Vinson & Elkins' Tokyo office expands V&E’s Asia Pacific practice into one of the world’s largest economies and a global commercial and financial center. V&E's Tokyo office enables clients to capitalize on the firm’s experience and reputation as one of the world’s leading law firms.

The Tokyo office is staffed with U.S.- and English-qualified lawyers, including native Japanese speakers, who have experience in the following areas of corporate and commercial law: energy and infrastructure; mergers and acquisitions; project finance; real estate; and securitization and structured finance. These lawyers work closely with other V&E lawyers located in 15 additional offices around the world.

The global capability of V&E and the depth of experience of our lawyers make the Tokyo office uniquely suited to represent Japanese clients abroad and international clients in their transactions in Japan and elsewhere in the Asia Pacific region.

Energy Transactions
Our Tokyo office serves as an important base to assist both our Japanese and international energy and natural resources clients on a wide range of matters in the energy sector, including on international mergers and acquisitions, LNG sales, and project development transactions. We have the premier energy M&A, LNG, and project development practice in Asia with leading experience across all aspects of the energy industry from upstream oil and gas to petrochemicals, clean energy, and renewables. Recent matters on which the Tokyo office has worked include:

• Representing a Canadian energy company in connection with the development of an LNG liquefaction facility and export terminal at Bish Cove, near Kitimat, British Columbia, including advising on the conduct of its marketing and LNG sales arrangements
• Advising an international oil and gas company on the acquisition of a company with an indirect interest in two oil and gas fields in Kazakhstan
• Advising a project company with respect to the conduct of its marketing and LNG sales arrangements for the development of an LNG project in Gladstone, Queensland, Australia
• Representing an Asian utility company in connection with the negotiation and documentation of various LNG master spot purchase and sales arrangements

In 2010, V&E counseled clients around the globe on more than 1,600 energy-related matters — collectively valued at more than $167 billion — involving 400-plus lawyers who regularly advise on energy-related matters. In recognition of our worldwide capabilities, extensive industry experience, and value-added approach, major research publications have awarded V&E their highest rankings in the energy field. Click here to view all firm rankings

Financial Transactions
Vinson & Elkins also represents U.S. and non-U.S. clients who are active investors in the market for Asian distressed debt, real estate, and other distressed financial assets, particularly in Japan. Our lawyers have been active in transactions in this market since the late 1990s and, as a result, have developed a deep proficiency in financing portfolios of distressed assets.

V&E lawyers have detailed knowledge of the Japanese and offshore structures used to efficiently acquire, manage, finance, and dispose of distressed financial assets. Among other structures, we have extensive experience in the use of tokutei mokuteki kaishas (similar to real estate investment trusts) and tokumei kumiais (similar to limited partnerships), which can eliminate or substantially minimize double taxation on profits from investments in real properly and financial assets. Our lawyers also have significant experience in the use of real property trusts (fudosan kanri shobun shintaku), which allow the disposition of economic interests in real property at substantially reduced transfer taxes.

Regardless of the specific nature of the transaction or financial structure, our attorneys pride themselves on developing creative, insightful, and cost-effective solutions to the issues facing our clients.