Professionals Akihiro Hironaka Partner Tokyo Add to My List 本語中 ( 簡体 ) 中 ( 繁体 ) Language: Japanese English Profile in PDF +81-3-6250-6344 Contact Practice areas: Corporate Disputes Securities Litigation/Disputes Related to Financial Products Civil Litigation Tax Disputes Consumer Contract Disputes PL Litigation Insurance Related Disputes Alternative Dispute Resolution Civil Disputes Arising from Corporate Scandals Investor-State Dispute Settlement International Litigation International Arbitration International Taxation Product Liability Act, Product Safety & the Recall of Products Cross-border Transactions (General) Infrastructure/PPP Natural Resources & Energy Medicine/Medical Devices Automotive & Auto Parts United States Qualifications : Admitted in Japan (1996, voluntarily deregistered in 1998 and readmitted in 2000) Admitted in New York (2004) Overview Major Cases Publications & /News Akihiro Hironaka has been a partner in the dispute resolution group of the firm since 2007. He has extensive experience dealing with various large-scale and complex dispute resolution matters, both cross-border and domestic. Mr. Hironaka is particularly renowned for his successful representation of clients in multiple large-scale disputes. For example, he succeeded in defending a notable Japanese corporation in six large lawsuits amounting to JPY 48.3 billion in total damages, filed by claimants including an affiliate company of a U.S. headquartered investment bank and a notable U.S. hedge fund. He also represented Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance in contesting a tax assessment concerning complex cross-border reinsurance transactions that transferred earthquake-related risks, and succeeded in recovering JPY 6.7 billion for his client. Further, while representing the Sumitomo Trust & Banking Corporation in challenging a tax assessment related to cross-border securities repurchase transactions, he succeeded in recovering JPY 8 billion for his client. Mr. Hironaka has also represented and advised major Japanese and international corporations, and achieved results in large scale international arbitrations in Japan and elsewhere, including a case of an emergency arbitrator procedure, under the rules of ICC, SIAC, AAA-ICDR and JCAA, complex product liability lawsuits, cross-border disputes concerning M&A transactions, reinsurance claims, and construction disputes relating to delays at foreign construction sites located in Middle Eastern and Asian countries, among others. In addition, his experience extends to advising Japanese and international corporations with respect to U.S. discovery proceedings, Japanese judicial assistance for foreign court proceedings, Japanese legal issues pertaining to foreign court and arbitration proceedings, and U.S. civil actions, including class actions. Mr. Hironaka is a graduate of the University of Tokyo (LL.B., 1993) and Harvard Law School (LL.M., 2003), and he is admitted to the bars of Japan and New York. He served as a Japanese district court judge from 1998 until 2000. Furthermore, he has authored books, book chapters, 1
and articles in the areas of dispute resolution and tax controversy, and his representative publications include Yasuhei Taniguchi et al. (eds.), Civil Procedure in Japan (contributor, Juris Publishing), International Arbitration and Corporate Strategy (Co-author, Yuhikaku), and Frontlines of International Tax Litigation (Co-author, Yuhikaku). He is an individually ranked lawyer in the category of dispute resolution/litigation with Chambers Global/Asia-Pacific 2017 and Who's Who Legal Japan 2017. He is also an individually ranked lawyer in the category of product liability defence with Who's Who Legal 2017. Who's Who Legal Japan 2015 described him as an experienced