KARASAWA Akira
- Title
- Partner
- Bar Association
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Dai-Ichi Tokyo Bar Association
- Languages
- Japanese (native)/English
- Telephone Number
- +81-3-3214-6238
- E-mail address
- akarasawa@iwatagodo.com
Practice Areas
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 private equity funds 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.
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
Awards
The Best Lawyers in Japan 2025
The Best Lawyers in Japan 2024
The Best Lawyers in Japan 2023
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
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202303
The lawyers of our firm co-authored "Guide to New Commercial Case Law No. 766" in Shoji Homu No. 2322
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202302
The lawyers of our firm co-author "Guide to New Commercial Case Law No. 765" in Shoji Homu
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202301
The lawyers of our firm co-author "Guide to New Commercial Case Law No. 764" in Shoji Homu
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202212
The lawyers of our firm co-author "Guide to New Commercial Case Law No. 763" in Shoji Homu
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202212
Iwata Godo lawyers co-author The Latest Shareholder Meeting Stories(Shoji Homu)
- Author：
- TOJI Yoshihiro TAGO Shinya SAKAMOTO Tomoko IZUMI Atsushi ITO Hiroki EIGUCHI Manabu ITO Nanako AOKI Shinji TOKUMARU Daisuke MUTOU Yuuki KAKUNO Shu TOMITA Yusuke IIDA Hiroshi UENISHI Takuya MORI Shunsuke KARASAWA Akira ISHIKAWA Teppei SUZUKI Tomohiro SEKIGUCHI Akimasa SASAKI Tomoo ISHIKAWA Hiroaki FUKATSU Haruno FUKUCHI Takumi TOYOOKA Hiroto MATSUHASHI Sho KUKIMOTO Sayaka NOGUCHI Daisuke ITO Natsuho ANZAI Kazuto MATSUDA Taiki
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202211
The lawyers of our firm co-author "Guide to New Commercial Case Law No. 762" in Shoji Homu
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202210
The lawyers of our firm co-authored "Guide to New Commercial Case Law No. 761" in Shoji Homu No. 2308
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202210
The lawyers of our firm co-authored "Guide to New Commercial Case Law No. 760" in Shoji Homu No. 2306
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202210
The lawyers of our firm co-authored "Guide to New Commercial Case Law No. 759" in Shoji Homu No. 2303
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202210
The lawyers of our firm co-authored "Guide to New Commercial Case Law No. 758" in Shoji Homu No. 2301
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202206
Iwata Godo lawyers co-authored "Guide to New Commercial Case Law No.757" in Shoji Homu No. 2298.
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202206
Iwata Godo lawyers co-authored "Guide to New Commercial Case Law No.756" in Shoji Homu No. 2295.
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202205
Iwata Godo lawyers co-authored "Guide to New Commercial Case Law No.755" in Shoji Homu No. 2293.
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202203
Karasawa Akira, Ishikawa Teppei, Mori Shunsuke, Motomura Takeshi and Yoshihara Tomomichi co-authored "New Commercial Case Law No.754" in Shoji Homu No. 2290.
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202202
Karasawa Akira, Mori Shunsuke, Ishikawa Teppei, Motomura Takeshi and Yoshihara Tomomichi co-authored "New Commercial Case Law No.753" in Shoji Homu No. 2287.
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202202
The lawyers of our firm participated in the writing of 6,000 Lectures on Legal Issues for Financial Institutions (Kinzai Institute for Financial Affairs, Inc.)
- Author：
- WAKABAYASHI Shigeo TOJI Yoshihiro TAGO Shinya MOTOMURA Takeshi YOSHIHARA Tomomichi URANAKA Hirotaka UEDA Atsushi SAKAMOTO Tomoko IZUMI Atsushi TANAKA Takashi OKUSHI Kenichi KASHIWAGI Kensuke EIGUCHI Manabu ITO Hiroki ITO Nanako MARUYAMA Shinji MATSUDA Takao FUJIWARA Hiroki MATSUDA Akira AOKI Shinji TOKUMARU Daisuke MUTOU Yuuki FUKASAWA Atsushi KAKUNO Shu TOMITA Yusuke IIDA Hiroshi UENISHI Takuya KUDO Ryohei MORI Shunsuke KARASAWA Akira AOYAMA Masahiro SAITO Hiroki IKEDA Minako ISHIKAWA Teppei YAMADA Kohei SUZUKI Tomohiro SEKIGUCHI Akimasa NAKAMURA Saeko FUKATSU Haruno ADACHI Makoto FUKUCHI Takumi MATSUHASHI Sho KUKIMOTO Sayaka KANEKI Nobuyuki
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202201
Mori Shunsuke, Karasawa Akira, Ishikawa Teppei, Motomura Takeshi and Yoshihara Tomomichi co-authored "New Commercial Case Law No.752" in Shoji Homu No. 2284.
