Taijiro Suzuki

Partner

Real Estate, Renewable and Clean Energy, Banking & Finance

Professional Summary

Taijiro Suzuki is a member of the Firm’s Finance & Projects and Real Estate practice groups in Tokyo. He previously worked in Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow in Singapore from September 2012 to August 2013. He was recognized as a Next Generation Lawyer/Next Generation Partner (within an international firm and joint venture) by 2017-2021 Legal 500 Asia Pacific (Japan: Real Estate).

Practice Focus

Taijiro’s practice focuses on project finance including PFI, solar and wind power generation, acting for both domestic and foreign clients. He also assists clients with legal issues involving real estate finance and the securitization of various types of assets (TMK structure, TK-GK structure, real estate specified joint enterprise structure, and trust structure). He also works on the development of residential, commercial and resort projects as well as urban redevelopment projects. In recent years, he has been involved in asset finance for outer space business and overall outer space law issues.

Representative Clients, Cases or Matters

Acted for an international data center operator in relation to data center development and leasing transactions.
Acted for an international hotel operator in relation to resort hotel development and hotel management agreement.
Acted for a domestic developer in relation to hotel-branded residence development and management agreement with an international hotel operator.
Acted for international funds, asset managers and financial institutions with respect to the real estate securitization projects of hotels, offices, residences, commercial and healthcare facilities (TMK structure, TK-GK structure, real estate specified joint enterprise structure, and trust structure).
Acted for a foreign-based fund in relation to a hotel development project at ski resorts in Hokkaido, Japan.
Acted for a foreign fund in relation to an urban redevelopment project.
Acted for a foreign business company regarding the sale and purchase of a commercial building.
Acted for a foreign luxury brand manufacturer in relation to the development of a commercial building, using a fixed-term business land lease arrangement.
Acted for a foreign fund with regard to the acquisition of a shopping mall.
Advised domestic and international funds, trust companies and bank agents in relation to Financial Instruments and Exchange Act and Banking Act regulations.
Acted for a Japanese construction company with respect to an infrastructure development project in Vietnam.
Acted for a Japanese financial institution with respect to a finance transaction in Indonesia.
Acted for a Japanese financial institution with respect to an investment in US-based commercial facilities.
Acted for domestic and foreign companies as well as financial institutions with respect to solar and wind power generation and renewable energy projects, including legal due diligence, permits issues, acquisitions of project sites, joint venture set-ups and financing.
Acted for sponsors, financial institutions as well as the national government and local counterparts in relation to PFI projects.

Publications, Presentations and Articles

Publications and articles

Co-author, “Civil Code amendments affecting real estate transactions – Volume 2”, February 2020
Co-author, “Civil Code amendments affecting real estate transactions – Volume 1”, January 2020
Co-author, “Disclosures concerning Tender Offers,” Commentary on the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, Volume 1, Chapter 2-2, Kinzai, April 2011
Co-author, “TOB Handbook,” 1st Edition, Nikkei BP, January 2007

Presentation

Presenter, “How to successfully conclude domestic hotel management contracts, finance development funding, and points of legal work,” Kinyu Facsimile Shimbun, February 2020
Presenter, “How to negotiate domestic hotel management contracts with global hotel operators,” Sogo Unicom Co., Ltd., December 2019
Presenter, “How to successfully conclude domestic hotel management contracts with global hotel operators including branded residences,” Japan Knowledge Center, December 2019
Presenter, “Space business and debt finance – discussions of collaterals on assets in space and importance of space insurance,” Securitization Forum of Japan, May 2019）
Presenter, “Essentials of Japanese space activity law and remote sensing law – Common space business-related inquiries: investment, financing, insurance practices, intellectual property rights and typical clauses in relevant agreements (eg, rocket launch agreements),” Japan Planning Institute, April 2019
Presenter, “Legal Considerations for Hotel Branded Residence Development and Nonrecourse Financing,” Nihon Knowledge Center, February 2019
Presenter, “Hotel Management Contracts and Financing,” Hitotsubashi University Business School, February 2019
Presenter, “An introduction to legal and finance in the outer space business industry – A focus on licensing systems, liability for damages, the Outer Space Treaty, and collateral on satellite equipment -,” Financial Management Forum, December 2018
Presenter, “Branded residences in Japan: key legal considerations,” Jones Lang LaSalle, October 2018
Presenter, “Outer space business: laying a solid foundation – A focus on investment/financing, intellectual property and insurance practices,” Japan Planning Institute, June 2018
Presenter, “Space business legal considerations and contracting practices,” FN Communications, April 2018
Presenter, “Hotel Branded Residences: legal and practical considerations in development schemes and non-recourse financing – A focus on the rental program scheme-,” Kinyu Zaimu Kenkyukai, February 2018
Presenter, “An introduction to legal and finance in the outer space business industry. A focus on licensing systems, liability for damages, the Outer Space Treaty, and collateral on satellite equipment,” Kinyu Zaimu Kenkyukai, February 2018
Presenter, “Practical consideration in developing hotels/branded residences,” Sogo Unicom, November 2017
Presenter, “An introduction to legal and finance in the outer space business industry. A focus on licensing systems, liability for damages, the Outer Space Treaty, and collateral on satellite equipment,” Kinyu Zaimu Kenkyukai, October 2017
Presenter, “Hotel Branded Residences: legal and practical considerations in development schemes and non-recourse financing,” Nihon Knowledge Center, September 2017
Presenter, “Hotel Branded Residences: legal and practical considerations in development schemes and non-recourse financing – A focus on the rental program scheme-,” Kinyu Zaimu Kenkyukai, September 2017
Presenter, “Legal considerations for real estate transactions with foreigners and an analysis of new law on home sharing and short-term rentals (minpaku). A spotlight on possible violations relevant to phone or email communication with foreign-based buyers,” Kinyu Zaimu Kenkyukai, August 2017
Presenter, “Amendment to Act on Facilitation of Rebuild of Unit-Buildings and its implications to real estate investment practices,” Financial Facsimile Newspaper, November 2014
Presenter, “Recent amendment to real estate laws and its implications to real estate transaction practices, including the TMK and TK-GK structures,” Kinyu Zaimu Kenkyukai, July 2014

Admissions

Japan (2005)

Professional Association and Memberships

Tokyo Bar Association – Member

Professional Honors

Recognized as “Next Generation Partners: Bengoshi” in Japan: Real Estate (within international firms and joint ventures), The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, 2020 – 2021
Recognized as “Next Generation Lawyers: Bengoshi” in Japan: Real Estate (within international firms and joint ventures), The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, 2017 – 2019