About Ashurst:

Ashurst is a leading global law firm with a history spanning almost 200 years, and clear strategy for our future growth. Our in-depth understanding of our clients and commitment to providing exceptional standards of service have seen us become a trusted adviser to local and global corporates, financial institutions and governments in all areas of commercial law. To find out more please visit here.

In order to comply with regulatory and client requirements, Ashurst will undertake appropriate vetting of staff. When applicants accept a job offer, Ashurst, alongside a specialist provider, will undertake professional verification and background checks.  These checks are only undertaken with consent, and in accordance with our legal and regulatory obligations.

Team overview:

Our dedicated Japan team, represented in offices around the globe, has more than 25 years' experience assisting Japanese corporations with their investments. The majority of the team, which includes a number of Japanese nationals, have had experience working in Japan and many are fluent in Japanese.

Our Japan team in Europe is headed by Hiro Iwamura in London, who is a Japanese national qualified to practice in the UK (England and Wales) and the US (New York and New Jersey). He has extensive experience in working with Japanese companies as an external advisor.

Our Japanese client base includes long-standing close relationships with manufacturers, trading houses, infrastructure companies, utility companies and Japanese banks. We have the depth of resource required to service all of the legal needs of our Japanese clients and advise many Japanese companies and financial institutions on their activities globally on a range of transactions.

Our core practices are focused on M&A, projects and international finance across Europe and the CIS, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australasia. We are ranked as leaders in these areas by industry authorities and have worked with Japanese companies on some of the largest and most complex transactions in these regions. As clients would expect, our teams are highly responsive and deliver first rate legal advice, but our knowledge of and insight into Japanese organisations allows us to deliver our service with a greater commercial edge.

Job overview:

We are currently looking for a Japanese qualified Corporate M&A lawyer to join our Japanese desk in the London office. The candidate should be at junior associate level and have worked for a large Japanese law firm.

Our Japanese team has a track record of successfully managing large and complex multi-jurisdictional transactions and projects.

We are interested in hearing from talented Japanese lawyers with a strong corporate background. By joining a leading practice, you will have exposure to a blue chip client base and work including takeovers, business and asset acquisitions and disposals, equity capital markets work, joint venture arrangements and corporate governance. You will join a strong team with real development opportunities and have the ability to work with a range of leading partners.

At Ashurst, you'll have the opportunity to work in an environment that encourages learning and excellence with some of London's leading professionals. You will also have a range of social, sporting and health benefits available to you.

Main Responsibilities:

You would typically act on all elements of general corporate work from term sheet stage, through to closing and post-closing.  Your specific areas of responsibility will initially be to review term sheets, draft and negotiate SPAs and other ancillary agreements, draft legal opinions, managing conditions precedent and ensuring a smooth process to transaction close.

You would also be expected to manage projects that have been assigned to you, which may require you to work with the specialists outside of our corporate department (e.g. employment, real estate, litigation) and liaise closely with colleagues, clients, counterparties and other advisers.  You would be working as part of a committed and inspired friendly team.

Typical responsibilities include:

• Drafting of legal documents and agreements;
• Contributing to department know-how;
• Advising clients and preparing formal legal opinions;
• Liaising and negotiating with counter parts; and
• Matter completion and post-closing work (including security perfection).

In addition to strong technical skills, you should be able to demonstrate an enthusiasm for business development and strong interpersonal skills as there will be client contact, in both the work and business development context.

Essential skills and experience:

• Experience of working for a top Japanese law firm with a strong presence in the Japanese market
• Junior to mid-level lawyer with experience in providing Japanese legal advice in international corporate transactions.
• Experience of drafting legal documents and agreements
• A team-player who can work effectively with colleagues at all levels
• Ability to integrate within a small team within a large law firm.
• Experience of negotiating with counter-parts.
• A commercial approach
• Native Japanese speaker with 'fluency' in reading and writing Japanese
• Proficiency in English

Representative clients

• Financial institutions: BTMU, SMBC, Mizuho, JBIC
• Trading houses: Mitsubishi, Mitsui, Sumitomo, Itochu, Marubeni
• Corporates: Honda, Toshiba, Rakuten, Hitachi, INPEX

Career advancement:

An established Associate Career Path Framework is in place clearly defining expectations and outlining opportunities for promotion.

Secondment opportunities:

Opportunities often arise for associates to spend time on secondment in house with a key client of the firm. From time to time, secondment opportunities also come up within other Ashurst offices in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia.

Salary: Competitive