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202112
Iwata Godo lawyers co-authored "Guide to New Commercial Case Law No.751" in Shoji Homu No. 2282.
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202112
Iwata Godo lawyers co-authored "Guide to New Commercial Case Law No.750" in Shoji Homu No. 2279.
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202109
Iwata Godo lawyers co-authored "Guide to New Commercial Case Law No.748" in Shoji Homu No. 2274.
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202108
Iwata Godo lawyers co-authored "Guide to New Commercial Case Law No.747" in Shoji Homu No. 2271.
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202107
Iwata Godo lawyers co-authored "Guide to New Commercial Case Law No.746"in Shoji Homu No. 2269.
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202106
Iwata Godo lawyers co-authored "Guide to New Commercial Case Law No.745" in Shoji Homu No. 2266.
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202102
Karasawa Akira's commentary titled "'The Act on Improvement of Transparency and Fairness in Trading on Specified Digital Platforms' Came into Force" is available on the Shoji Homu Portal Site.
- Author：
- KARASAWA Akira
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201905
Karasawa Akira's commentary titled "METI, JFTC and MIC Publish Options for Establishment of Rules regarding Digital Platform Operators" is available on the Shoji Homu Portal Site.
- Author：
- KARASAWA Akira
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201901
Karasawa Akira's commentary titled "The Supreme Court Judges There Is No Benefit in Filing the Action that Claims Confirmation of Obligation to Provide Information based on the Request for Information made to the Relevant Bar Association" is available on the Shoji Homu Portal Site.
- Author：
- KARASAWA Akira
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201811
Motomura Takeshi supervised and Ito Hiroki and Saito Hiroki authored the 6th (last) article of the series "Introduction Course for Newly Appointed Auditors: Authority, Responsibility, and Response for Misconduct" titled "Roles of Auditors, etc.for Corporate Scandals: Detective Controls and Response to Investigation, etc.” which appears in the December 2018 issue of a monthly magazine, Gekkan Kansayaku.
- Author：
- ITO Hiroki KARASAWA Akira
- Supervising editor：
- MOTOMURA Takeshi
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201810
Motomura Takeshi supervised and Ito Hiroki and Karasawa Akira authored the 4th article of the series "Introduction Course for Newly Appointed Auditors: Authority, Responsibility, and Response for Misconduct” titled “Board of Auditors and Shareholders’ Meeting: Roles which Auditors, etc. should Fulfill for Shareholders” which appears in the October 2018 issue of a monthly magazine, Gekkan Kansayaku.
- Author：
- ITO Hiroki KARASAWA Akira
- Supervising editor：
- MOTOMURA Takeshi
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201809
Motomura Takeshi supervised and Ito Hiroki and Karasawa Akira authored the 3rd article of the series "Introduction Course for Newly Appointed Auditors: Authority, Responsibility, and Response for Misconduct" titled "Board of Auditors and Board of Directors: Important Roles of Auditors, etc. independent of Execution of Operation” which appears in September 2018 issue of a monthly magazine, Gekkan Kansayaku.
- Author：
- ITO Hiroki KARASAWA Akira
- Supervising editor：
- MOTOMURA Takeshi
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201808
Karasawa Akira's commentary titled "Japan Audit & Supervisory Board Members Association Publishes the Revised 'Operational Guidelines on Cooperation with Accounting Auditors'" is available on the Shoji Homu Portal Site.
- Author：
- KARASAWA Akira
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201807
A book authored by our lawyers entitled Theories and Business Practices of Prescription and Limitation of Period is published by Nihon Kajo Publishing Co., Ltd.
- Author：
- KASHIWAGI Kensuke EIGUCHI Manabu ITO Hiroki AOKI Shinji MUTOU Yuuki ITO Nanako FUJIWARA Hiroki MATSUDA Akira TOKUMARU Daisuke MARUYAMA Shinji KAKUNO Shu TOMITA Yusuke UENISHI Takuya KUDO Ryohei BEPPU Fumiya MORI Shunsuke KARASAWA Akira SAITO Hiroki YAMADA Kohei HORITA Koji SUZUKI Tomohiro NAKAMURA Saeko SASAKI Tomoo YU Zhiming Landry GUESDON
- Editor：
- TAGO Shinya OKUSHI Kenichi IIDA Hiroshi
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201806
Tago Shinya, Landry Guesdon and Karasawa Akira co-authored "Product Liability 2018: Japan" which is available on "International Comparative Legal Guides".
- Author：
- TAGO Shinya Landry GUESDON KARASAWA Akira
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201806
Tago Shinya and Karasawa Akira co-authored an article entitled "Regarding ITC Investigations under Section 337 of the U.S. Tariff Act - As an Alternative to Lawsuit for Protection of Intellectual Property Rights -" which appears in NBL Vol.1123.
