弁護士等紹介

LAWYERS

KARASAWA Akira

KARASAWA Akira

Title
Partner
Languages
Japanese (native)/English
Telephone Number
+81-3-3214-6238
E-mail address
akarasawa@iwatagodo.com

Career Summary

June 1987
Born in Yokohama, Japan
March 2006
Graduated from Eiko Gakuen Senior High School
March 2010
Received his LL.B. from the University of Tokyo
March 2012
Received his J.D. from the University of Tokyo School of Law
December 2013
Received his Diploma from the Legal Training and Research Institute of the Supreme Court of Japan (66th)
December 2013
Registered as a Japanese attorney and Joined Iwata Godo
June 2020
Received his LL.M. from the University of Chicago Law School
April 2021
Admitted to the New York State Bar Association

Engaged Cases

Akira Karasawa is a partner at Iwata Godo, focusing primarily on mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance and antitrust law matters. Since joining the firm in 2013, he has provided domestic and international clients with a broad range of corporate services, with particular emphasis in the areas of mergers and acquisitions. He represents both operating companies and venture capital on various types of corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, alliance deals, joint ventures and licensing transactions. He also provides strategic advice for boards of directors with respect to proxy contests, takeover defense strategies, management buyout and D&O insurance.
In addition to his corporate practice, Karasawa handles antitrust/competition matters, including investigations and merger control issues with the Japan Fair Trade Commission and various foreign governmental authorities, including the DOJ and the FTC in the US and the European Commission.

Karasawa advises clients engaged in a diverse spectrum of business sectors, including banking and financial services, technology, energy (electric power, gas, nuclear and renewable energies), automobiles, pharmaceuticals and precious metals. He frequently consults closely with local attorneys in North and South America, Europe and East Asia.

Karasawa received his LL.B. from the University of Tokyo in 2010 and his J.D., magna cum laude from the University of Tokyo School of Law in 2012. He received his LL.M. from the University of Chicago Law School in 2020. He is admitted to practice in Japan and New York State.

Professional Memberships

Dai-Ichi Tokyo Bar Association

List of Main Publications

・“The Latest Shareholder Meeting Stories” (co-author, Shoji Homu, 2022)
・“6,000 Lectures on Legal Issues for Financial Institutions” (co-author, Kinzai Institute For Financial Affairs, 2022)
・“Regarding ITC Investigations under Section 337 of the U.S. Tariff Act - As an Alternative to Lawsuit for Protection of Intellectual Property Rights -”(co-author, NBL Vol.1123, 2018)
・“5,000 Lectures on Legal Issues for Financial Institutions” (co-author, Kinzai Institute For Financial Affairs, 2018)
・“New Story of Shareholders' Meeting” (co-author, Shoji Houmu, 2017)
・“Useful for Practical Business– Legal Mind Required for Tax Affairs” (co-author, Nihon Kajo Publishing Co., Ltd.2016)

Pro Bono Activities

2017 – 2019 Statutory Auditor, Japan Hockey Association
2021 – Antitrust Law Research Committee of Dai-Ichi Tokyo Bar Association

Publications

Lectures, Seminars and Conferences

News

  • 2023.05

    19 lawyers of our firm were recognized in The Best Lawyers in Japan 2024.

    Best Lawyers
    ■ Antitrust / Competition Law
    TOJI Yoshihiro

    ■ Arbitration and Mediation
    UEDA Atsushi

    ■ Banking and Finance Law
    TOJI Yoshihiro
    SAKAMOTO Tomoko
    MATSUDA Takao

    ■ Corporate and Mergers and Acquisitions Law
    MOTOMURA Takeshi

    ■ Insolvency and Reorganization Law
    TAGO Shinya
    URANAKA Hirotaka

    ■ Labor and Employment Law
    TAGO Shinya

    ■ Litigation
    TOJI Yoshihiro
    WAKABAYASHI Shigeo
    MOTOMURA Takeshi
    YOSHIHARA Tomomichi
    URANAKA Hirotaka

    ■ Product Liability Litigation
    TOJI Yoshihiro


    Best Lawyers - "Ones to Watch"
    ■ Antitrust / Competition Law
    ISHIKAWA Teppei

    ■ Arbitration and Mediation
    SAITO Hiroki

    ■ Corporate and Mergers and Acquisitions Law
    KARASAWA Akira
    IKEDA Minako
    YAMADA Kohei
    SUZUKI Tomohiro
    FUKUCHI Takumi

    ■ Information Technology Law
    SAITO Hiroki

    ■ Intellectual Property Law (Non-Patent)
    ISHIKAWA Hiroaki

    ■ Labor and Employment Law
    KITAGAWA Hiroki

    ■ Privacy and Data Security Law
    HORITA Koji

  • 2022.01

    Karashima Satoshi, Tanaka Takashi, Ito Nanako, Maruyama Shinji and Karasawa Akira were appointed Partners.

  • 2020.11

    Karasawa Akira resumed his work at Iwata Godo upon completion of his study in the U.S.

  • 2019.07

    Karasawa Akira has been abroad to study at the University of Chicago Law School from July.

  • 2013.12

    We welcomed a new attorney, Karasawa Akira.