This inaugural ranking highlights the achievements of the top capital markets lawyers across Asia, who have demonstrated an outstanding track record of work, while earning accolades from their colleagues, superiors, and clients.

What is your personal philosophy, i.e. the motivation and excitement about work?

I would like to be an innovator in the capital markets in Japan. In the past, I advised on many first-ever deals such as rights offerings, Japanese depositary receipts for foreign private issuers, simultaneous IPOs of holding companies and their subsidiaries and involvement of cornerstone investors in the IPO process. Currently, I am discussing improving the IPO process in Japan with relevant authorities and introducing SPACs to the Japanese market as a member to study group hosted by Tokyo Stock Exchange. I am proud of being a trusted legal counsel in such innovative deals and high profile deals and actively publishes his thoughts and ideas for the market participants to read.

What do you do differently from your peers in the industry?

In Japan, traditionally most business lawyers provide only “pure” legal advice. In contrast, I have always dedicated a lot of time to understand business and financial matters and perhaps, I am the first Japanese lawyer to hold a Japanese securities analyst licence.

Second, I am actively engaged not only in capital markets but also in M&A, governmental investigation and dispute resolution while other lawyers are specialized in one area. I received the Deal Maker of the Year award and was a finalist for the Dispute Resolution Lawyer of the Year award given by ALB in 2021 based on my active involvement in multiple areas. More recently, I also provide legal advice relating to economic national security matters to his multiple clients in the semiconductor industry.

What kind of feedback have you received from clients about your services?

I got the following kind comments from my valuable clients.

“His extensive knowledge, strong commitment (very quick in acting), and creativity results in a high level of trust from all parties including issuer, investment bankers, and even other lawyers.”

“He has a commercial mindset, often thinking outside the box and delving further than just providing legal advice, working seamlessly with all stakeholders involved. It also helps to have a good sense of humor as well, given the highly human nature of the field.”

“He is very clever, logical and cares for, and understands, the needs of clients. When I worked together with him in very difficult global IPO transaction of non-Japanese issuer, he played a key role as an issuer side legal counsel for the deal and I realized that he is well-experienced in working with foreign issuer.”

“We appreciate our deals have been successful thanks to the efforts and dedicated support of Mr. Suzuki.”