Professional Summary
Masao Katsuyama is a member of the Firm’s Corporate / M&A Group in Tokyo. His practice focuses on domestic and cross-border M&A transactions and corporate reorganizations, as well as general corporate matters, including corporate governance and compliance. He was seconded to the Firm’s Bangkok office from May 2012 to May 2014, where he was involved in the outbound investment projects of numerous Japanese companies in Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries.
Practice Focus
Masao’s practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, securities law and general corporate law. He has experience advising on the structuring of both Japanese and international mergers and acquisitions, as well as drafting transaction documentation and conducting due diligence. Masao also regularly advises Japanese clients on cross-border M&A transactions, joint ventures and global corporate reorganizations across a wide range of jurisdictions, including the Asia-Pacific region, North America and Europe.
Representative Clients, Cases or Matters
- Acted for a major Australian investment fund in connection with its acquisition of various assets in Japan, including storage businesses located at five major ports.
- Advised a leading US listed manufacturing company in its divestiture of a Japanese subsidiary to a Japanese purchaser.
- Led legal support for the global reorganization of a US chemical company’s business in Japan, including multiple corporate
- Led legal support for post-merger integration and corporate reorganization in Japan in connection with a global acquisition by a US logistics company.
- Advised a Japanese listed manufacturing company on its acquisition of a Thai private manufacturing company and the execution of a shareholders agreement with minority shareholders in Thailand.
- Advised a Japanese listed company on the establishment of a joint venture in Indonesia with a local partner through a Singapore subsidiary.
- Advised a Japanese listed company on the acquisition of a manufacturing business in Indonesia.
- Advised a Japanese food company on the increase of its shareholding in a Philippine joint venture and the amendment of a shareholders agreement with minority shareholders.
- Advised a Japanese food company on its exit from a joint venture in Malaysia (i.e., sale of shares in its Malaysian subsidiary to its joint venture partner).
- Advised a Japanese listed manufacturing company on the acquisition of a privately held manufacturing group with operations in the US and Canada.
- Acted for a leading Japanese manufacturing company on its acquisition of a manufacturing company based in Germany and the execution of a shareholders agreement with minority shareholders in Germany.
- Acted for a Japanese listed manufacturing company on its acquisition of a manufacturing company based in the Netherlands.
- Advised a Japanese food company on its acquisition of a Turkish meat processing company.
Publications, Presentations and Articles
- Co-author, “Navigating Business Expansion into Southeast Asia,” Business Homu, Chuo Keizaisha, October 2012, Language: Japanese
- Co-author, “World Legal & Business Guide No.19 Myanmar,” Business Law Journal, LexisNexis, October 2012, Language: Japanese
Admissions
New York~United States (2012)
Japan (2006)
Professional Association and Memberships
- Tokyo Bar Association – Member
Professional Honors
Recognized in “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Japan™” for Corporate and Mergers and Acquisitions Law (2027)
Education
New York University School of Law (LL.M.) (2011)
Kyoto University (LL.B.) (2005)
Languages
Japanese, English