Clifford Chance

Clifford Chance announces new Co-Managing Partners for Tokyo, Reiko Sakimura and Leng-Fong Lai

Leading international law firm Clifford Chance has announced that Reiko Sakimura and Leng-Fong Lai will be the new Co-Managing Partners of the Tokyo office, effective 1 May. Reiko, current Head of Capital Markets in Tokyo specialises in international debt and equity offerings and joined the firm's Tokyo office in 2009. Leng-Fong's focus is debt capital markets as well as structured finance, asset-backed securities and derivatives. He joined the firm in 2000 in London and has been in the Tokyo office since 2005.

Current Office Managing Partner Eiichi Kanda who has been in the role since 2012, will continue to focus on his many important client relationships and contacts and grow his busy real estate and infrastructure practice.

Geraint Hughes, Regional Managing Partner said, "We are delighted to welcome two highly regarded partners to the regional management team. They both have been active members of the firm locally, regionally and globally and will bring valuable leadership experience. Eiichi has successfully guided the office over these past six years and we thank him for his tremendous contribution. Eiichi will be continuing to make a major contribution to the office and our practice in the region in building and developing his practice with its strong focus on the important real estate and infrastructure sectors.”

Tokyo's recent headline deals include advising investors on Toshiba's US$5.4 billion (JPY600 billion) share placement; Frasers Hospitality, a member of Frasers Property Group, on its SG$250 million investment to develop a new serviced residence in Tokyo's Ginza district; and global airport operator VINCI Airports S.A.S. on the privatisation of the Kobe Airport.