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About Junya Suzuki

Junya has extensive experience in cross-border M&A transactions (including complex carve-outs and joint ventures). He is also well versed in restructuring and insolvency, business closures and distressed transactions.

Recent work

M&As and joint ventures

  • Advised Mitsubishi Electric Corporation on its strategic investment in a silicon carbide business of Coherent Corp.*
  • Advised a major Japanese renewable energy company on the sale of a majority stake in its offshore wind business to a multinational energy company.* 
  • Advised a leading Japanese electronics company in its acquisition of the global power grid business of a European electronics company.*
  • Advised Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. (also known as Foxconn) and other investors in connection with their investment in Sharp Corporation.*
  • Advised Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Company, Limited in its acquisition of the Japanese leasing business of the General Electric group.*
  • Advised CTBC Bank Co., Ltd. in its acquisition of The Tokyo Star Bank, Limited.*

Venture investments

  • Advised Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company, Limited in its strategic partnership with Hippo Enterprises Inc.*

Restructuring and insolvency

  • Represented a major foreign airline company as debtor's counsel in filing a petition for recognition and assistance of the company's foreign insolvency proceedings pursuant to the Act on Recognition and Assistance of Foreign Insolvency Proceedings of Japan.*
  • Represented a domestic airline as debtor's counsel in filing a petition for commencement of bankruptcy proceedings.*
  • Represented Takata Corporation as debtor's counsel in its civil rehabilitation proceedings and advised Takata group in relation to US Chapter 11 and 15 proceedings.*
  • Acted as Japanese counsel to the Westinghouse group in connection with the group's global restructuring.*
  • Represented a leading NYSE-listed technology company in the reorganisation proceedings of a major Japanese semiconductor manufacturer.*

* Representation occurred prior to joining Freshfields

Qualifications

Education

  • University of Virginia, US (LL.M.)
  • University of Tokyo, Japan (J.D.)
  • University of Tokyo, Japan (LL.B.)

Professional memberships

  • Member, Tokyo Bar Association
  • Member, Law Society of England and Wales
  • Member, American Bankruptcy Institute
  • Member, INSOL International
  • Member, Japan Federation of Insolvency Professionals
  • Lecturer, The Business Law Department of Hitotsubashi University Graduate School of Law (2022 and 2024)

Professional qualifications

  • Admitted to practice in Japan, the State of New York, and England and Wales

Professional honours

  • Ones to Watch, Japan Corporate and Mergers and Acquisitions Law, The Best Lawyers in Japan (2024, 2025)
  • Rising Star, Restructuring and Insolvency, The Legal 500 Japan (2024)
  • Young Practitioner Spotlight 2022, INSOL International (recognised as one of around 60 rising stars in the globla restruturing market - the sole Japanese practitioner so honoured)

Publications

  • Co-author, JCA Journal, Japan Commercial Arbitration Association, August 2021 Inherent Conflict between Arbitration and Bankruptcy - US/UK's Endeavours Towards Harmonization and Thier Practical Implications for Japanese Law

  • Co-author, Business Homu, Chuokeizai-sha, November 2020 Recent Trends in Distressed M&A - Business Acquisitions under Section 363 of the US Bankruptcy Code

  • Co-author, The Turnaround & Credit Management, KINZAI, July 2018 An Overview of the Spanish Insolvency Law

  • Co-author, Journal of the Japanese Institute of International Business Law, The Japan Institute of International Business Law, December 2015, January 2016 and February 2016 An Overview and Analysis of the American Bankruptcy Institute's Recommendations on the Reform of Chapter 11

  • Contributor, Shoji Homu, June 2014 An Overview of US Bankruptcy Law