litigator who ʻis one of the first names that come to mind for high-stake lawsuitsʼ, and Who's Who Legal Japan 2016 described him as an internationally renowned and universally respected lawyer. Asian Legal Business named him as one of the firmʼs many ʻgo-toʼ partners to perform strongly. Mr Hironaka was awarded Asialaw Asia-Pacific Dispute Resolution : Disputes Star of the Year, Japan, in 2015 and 2016. Recent activities 2/2019 Corpus Juris M&A - Completely Revised Edition (first volume) (second volume) 2/2019 Highest rankings in Chambers Global 2019 1/2019 Recommended firm: World Tax 2019 Education 2003 Harvard Law School (LL.M.) 1993 The University of Tokyo (LL.B.) Professional experience 2013 Lecturer, Hitotsubashi University, Graduate School of International Corporate Strategy (ICS) 2003-2004 Arnold & Porter LLP, Washington, D.C. 1998-2000 Judge of Yokohama District Court Overview Major Cases Publications & /News Major Cases 2015-2018 International Arbitration Proceedings Concerning Contractual Disputes 2015 Provisional Measures Ordered by a Japanese Court to Assist in International Arbitration at a Foreign International Arbitration Institution 2014 Emergency Arbitrator's Proceedings at a Foreign Arbitration Institution 2012-2014 Tax litigation regarding securitization transactions for domestic housing loans 2012-2014 Product Liability Litigation for a Major Japanese Vehicle Manufacturer 2011-2013 A Price Determination Dispute for Appraisal Rights of Investment Equity Relating to the Merger and Acquisition 2011-2013 Litigation Requesting a Declaratory Judgment for Non-existence of Injunctive Relief based on Trademark Rights 2010-2014 An Action Seeking Damages Relating to the Issuance of Class Shares Subject to a Class-Wide Call 2009-2010 Tax Litigation concerning Finite Reinsurance Policies (Tokyo High Court) 2
2009-2010 An Action Seeking Revocation of a Resolution of a Shareholders' Meeting Relating to the Issuance of Class Shares Subject to a Class-Wide Call 2008-2013 Large Vicarious Liability Case by a notable U.S. Hedge Fund 2008-2012 Large Vicarious Liability Case by an Affiliate Company of a U.S. Headquartered Investment Bank 2006-2013 Product Liability Litigation for a Major Foreign Vehicle Manufacturer Overview Major Cases Publications & /News Corpus Juris M&A - Completely Revised Edition (first volume) (second volume) 1/2019 Treatise on Japanese Taxation, Third Edition 12/2018 Civil Procedure in Japan - Third Edition 12/2018 GAR Know how - Litigation 2018: Japan 7/2018 Liability Review - Fifth Edition: Japan 6/2018 Expropriations of property in violation of international law and sovereign immunity 5/2018 Modern Lectures on Law of Taxation Volume IV: International Taxation 8/2017 The Decision Making of the United States Supreme Court 2005-2013 7/2017 Liability Review - Fourth Edition - 6/2017 GAR Know how - Litigation 2017 6/2017 Symposium: Codes of Conduct and Appropriate Actions of Parties involved in Arbitration - Meaning of Soft Law in the ADR Proceedings 5/2017 Asian Cross-Border Litigation: Trends & Recent Developments in Japan 5/26/2017 Modern Lectures on Law of Taxation Volume I: Theory and History A decision on who should make a determination concerning procedural requirements in investment treaty arbitration - U.S. Supreme Court Decision, March 5, 2014, BG Group PLC v. 3 Guidelines for party representation in arbitration proceedings 7/9/2016
