James joined the firm in 1979 and became a partner in 1988. He is a member of the Dai-ichi Tokyo Bar Association and is licensed to practise English law in Japan. His practice includes M&A, banking and finance, capital markets, derivatives, joint ventures, privatisations, project finance, restructurings and securitisations.

His experience includes advising:

  • Barclays Capital on Uridashi and Samurai offerings;
  • Deutsche Bank as lead arranger of the issue of JPY20bn Step-up Convertible Bonds due 2017 of The Bank of Iwate, Ltd., listed in Singapore;
  • Deutsche Bank, Citigroup Global Markets and Mizuho International as the arrangers of JPY175bn class B Notes issued by J-WBS funding as part of the refinancing of the acquisition debt of SOFTBANK MOBILE Corp;
  • EMI in regards to the acquisition of Toshiba’s interest in Toshiba-EMI, the existing joint venture between them;
  • Morgan Stanley on the formation of a joint venture combining Morgan Stanley Japan Securities Co., Ltd. and Mitsubishi UFJ Securities Co., Ltd.;
  • Mylan Laboratories, the US-based generic pharmaceuticals company, on the acquisition of Merck's generic business;
  • Perella Weinberg, the financial adviser for Olympus Corporation, on the bid financing for the acquisition by Olympus of Gyrus Group PLC; and
  • Tesco’s acquisition of C-Two Network Co., by tender offer, and Fre’c Co., Ltd. from the IRCJ.

Contact details

james.lawden
@freshfields.com

  • Tokyo office
  • Akasaka Biz Tower 36F
    5-3-1 Akasaka
    Minato-ku
    Tokyo 107-6336
    Japan
  • Telephone
  • +81 3 3584 8509
  • Fax
  • +81 3 3584 8501