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Gaku Ishiwata

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Contact Information

TEL: +81-3-5223-7753
FAX: +81-3-5223-7653

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Practice Areas

Work Highlights

Acquisition of Yaizu Suisankagaku Industry by Inaba Foods through TOB (February 2024)
Represented Kansai Super Market in connection with OK's unsolicited offer and H2O Retailing's acquisition (December 2021)
Represented Kubota in connection with its acquisition of a majority stake of Escorts Limited (November 2021)
Represented Kubota and Kverneland in connection with Kverneland's acquisition of ROC S.r.l (August 2021)
Represented Invesco Group in connection with its acquisition of Invesco Office J-REIT (June 2021)
Represented AB Volvo in connection with its sale of UD Trucks to Isuzu Motors from the Volvo group (2021)
Represented Shimachu in connection with takeover bids of Shimachu between Nitori and DCM Holdings (December 2020)
Represented Sony Financial Holdings (currently, Sony Financial Group) in connection with Sony's acqusition of Sony Financial Holdings (July 2020)
Represented Showa Shell Sekiyu in connection with its merger with Idemitsu Kosan (April 2019)
Mizkan Holdings' acquisition of pasta sauces business under the Ragu and Bertolli brands from Unilever group (2014)
Represented Accordia Golf Co. in connection with PGM Holdings' hostile tender offer for the shares of Accordia Golf (November 2012)
Represented DAIKIN INDUSTRIES in connection with its acquisition of 100% shares of Goodman Global (August 2012)
Represented Nikko Cordial Corporation in connection with Citigroup's acquisition, including tender offer and triangular share exchange, of Nikko Cordial Corporation (May 2007)
Represented AB Volvo in connection with its acquisition of shares of Nissan Diesel Motor (currently, UD Trucks) from Nissan Motor (2006)
Represented Seino Transportation (currently, Seino Holdings) in connection with its introduction of the Japan's first takeover defense plan (trust type rights plan) (June 2005)

Gaku Ishiwata：Awards

Jul. 19, 2024 Awards: Sixteen of our lawyers selected as Japan’s Top 100 Lawyers 2024 in Asia Business Law Journal
Apr. 18, 2024 Awards: The Best Lawyers in Japan™ and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Japan™ (2025 edition)
Feb. 15, 2024 Awards: Top rankings received from Chambers Global 2024

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Gaku Ishiwata：News

Jun. 13, 2023 Public Service: Gaku Ishiwata becomes an expert member of the Working Group on Tender Offer Rules and Large Shareholding Reporting Rules of the Financial System Council, Financial Services Agency
Apr. 4, 2023 Public Service: Gaku Ishiwata became a lecturer at The University of Tokyo Graduate School for Law and Politics
Mar. 31, 2023 Public Service: Firm's lawyers involved in the Revision of the “Guidebook for Introducing Incentive Plans for Sustainable Corporate Growth as Board Members’ Compensation to Encourage Companies to Promote Proactive Business Management”

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Gaku Ishiwata：Seminars

Nov. 8, 2019External Seminars: "The Global Expansion of Shareholder Activism"

Nov. 16, 2010MHM Seminars: MHM Seminar

Jul. 29, 2008External Seminars: "Largest-Ever Buyout By A Foreign Company - A Legal Perspective"

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Gaku Ishiwata：Publications

Magazine Panel Discussion: "How to Respond to a 'Bona Fide Offer'"
Magazine Article: "Future of M&A Frameworks in Japan"
Magazine Article: "Practical Considerations Concerning the 'Guidelines for Corporate Takeovers' (Part 2)"

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Gaku Ishiwata：Other

Background

The University of Tokyo (LL.B., 1995)
University of Chicago Law School (LL.M., 2001)
with Davis Polk & Wardwell (2001-2002)
Lecturer at Kyoto University Law School (2007-2016)
Visiting Professor, The University of Tokyo Graduate School for Law and Politics (2019-2022)

Major Activities

Member of Committee for Study of Limited Liability Companies, organized by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (2002-2003)
Member of Committee for Study of Tax Framework for Corporate Acquisitions, Divisions and Other Corporate Reorganizations, organized by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (2004-2005)
Member of Corporate Value Study Group, organized by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (2004-2008)
Member of Committee for Study of Japanese LLP, organized by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (2004-2005)
Member of First Subcommittee, Sectional Committee on Financial System, Financial System Council (2005-2006)
Outside Director of Xebio Holdings Co., Ltd. (2008-)
Member of Study Group for Employee Stock Ownership Plan, organized by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (2008-)
Member of Working Group Regarding New Scheme etc. for M&A, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (2010-)
Member of Liaison Conference on Corporate Governance, organized by Financial Services Agency (2010-)
Member of Disclosure System Working Group, Specialized Legal System Study Group, Financial Services Agency (2011-)
Outside Director of United Arrows Ltd. (2013-2020)
Outside Director of Digital Hearts Holdings Co., Ltd. (2018-2022)
Member of the Fair M&A Study Group, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (2018-2019)
Visiting Professor, The University of Tokyo Graduate School for Law and Politics (2019-2022)
Member of Corporate Restructuring Study Group, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (2020-)
Member of the Fair Acquisition Study Group, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (2022-)
Lecturer at The University of Tokyo Graduate School for Law and Politics (2023-)
Expert Member of the Working Group on Tender Offer Rules and Large Shareholding Reporting Rules of the Financial System Council, Financial Services Agency (2023-)

Bar Admissions

admitted in Japan, 1997; New York, 2002
Daini Tokyo Bar Association
New York State Bar Association