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Atsumi & Sakai
Naoki Kanehisa
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Naoki Kanehisa

Senior Partner

London Office

Main Practices
Banking / Financial Regulation / Fintech / Asset Management and Investment Funds / General Corporate Legal Affairs / Establishing Companies and Businesses for Startups / Cashless Payments and E-money / Robo-advisors and Trading Market Forecasts / E-sports / Structured Finance and Securitization / M&A, Corporate Reorganization, and Joint Ventures / Private Equity and Venture Capital / Inward Investment / Data Protection, Privacy, and Cybersecurity / Pharmaceuticals, Cosmetics, and Medical Devices / Quantum Computing, Blockchain, and New Technologies / United Kingdom / Europe and the EU / Middle East and Africa
Languages
Japanese / English
Office
London
TEL
+44-(0)203-696-6540 (London office) / +44-(0)75-4899-7865 (UK mobile) / +81-(0)3-5501-2298 (Tokyo office)
Contact

Overview

Publications & Seminars

Awards

Admitted

Japan (2007) and New York (2013)

Bar Association

Dai-ichi Tokyo Bar Association

Education

The University of Tokyo (LL.B., 2004)
Keio University Law School (J.D., 2006)
Legal Training and Research Institute of the Supreme Court of Japan
Columbia University School of Law (LL.M. 2012)

Background

SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc. (New York) (2012-2014）
Mayer Brown LLP (New York) (November 2014-July 2015）
Atsumi & Sakai Europe Limited (London) (December 2017-)

Member

Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the United Kingdom, Director (October 2019-October 2020)
National Representative for Japan, AIJA (International Association of Young Lawyers) (September 2021-)
Auditor of The Organization of Global Financial City Tokyo (June 2025-)

Publications

  • Startup Legal Playbook, Japan Chapter, International Technology Law Association (ITechLaw) (2025) [Co-author]
  • Fintech: how is the world shaping the financial innovation industry?, Japan Chapter, International Bar Association Banking & Finance Law Committee (2024) [Co-author]

  • Startup Legal Playbook, Japan Chapter, International Technology Law Association (ITechLaw) (2024) [Co-author]

  • Fintech: how is the world shaping the financial innovation industry?, Japan Chapter, International Bar Association Banking Law Committee (2023) [Co-author]

  • Asset Managers & FinTech Companies Registration Guidebook 3rd Edition,  Tokyo Metropolitan Government (with the cooperation of the Financial Services Agency and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) (2023)  [Co-author]

  • "UK Seeks to Preserve its Position as the European Financial Center with the "Edinburgh Reforms"," Weekly Financial Affairs, March 7, 2023 issue (2023) [Co-author]

  • ”Lawyers Guide 2023,"  Lexis Nexis and Business & Law LLC (January 2023) [Interview]

  • “Survey of Legal Systems in Major European Nations regarding the Use of Cameras with Face Recognition Functionality,” Personal Information Protection Commission (2022)[Contributor]

  • 6000 Legal Countermeasures for Financial Institutions Vol.3: Incidental and Ancillary Services, Fintech, Kinzai Institute for Financial Affairs (2022) [Co-author]

