Pillsbury Adds in Tokyo, Welcoming Cross-border Projects Partner Katsumi Shirai

Shirai-sensei represents global financial institutions, investment funds and multinational corporations—particularly those from English- and German-speaking jurisdictions—on complex inbound and outbound investments across Asia, with a particular focus on Japan’s energy and real estate sectors. As a bengoshi, his ability to advise clients on in-country and cross-border matters marks an important expansion of Pillsbury’s local capabilities.

“Katsumi’s experience aligns with Pillsbury’s established strengths in the energy, financial and real estate and construction sectors, while also creating additional capacity for us to support client needs amid a surge in inbound Japanese investment,” said Firm Chair David Dekker. “His arrival further diversifies the expertise we can offer clients and reinforces our longstanding reputation as a leading international law firm in Tokyo.”

Shirai-sensei is recognized as one of Japan’s leading lawyers, by Chambers Asia-Pacific for Real Estate and Legal 500 Asia Pacific for Projects & Energy. His practice spans a broad array of transactional work, including M&A and downstream investments in solar, wind and biomass energy and PFI/PPP/Privatization, as well as large-scale real estate assets such as hotels, resorts, shopping centers, data centers and office/residence towers. His experience also includes upstream structuring for foreign investors, including REITs, securitizations and private equity vehicles, as well as liquidations and minority shareholder protections. Notably, he is admitted to practice in Japan and New York.

Shirai-sensei has been very active since the initial introduction of renewable energy in Japan.  Among his most prominent engagements,  he advised K.K. GAIA POWER (currently GF Corporation) on its construction of a 92 MW solar power plant in the Kyushu region of Japan, one of the largest solar installations in the country; an Asian alternative investment management firm in connection with the highest profile complicated real estate development investments in Tokyo; and assisted a multi-national infrastructure investment fund with the development projects of its first BESS (battery energy storage system) in Japan.

Simon Barrett, Pillsbury’s Senior Parter in Japan added: “Katsumi is a highly regarded legal adviser in Japan and across all of Asia. As foreign investment in the region swells, the vast experience, knowledge and credibility he brings to our firm will help our Tokyo office better serve the many international entities we represent.”

“There are few international firms with such a storied history in Japan, or that are as deeply embedded in the international business conducted here,” Shirai-sensei said. “I have known Pillsbury and its partners—including fellow Tokyo-based practitioner Simon Barrett—for many years and look forward to expanding the firm’s impressive Japan practice alongside this talented team.”

Pillsbury’s expansion in Asia continues apace as it hired capital markets and M&A partner Samuel Ng in Hong Kong earlier this year and in 2024 welcomed a five-lawyer multidisciplinary team led by Shanghai partner Jia Yan, who oversees a broad corporate, investigations and disputes practice that spans Asia, the U.S. and the UK. In March, Pillsbury completed the successful transition of its local office to that of a Hong Kong solicitors’ firm, which enabled the firm to advise clients on both local and inbound work.

Pillsbury’s Japan practice provides effective inbound and outbound legal counsel to Japanese companies and other international entities, leveraging a deep understanding of Japanese business philosophy, linguistic and cultural fluency, and a wealth of in-house Japanese experience. With a well-established Tokyo office—one of longest-standing of any international law firm—and a team comprised of lawyers around the world with proven experience in Japan-related matters, the firm serves major banks, trading firms, manufacturers and other companies in the technology, consumer products, industrials, energy, financial and life sciences industries.