Katsumasa Suzuki

Katsumasa Suzuki has been recognised as a top-tier lawyer in capital markets, M&A and corporate crisis or governmental investigation areas, but recently he has become active in contentious matters as well, particularly those relating to activist shareholders and other capital markets and M&A matters.  

He is a lawyer qualified in Japan and New York, and a certified member of the Securities Analysts Association of Japan. His thorough knowledge of business, accounting and markets, together with plentiful experience in various kinds of deals and legal matters, enable him to provide uniquely valuable legal and business advice to his clients. His confident, practical client-first style is highly appreciated for its strategic innovation by various clients, such as investment banks, investment funds, and listed companies in TMT and other sectors both in and outside Japan, and by the US, the UK, Chinese and other foreign law firms as well. He has advised on many “deal of the year” and first-ever deals, and he consistently wins challenging cases for his clients. Based on this reputation and experience, he has been selected as a leading lawyer in Japan by major publications including WWL, Chambers, Legal 500, IFLR, Asialaw and Best Lawyers, and ranked as a top 10 outstanding Asia-Pacific Innovative Lawyer by the Financial Times in 2016 (as the first-ever lawyer with the honour in Japan).

He publishes various articles relating to capital markets and M&A, which lead new regulations and practice. Recently, he has taken the initiative to introduce SPACs to Japan through frequent discussions with regulators, media and market participants. 

Katsumasa has been a member of the Securities Law Committee of the International Bar Association since 2018 (chair of the M&A sub-committee from 2018 to 2019, and chair of public company practice and regulation from 2020 to present).  He heads the capital markets practice group at MHM and leads the group with a mission of contributing to the growth of capital markets in Japan and Asia in the best interests of clients.