  • "Current Situation of Legal Discussions Abroad regarding Crypto-Assets," Financial and Business Law Precedents No.1611 (2021) [Co-author]
  • Manual for Drafting Syndicated Loan Agreements New Edition‐Practical Know-how in Domestic and Overseas Joint Financing‐Fourth edition, CHUOKEIZAI-SHA INC. (2021) [Co-author]
  • "Survey on Data Collaboration and Utilization of AI, etc. in the Healthcare Sector," the Cabinet Secretariat's National Strategy Office of Information and Communication Technology (Commissioned by Seed Planning, Inc., recommissioned to NTT Data Institute of Management Consulting, Inc. and Atsumi & Sakai) (June 2020) [Co-author]
  • "Dealing with Brexit from the Legal Perspective of Japanese Firms: the Current Situation and What to Keep in Mind," The Finance March 2020 Issue (2020)
  • "Japan: outward-looking insights," The In-House Lawyer Summer 2019, Legalease Ltd (2019)
  • 2019 Global Survey on the Commercialisation of Disputes, Japan Chapter, in cooperation with Brown Rudnick LLP (2019) [Co-author]
  • "A fresh dose of regulation and promotion," Asia Pacific Fintech Special Focus 2019, IFLR April/May 2019, IFLR (2019) [Co-author]
  • Chambers Global Practice Guides - Project Finance 2019, Japan Chapter, Chambers and Partners (2018) [Co-author]
  • "Open Banking in Japan," Payments & Fintech Lawyer Volume 12, Issue 7, Cecile Park Media (2018) [Co-author]
  • Manual for Drafting Syndicated Loan Agreements New Edition‐Practical Know-how in Domestic and Overseas Joint Financing‐Third edition, CHUOKEIZAI-SHA INC. (2018) [Co-author]
  • 5000 Legal Countermeasures for Financial Institutions Vol.3: Lending, Management, and Guarantees, Kinzai Institute for Financial Affairs (2018) [Co-author]
  • 5000 Legal Countermeasures for Financial Institutions Vol.2: Exchange, Bills and Checks, Electronically Recorded Monetary Claims, Auxiliary Business, and Peripheral Business, Kinzai Institute for Financial Affairs (2018) [Co-author]
  • Guidance to the Asset Management Industry in Japan, Tokyo Metropolitan Government (with the cooperation of the Financial Services Agency) (2017) [Co-author]
  • “Understanding by Comparison of the Old and New – Annotations (Article by Article) to Amendments to the Civil Code (Law of Obligations),” SHINNIPPON-HOKI PUBLISHING CO., LTD. (2017) [Co-author]
  • "Realization Likelihood of the "Tokyo Version of the Financial Big Bang"," GINKO JITSUMU Vol. 47 No.9, Banking Education Co., Ltd. (September, 2017) [Co-author]
  • "Fintech: Business Strategies and the Law," Kinzai Institute for Financial Affairs, Inc. (2017) [Co-author]
  • IFLR Project Finance Report 2017, Japan Chapter, Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC (2016) [Co-author]
  • “Major Legal Considerations in connection with Brexit: M&A, Finance, Labour, Personal Information, and Intellectual Property, etc.”, JUNKAN KEIRIJOUHOU No.1453, CHUOKEIZAI-SHA, INC. (August, 2016) [Co-author]
  • "FinTech for Beginners Part 2: Asset Management Services (Investment Support) by Robo-advisor", Ginko Homu 21, Economic Legal Research Institute (July, 2016) [Co-author]
  • "FinTech for Beginners Part 1: Payment and Settlement Services", Ginko Homu 21, Economic Legal Research Institute (June, 2016) [Co-author]
  • IFLR Project Finance Report 2015, Japan Chapter, Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC (2015)  [Co-author]
  • Manual for Drafting Syndicated Loan Agreements New Edition‐Practical Know-how in Domestic and Overseas Joint Financing‐Second edition, CHUOKEIZAI-SHA INC. (2014) [Co-author]
  • Manual for Drafting Syndicated Loan Agreements New Edition‐Practical Know-how in Domestic and Overseas Joint Financing, CHUOKEIZAI-SHA INC. (2011) [Co-author]
  • "Q&A: Responding to Borrower Requests for Amendment of Residential Home Loan Terms" Financial Compliance, Banking Education Co., Ltd. (May, 2010) [Co-author]
  • "Recently Enacted Amendments to the Money Lending Business Act" Jutaku Loan Advisors Tsushin, September 2009 issue, Zaidan Houjin Jutaku Kinyu Fukyu Kyoukai [Co-author]
  • Theory and Practice of TMKs—Asset Liquidation Using TMKs, Kinzai Institute for Financial Affairs (2009) [Co-author]
  • Quick Guide to Revised Insurance Law, Nippon Jitsugyo Publishing (2009) [Co-author]
  • Commentary on the Trust Law, Gyosei (2008) [Co-author]
  • Commentary on the Insurance Law,Koubundou (2008) [Co-author]

