR West & Sotetsu
JR West Real Estate Development & Sotetsu Real Estate Co., Ltd on their strategic capital partnership with Investa to deliver a A$230 million Studio Living project in Sydney, Australia
Kansai Electric
The Kansai Electric Power Company on its memorandum of understanding with Woodside Energy Group and Japan Suiso Energy to develop a liquid hydrogen supply chain between Australia and Japan
JERA
JERA on the acquisition of 15.1% interest of the Scarborough gas field development project from Woodside
A leading Japanese trading house
A leading Japanese trading house in an arbitration relating to a delay in closing two SPAs worth a combined total of overUS$1 billion
A major Japanese company
A major Japanese company in an investigation arising out of corrupt and anti-competitive practices at an overseas subsidiary, including representing the client in discussions with the US DoJ and the SEC[
Senko Group Holdings
Senko Group Holdings on the acquisition of a majority shareholding in the AirRoad Group
UCC Holdings
UCC Holdings on its acquisition of Suntory Coffee Australia
TAL Dai-Ichi Life Australia
TAL Dai-Ichi Life Australia on its A$900m acquisition of the Westpac Life Insurance business
Nikko Asset Management
Nikko Asset Management on its merger with Yarra Capital Management
Mitsui
Mitsui’s acquisition with Nomura Holdings of a majority shareholding in New Forests
Osaka Gas
Osaka Gas on its acquisition of a minority interest in Australian Integrated Carbon Pty Ltd
Nippon Paper
Nippon Paper on its A$1.7 billion acquisition of the fibre packing business of ASX-listed Orora
Asahi Kasei Homes Australia
Asahi Kasei Homes Australia on their acquisition, together with McDonald Jones Homes, of the Supaloc steel framing business
Fujitsu General
Fujitsu General on its acquisition of Precise Air Group AVAC
MM Capital Partners
MM Capital Partners (owned 90% by Marubeni Corporation, 5% by Mizuho Bank and 5% Asset Management One) on its acquisition of seed assets including: - 49.9% of the shares in Energy Infrastructure Investments; - 20% interest in the Sydney Metro Northwest Rail Project; and - 30% interest in the Gold Coast Light Rail Project.
Toll Group
Toll Group on its A$8 billion scheme of arrangement with Japan Post
Commonwealth Bank of Australia
Commonwealth Bank of Australia on its A$4.13 billion sale of Colonial First State Global Asset Management to Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation
Kokusai Pulp & Paper
Kokusai Pulp & Paper on its A$90 million scheme of arrangement with ASX-listed Spicers
Mitsui
Mitsui on its A$602 million takeover of ASX-listed AWE Limited
Sumitomo Corporation
Sumitomo Corporation on its US$30 million farm-in and joint venture agreement with TSX-listed Novo Resources to develop the Egina gold mining project in Western Australia
ITOCHU
ITOCHU on its A$250 million sale of a 5% indirect interest in the Worsley Alumina Project to Press Metal Aluminium Holdings
Toyota Tsusho
Toyota Tsusho on its A$292 million acquisition of a 15% shareholding in ASX-listed Orocobre
Challenger
Challenger on its A$401 million share placement to MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings
Japan Coal Development
Japan Coal Development on its acquisition of a 5% interest in the Mt Pleasant Coal Project
JBIC
JBIC and project financiers on INPEX’s A$33 billion Ichthys LNG project
Marubeni and Osaka Gas
Marubeni and Osaka Gas on their joint acquisition of an 80% interest and project financing of APA Group power and midstream gas assets
People
Our experienced and integrated cross-border practice delivers high quality cost-efficient advice. Our partners and senior lawyers have extensive experience advising Japanese businesses, and are supported by an energetic group of talented young lawyers.
Click here for an overview of our full Australia-Japan Practice team (English)
Click here for an overview of our full Australia-Japan Practice team (Japanese)
News
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer advises Sumitomo Corporation on US$1 billion subsea cable joint venture
Leading global law firm Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer has advised Sumitomo Corporation on a new joint venture with NTT DATA Group Corporation and JA …
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer advises Japanese real estate investors on strategic capital partnership with Investa for A$230 million Sydney CBD development
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer has advised Japanese real estate investors JR West Real Estate Development Co., Ltd. and Sotetsu Real Estate Co., Ltd …
Key contacts
Damien Roberts
Partner, Sydney
Melissa Swain-Tonkin
Partner, Brisbane
Ian Williams
Senior Adviser, Brisbane
James Allsop
Partner, Melbourne