Competition / Antitrust

With the rise of the digital economy and the tightening of international regulations in antitrust and competition law, including those related to business combinations, competition authorities in Japan and overseas have become more active and stringent in their oversight. They are focusing not only on cartels and other typical violations but also control and exclusion in digital markets across numerous jurisdictions, including emerging markets. Stakeholders are scrutinizing these typical violations more rigorously, and the risk of violating antitrust and competition law in global business operations is increasing. Companies must establish systems to ensure compliance with these laws from a global standpoint. If a problem is identified or an investigation is initiated by competition authorities, it is crucial to be ready to respond swiftly and appropriately.

Our Antitrust and Competition Practice is one of the largest and long-established in Japan. We frequently assist in the most high-profile and challenging cases in antitrust enforcement in Japan, Asia and beyond. Our history of successful clearances and favorable outcomes for our clients is unmatched, as we strive to be the best antitrust and competition practice in Japan.

Consistently top-ranked in the leading legal directories, our Antitrust and Competition Practice consists of highly-qualified lawyers, including many partners and senior associates who specialize in antitrust and competition law full-time. Many of our team members have prior experience working abroad, for the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC), or both.

We regularly collaborate with top firms worldwide as well as our offices across Asia and in New York in representing clients in cross-border merger filings and global investigations. Our lawyers are well-versed in both local and international aspects of antitrust and competition issues and procedures, enabling us to offer one-stop service for complex matters with meticulous planning and coherent strategies. Over the decades, we have built strong relationships with many leading law firms and economic consulting firms in major jurisdictions globally.

Our firm distinguishes itself from other law firms in Japan in several key areas:
・ Working with our market-leading M&A Practice, our Antitrust and Competition Practice members are adept at securing smooth clearance from the JFTC and competition authorities in other jurisdictions.
・ Our team comprises dedicated lawyers, former senior government officials, and academics with frontline experience in antitrust law enforcement.
・ We have a global network of law firms and specialists that extends beyond our offices in Japan and Asia.
・ We receive strong support from our other Practice Groups such as Regulatory, Intellectual Property, and Litigation and Dispute Resolution, which are also recognized as leading practices in Japan.

Our antitrust and competition lawyers provide forward-looking, business-focused advice and guidance on all aspects of antitrust and competition law issues, including:
・ Merger control
・ Regulatory investigations
・ Competition-related litigation
・ Antitrust and competition law counseling
・ Compliance counseling and training