Web Articles

Seminars

  • "Japan: Legal Considerations," at the Get Ready Workshop for the "Global Business Innovation Programme: Future Telecoms – Japan," hosted by Innovative UK, October 16, 2024
  • “Artificial Intelligence in International Business Law: Challenges, Opportunities, and Future Directions,” at a conference entitled “Half-Year May Conference,” hosted by International Association of Young Lawyers (AIJA), May 30, 2024
  • “Financing renewable energy projects,” at a conference entitled “Half-Year November Conference,” hosted by International Association of Young Lawyers (AIJA), November 17, 2022
  • “JAPAN: THE TIME IS NOW FOR ASSET MANAGERS,” hosted by Brown Brothers Harriman, November 3, 2022
  • “Banking culture: regulating for diversity and inclusion,” at the conference entitled “37th International Financial Law Conference,” hosted by International Bar Association(IBA), May 12, 2022
  • "Regulatory Framework for Fintech in Japan," at the webinar entitled "Access2Tokyo & Business France - FinTech Webinar," hosted by Access to Tokyo Paris Office and Business France, August 19, 2021
  • Webinar entitled "Cross-border Succession Assets and Beneficiaries in Japan and in the UK," hosted by Japan Association in the UK, February 24, 2021
  • Moderator at a presentation about Immigration & Employment, AI and Corporate Law by the Law Society of England and Wales at the joint seminar "Brexit Impacts on Legal System and Practices," hosted by Dai-ichi Tokyo Bar Association and the Law Society of England and Wales, supported by Japan In-House Lawyers Association (JILA), Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry, February 17, 2020
  • Panel discussion entitled "Development of the Asset Management Ecosystem in Japan," at the event entitled "Tokyo–London Financial Seminar 2020," hosted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the City of London, January 29, 2020
  • "Legal Issues in the Japanese Market," at the seminar entitled "Blossom in Japan: Embracing new global opportunities," hosted by The UK’s Department for International Trade, September 18, 2019
  • "ROUND TABLE ON RECENT DEVELOPMENTS UK & JAPAN COMMERCIAL LAW," at the event entitled "TRILATTRADE- On UK-EU-Japan relations in Trade, Regulation & IP," hosted by City Law School and Keio Law School, September 18, 2019
  • "Japan's Fintech and Asset Management market trends and regulation," at the seminar entitled "Access2Tokyo Fintech & Asset Management's seminar," hosted by Access to Tokyo Paris Office, September 10, 2019
  • "Japanese Fintech and Asset Management Market and Regulation," at the seminar entitled "Access2Tokyo industry4.0 and fintech seminar," hosted by Access to Tokyo Paris Office, August 5, 2019
  • Panelist at the panel discussion entitled "How can Tokyo support market entry for medium sized French asset management firms," at the seminar entitled "TOKYO-PARIS INTER-CITY ASSET MANAGEMENT SEMINAR," hosted by FinCity.Tokyo, PARIS EUROPLACE, NewAlpha Asset Management, July 8, 2019
  • Guest Speaker at the webinar entitled "Comparing GDPR with data protection law in Brazil and Japan," hosted by Bristows LLP, May 23-24, 2019
  • Panelist at the panel discussion entitled "BREAKOUT SESSION: Agri-Business," at the event entitled "2nd EU-Japan EPA Forum," May 17, 2019
  • "Procedures and Licencing Requirements for Japan Market Entry for Asset Management and Fintech Businesses," at the seminar entitled "Tokyo-London: Financial Seminar 2018," hosted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government at Mansion House, London, November 1, 2018
  • "Fintech trends in Japan and the UK," hosted by the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation and the British Japanese Law Association, September 26, 2018
  • "Significant Impact of Recent Amendments to the Civil Code on Loan Practice," hosted by Division 2 of the Japan In-House Lawyers Association, November 27, 2017
  • "UK Economy & Business Seminar," hosted by the British Embassy Tokyo, November 24, 2017
  • “Current Status of FinTech: Services, Legislation, and Developments in Foreign Countries,“ hosted by Keisi Chousa Kenkyukai, May 24, 2016