- Author：
- TAGO Shinya KARASAWA Akira
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201804
Karasawa Akira's commentary titled "'Personal Information Protection Commission Partially Changes a Report Form about Occurrence of Leakage, etc. of Specific Personal Information" is available on the Shoji Homu Portal Site.
- Author：
- KARASAWA Akira
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201802
Tago Shinya, Landry Guesdon, Kakuno Shu and Karasawa Akira co-authored an article entitled "Distribution country questions: Japan" which appears in Thomson Reuters' Practical Law.
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201802
The lawyers of our firm participated in the writing of 5,000 Lectures on Legal Issues for Financial Institutions (Kinzai Institute for Financial Affairs, Inc.)
- Author：
- WAKABAYASHI Shigeo TOJI Yoshihiro TAGO Shinya MOTOMURA Takeshi YOSHIHARA Tomomichi URANAKA Hirotaka UEDA Atsushi SAKAMOTO Tomoko IZUMI Atsushi TANAKA Takashi OKUSHI Kenichi KASHIWAGI Kensuke EIGUCHI Manabu ITO Hiroki ITO Nanako MATSUDA Takao FUJIWARA Hiroki MATSUDA Akira AOKI Shinji TOKUMARU Daisuke FUKASAWA Atsushi TOMITA Yusuke IIDA Hiroshi UENISHI Takuya KUDO Ryohei MORI Shunsuke KARASAWA Akira YAMADA Kohei HORITA Koji SUZUKI Tomohiro
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201712
A book co-authored by Toji Yoshihiro, Ito Hiroki and other attorneys of Iwata Godo entitled "New Story of Shareholders' Meeting" (ShojiHomu Co., Ltd., 2017) is introduced in the article "Books Useful for Corporate Legal Affairs in Food Service Industry" of Business Law Journal No.119.
- Author：
- WAKABAYASHI Shigeo TAGO Shinya MOTOMURA Takeshi YOSHIHARA Tomomichi UEDA Atsushi SAKAMOTO Tomoko IZUMI Atsushi OKUSHI Kenichi KASHIWAGI Kensuke EIGUCHI Manabu TANAKA Takashi FUJIWARA Hiroki MATSUDA Takao TOKUMARU Daisuke AOKI Shinji MUTOU Yuuki FUKASAWA Atsushi KUDO Ryohei KARASAWA Akira YAMADA Kohei HORITA Koji SUZUKI Tomohiro
- Editor：
- TOJI Yoshihiro ITO Hiroki
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201711
Karasawa Akira authored an article entitled "Case Where Monies Paid by a Parent Company to its Subsidiary Concerning Software Transactions Do not Fall under Contribution" which appears in December 2017 issue (Vol.65/No.13) of Zeimu Kouhou.
- Author：
- KARASAWA Akira
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201710
Karasawa Akira's commentary titled "The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Releases 'Comprehensive Measures for IoT Security'" is available on the Shoji Homu Portal Site.
- Author：
- KARASAWA Akira
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201707
Karasawa Akira's commentary titled "METI Develops 'Guidelines for Credit Card Merchant Agreement'" is available on the Shoji Homu Portal Site.
- Author：
- KARASAWA Akira
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201704
Karasawa Akira's commentary titled "METI Develops Guidelines for Business Practices Concerning Corporate Governance System (CGS Guidelines) on March 31st, 2017" is available on the Shoji Homu Portal Site.
- Author：
- KARASAWA Akira
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201701
A book co-authored by 34 attorneys of Iwata Godo including Toji Yoshihiro, Ito Hiroki entitled New Story of Shareholders' Meeting is published by ShojiHomu Co., Ltd.
- Author：
- WAKABAYASHI Shigeo TAGO Shinya MOTOMURA Takeshi YOSHIHARA Tomomichi UEDA Atsushi SAKAMOTO Tomoko IZUMI Atsushi OKUSHI Kenichi KASHIWAGI Kensuke EIGUCHI Manabu TANAKA Takashi FUJIWARA Hiroki MATSUDA Takao TOKUMARU Daisuke AOKI Shinji MUTOU Yuuki FUKASAWA Atsushi KUDO Ryohei KARASAWA Akira YAMADA Kohei HORITA Koji SUZUKI Tomohiro
- Editor：
- TOJI Yoshihiro ITO Hiroki
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201611
Karasawa Akira's commentary titled "International Initiatives for Personal Data Protection (Personal Information Protection Commission Announces Its Decision 'Concerning the International Efforts' on November 8, 2016)" is available on the Shoji Homu Portal Site.
