Combining years of experience in the field of corporate deals and capital markets with an in-depth understanding of new technologies we are uniquely positioned to develop innovative solutions for our clients.
The FinTech industry is without doubt one of the most dynamic industries globally. Sitting at the intersection between traditional finance and technology it is also one of the most complex regulatory areas. We enjoy working in this environment and are consistently ranked among the top FinTech lawyers in Japan.
Mergers and acquisitions are key strategies for companies to stimulate growth, gain a competitive advantage and increase their market share. We assist our clients in structuring their deals, setting up joint ventures and help them with their general corporate matters. Our clients range from early stage start-ups to established national and international players.
Our lawyers have worked for leading law firms in the US, UK, Hong Kong and Singapore for many years and have a wealth of experience in debt and equity issues, derivatives and structured products. Having a strong foothold in FinTech, we are further ideally positioned to help our clients to stay ahead of the curve and to drive financial innovation.
Our services cover the whole lifecycle of funds and range from the structuring and formation to capital raising, investment, operation management, and liquidations. We further assist foreign funds with their regulatory matters and portfolio investments in Japan.
Companies developing or deploying cutting-edge technologies do not only require specialized knowledge of the respective technologies but also an in-depth understanding of the legal risks and the regulatory environment. Our lawyers constantly expand their knowledge to stay ahead of the curve and advise clients on matters relating to product regulation, IP and personal data protection.
Asia Business Law Journal
Awarded in the “Technology, Media & Telecommunications” category in 2023 Japan Law Firm Awards
Awarded in the “FinTech” and “Technology, Media & Telecommunications” categories in Japan Law Firm Awards (2024–2025)
Best Lawyers
So Saito:
Recognized for Financial Institution Regulatory Law and FinTech Practice (2021–2023)
Recognized for Banking and Finance Law, Financial Institution Regulatory Law, and FinTech Practice (2024–2026)
Yuki Sato: Recognized for Corporate and Mergers and Acquisitions Law (2022–2026)
Chambers & Partners
So Saito has been ranked as a Top FinTech Lawyer from 2019 to 2026.
Legal 500 Asia Pacific
Our firm received high recognition in the “FinTech” and “Investment Funds” categories.
So Saito: Leading Individual in the “FinTech” category (2022–2025)
Yuki Sato: Recognized in the “Investment Funds” category (2022–2025)
An article concerning Private Equity in Japan written by Yuki Sato, Chiho Saito and Taiki Hashimoto of our firm was published in Asia Business Law Journal (ABLJ) (Mapping Asia’s private equity outlook).
Our firm was selected as one of the “Fintech" and "Technology, media & telecommunications” in 2025 Japan Law Firm Awards.
We are happy to announce the recent joining of Yurie Hasegawa, a Labor and Social Security Attorney.
She brings extensive experience in social insurance procedures, labor system design, and subsidy applications, as well as in labor risk analysis and system integration support directly linked to M&A transactions.
Her specialized expertise will enhance our capacity to support clients in local employment law matters, particularly strengthening our offerings in labor-related due diligence (DD) and post-merger integration (PMI) during M&A transactions.
An article written by So Saito and Kazuki Imanari of our firm was published in LIR Japan(Eighth edition).
An article written by Yu Mizushima of our firm was published in Fintech Journal.
So Saito spoke at Lisse Co., Ltd."How AI works and the forefront of corporate applications".
So Saito spoke at IOSCO Fintech Task Force (FTF) “Security Token in Japan”.
So Saito spoke at Liberal Democratic Party’s Parliamentarians for Blockchain Promotion “Crypto Assets and Securities Regulation”.
So Saito spoke at the Digital Finance Law Forum's 2024 Winter Conference in Tokyo, Japan, on “Legal Trends and Policy Implications in Japan and South Korea Concerning Disguised Assets".
So Saito spoke at the Tokyo Financial Awards "Related Regulations -Environment of Japan FinTech Regulations 2024-".