White & Case has bolstered its global M&A practice with the addition of funds partner Eriko Sakata from Linklaters in Tokyo.
White & Case partner Anthony Wong, head of investment funds in the Asia-Pacific, said: “There continues to be significant interest from global and regional asset management clients to establish funds in Japan and to invest there, particularly in the private equity, real estate and infrastructure sectors. Eriko is a highly experienced and respected funds partner and her addition will further deepen our private equity bench in Tokyo.”
Sakata is an investment funds lawyer with expertise in real estate, infrastructure, financial regulation and structured finance. She practised as a partner at Linklaters in Tokyo and spent a 12-year stint at the UK firm.
The Tokyo-based, Japan-qualified funds lawyer started her legal career in 1999 as an associate at Mitsui Yasuda Wani & Maeda Law Firm, which saw a team of its lawyers merge with Linklaters in 2005.
She has advised global asset managers and blue-chip corporations on establishing and operating large-cap investment platforms. She also specialises in fund formation, financial regulation, structured finance and downstream in-bound acquisitions, including real estate, infrastructure and renewable energy.