- Author：
- KARASAWA Akira
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201610
Izumi Atsushi and Karasawa Akira authored an article entitled "Getting the Deal Through - Enforcement of Foreign Judgments 2017 - Japan," which appears in Law Business Research.
- Author：
- IZUMI Atsushi KARASAWA Akira
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201607
Karasawa Akira's commentary titled "METI Announces Formulation of IoT Security Guidelines" is available on the Shoji Homu Portal Site.
- Author：
- KARASAWA Akira
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201604
Karasawa Akira's commentary titled "The Supreme Court Announces the Result of the Survey on Inappropriate Treatment of Postage Stamps at Courts" is available on the Shoji Homu Portal Site.
- Author：
- KARASAWA Akira
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201601
Karasawa Akira's commentary titled "Personal Information Protection Commission Updates Notification about Measures to be Taken on Occurrence of Accidents of Specific Personal Information Leakage, etc." is available on the Shoji Homu Portal Site.
- Author：
- KARASAWA Akira
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201510
Karasawa Akira's commentary titled "Cabinet Secretariat Announces 'Summary of Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) (Provisional Version)'" is available on the Shoji Homu Portal Site.
- Author：
- KARASAWA Akira
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201507
Karasawa Akira's commentary titled "The Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Publicly Announces Handling of My Number System by Companies " is available on the Shoji Homu Portal Site.
- Author：
- KARASAWA Akira
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201504
Karasawa Akira's commentary titled "JFTC Announces 'Current Status of Foreign Competition Law Compliance in Japanese Companies'" is available on the Shoji Homu Portal Site.
- Author：
- KARASAWA Akira
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201501
Karasawa Akira's commentary titled "Cabinet Office Announces Report Issued by the Advisory Panel on Administrative Investigation Procedures under the Anti-Monopoly Act" is available on the Shoji Homu Portal Site.
- Author：
- KARASAWA Akira
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201410
Karasawa Akira's commentary titled "Judgment of the Supreme Court of Japan, 1st Petty Bench, September 25, 2014 (Res Judicata of the Final Decision on a Case Seeking the Increase and Decrease in the Rent)" is available on the Shoji Home Portal Site.
- Author：
- KARASAWA Akira
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201409
Toji Yoshihiro, Izumi Atsushi, Okushi Kenichi, Kashiwagi Kensuke, Eiguchi Manabu, Ito Hiroki, Matsuda Takao, Aoki Shinji, Mutou Yuuki, Fukasawa Atsushi, Tomita Yusuke, Sakamoto Masafumi, Kudo Ryohei, Beppu Fumiya and Karasawa Akira co-authored an article entitled "Special Feature: The Companies Act as Amended and Questions and Answers of Relevant Business Practices – Revisions Concerning Merger and Acquisition" which appears in Kinyu Houmu Jijo No. 2002.
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201407
Karasawa Akira's commentary titled "Fair Trade Commission Issues Recommendation to Himaraya and Others for Actions in Breach of Subcontract Act (June 27)" is available on the Shoji Homu Portal Site.
- Author：
- KARASAWA Akira
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201404
Landry Guesdon and Karasawa Akira authored an article entitled "The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Project Finance（2014 edition）" which appears in International Comparative Legal Guide published by Global Legal Group.
- Author：
- Landry GUESDON KARASAWA Akira
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201402
16 lawyers at our office including Motomura Takeshi and Okushi Kenichi contributed to the publication entitled Q&A concerning Internet banking published by Kinzai.
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Seminars
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202310
IG holds a webinar "Competition Law in the US, EU and China: Updates for 2023"
Speaker： TAGO Shinya KARASAWA Akira OKAMURA Yu YU Zhiming
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News
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202404
20 lawyers of our firm were recognized in The Best Lawyers in Japan 2025.
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
■ Corporate Governance and Compliance Practice
YOSHIHARA Tomomichi
■ Insolvency and Reorganization Law
TAGO Shinya
MOTOMURA Takeshi
URANAKA Hirotaka
■ Labor and Employment Law
TAGO Shinya
■ Litigation
TOJI Yoshihiro
WAKABAYASHI Shigeo
MOTOMURA Takeshi
YOSHIHARA Tomomichi
URANAKA Hirotaka
Best Lawyers - "Ones to Watch"
■ Antitrust / Competition Law
ISHIKAWA Teppei
■ Arbitration and Mediation
SAITO Hiroki
NAKAMURA Saeko
■ 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 -
202305
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 -
202201
Karashima Satoshi, Tanaka Takashi, Ito Nanako, Maruyama Shinji and Karasawa Akira were appointed Partners.
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202011
Karasawa Akira resumed his work at Iwata Godo upon completion of his study in the U.S.
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201907
Karasawa Akira has been abroad to study at the University of Chicago Law School from July.
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201312
We welcomed a new attorney, Karasawa Akira.
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