5/2017 Republic of Argentina 10/2016 GAR Know how - Litigation 2016 6/2016 Liability Review - Third Edition - (Japan Chapter) 6/2016 Commercial Litigation - Second Edition - (Japan Chapter) 10/2015 Exploring Practicality: Using Japanese Courtrooms for Evidence Gathering in International Arbitration 10/2015 Liability Review - Second Edition - 5/2015 Treatise on Japanese Taxation, Second Edition 4/15/2015 International Arbitration Practice from the Perspectives of Arbitrators and Arbitration Institutions 4/8/2015 The Tax Disputes & Litigation Review - Third Edition - (Japan Chapter) 3/2015 Frontiers of Taxation on Cross-Border Transactions (in J) 12/20/2014 International Arbitration and Corporate Strategy (in J) 12/10/2014 Master class: using courtroom litigation to support arbitration in Asia 10/22/2014 Taxation and the Market Economy in Japan 8/2014 The Chambers Legal Practice Guide: Litigation 2014 7/2014 Liability Review - First Edition - (Japan Chapter) 5/2014 The Tax Disputes & Litigation Review - Second Edition - 4/2014 New Developments concerning the Political Question Doctrine (Study of Anglo American Law) Frontiers of CFC Rules Committee Session "Dispute Resolutions and Arbitration" 10/10/2013 4 4/17/2013
11/1/2013 The Tax Disputes & Litigation Review 3/2013 Assessing burden of proof in transfer pricing disputes (June 2012) N&A Newsletters 6/28/2012 Assessing burden of proof in transfer pricing disputes 6/2012 Treatise on Japanese Taxation 11/25/2011 Commercial Litigation 2011 11/2011 Frontiers of Transfer Pricing (in J) 7/15/2011 Development of Tax Law in Japan 11/30/2010 Frontlines of International Tax Litigation (in J) 7/15/2010 Securities litigation picks up 5/2010 Yasuhei Taniguchi, et. al. eds., Civil Procedure in Japan (Chapter 7 Adjudicatory Process in the Courts of First Instance) 9/2008 The Decision Making of the United States Supreme Court 1993-2005 1/2008 Recent Trends in International Arbitration in Japan 3/2007 Jurisdictional Theory 'Made in Japan': Convergence of U.S. and Continental European Approaches 11/2004 Yasuhei Taniguchi, et. al. eds., Civil Procedure in Japan (Chapter 8 Proceedings in the Higher Courts) 7/2002 Overview Major Cases Publications & /News Highest rankings in Chambers Global 2019 2/2019 Recommended firm: World Tax 2019 12/2018 5 Nishimura & Asahiʼs Japan practices and lawyers receive top rankings in Chambers Asia Pacific 2019
11/2018 30 lawyers recognised by Whoʼs Who Legal: Japan 2018 10/29/2018 Tax Controversy Leaders 2018 8/2018 Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific 2018 6/2018 Asialaw Leading Lawyers 2018 5/2018 Nishimura & Asahi included in The GAR100, the list of leading global arbitration practices 5/2018 Whoʼs Who Legal: Product Liability Defence 2018 5/2018 Best Lawyers names top attorneys in Japan 4/2018 2018 2/2018 The NIKKEI "Most successful lawyers in 2017" 12/2017 Chambers Asia-Pacific 2018 12/2017 Asialaw Profiles 2018 - The Guide to Asia-Pacific's Leading Domestic Law Firms 11/2017 Asialaw Leading Lawyers 2017 8/2017 Tax Controversy Leaders 2017 8/2017 Who's Who Legal: Japan 2017 8/2017 2017 3/2017 Best Lawyers 3/2017 Chambers Asia-Pacific 2017 1/2017 Asialaw Profiles 2017 - The Guide to Asia-Pacific's Leading Domestic Law Firms 11/2016 Tax Controversy Leaders 2016 9/2016 Asialaw Asia-Pacific Dispute Resolution 2016 9/2016 Asialaw Leading Lawyers 2016 7/2016 6
Who's Who Legal: Japan 2016 7/2016 2016 3/2016 Best Lawyers 2/2016 Chambers Asia-Pacific 2016 2/2016 Tax Controversy Leaders 2015 9/2015 Asialaw Asia-Pacific Dispute Resolution 2015 9/2015 Who's Who Legal: Japan 2015 9/2015 Asia IP Experts 2015 9/2015 Best Lawyers 6/2015 2015 3/2015 ILO Client Choice 2015 2/2015 Chambers Asia-Pacific 2015 2/2015 Best Lawyers 10/2014 Who's Who Legal: Japan 2014 9/2014 Tax Controversy Leaders 2014 9/2014 2014 3/2014 Chambers Asia-Pacific 2014 2/2014 The NIKKEI "Most successful lawyers in 2013" 12/2013 Tax Controversy Leaders 2013 8/2013 Chambers Asia-Pacific 2013 3/2013 2013 3/2013 PLC Which Lawyer? 10/2012 Tax Controversy Leaders 2012 9/2012 PLC Which Lawyer? 5/2012 7
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