Japan Relations

Baker Donelson has long emphasized relationships with Japanese companies, drawing on the work of former Senate Majority Leader, Chief of Staff to the President of the United States and former Ambassador to Japan Howard Baker. With more than thirty years of trade and investment experience with Japan and our sensitivity to foreign cultural issues, our Firm's emphasis on extreme attention to detail and our knowledge of international relationships are appreciated by our Japanese clients, as well as by those clients who support many of the entities.

International Trade and Investment

Today's rapidly changing global business climate presents unprecedented opportunities for making inroads into new markets. At the same time, companies on unfamiliar ground can encounter difficult hurdles, unforeseen costs and face significant risks. Our Firm knows and understands the issues – whether it relates to import and export matters, government controls of foreign direct investment, the intricacies of a foreign economy or immigration questions related to trade. This is particularly true in the case of Japanese companies seeking to do business in or with the United States where, more than 30 years ago, senior members of our Firm began assisting such companies in overcoming commercial and political difficulties in doing business with the United States.

Our international practice takes into account all key facets of transactions in today’s global marketplace. This means that in addition to top-rated legal expertise for all elements in a private-party transaction, we also guide our clients through the maze of local, state and federal government regulatory and political constraints that can have a serious effect on the outcome.

Our work includes diplomatic negotiations with government and business representatives living and operating in Japan as well as their American counterparts. Thus, our roster of attorneys and advisers includes professionals who have served as members of the Senate and the House of Representatives, former senior officials with international trade and investment responsibilities in the White House, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, and the Departments of State, Commerce, Treasury and Homeland Security. In addition, several have worked at the U.S. International Trade Commission and served as Trade Counsel on the Senate Committee having oversight of international trade.

Baker Donelson's experience in working with Japan includes:

• Representing Japanese and affiliated companies in trade-related issues before Congress and the Executive Branch regarding government regulation of trade, including customs, antidumping, NAFTA and rules of origin.
• Former partner serving as Governor of Tennessee initiating a major trade and investment program with Japan that resulted in major Japanese investments in the state and a Baker Donelson appreciation and support for such investments.
• Representing a major Japanese company before the Committee for Foreign Investment in the United States in the successful acquisition of a US company involved in business related to U.S. national security.
• Representing a major Japanese automobile manufacturing company in its successful efforts to set up a Foreign Trade subzone. Representation included the management and prosecution of the application for the subzone through the U.S. Department of Commerce.
• Representing Japanese insurance company with respect to bilateral discussions regarding access to the Japanese market by companies in the United States seeking a business relationship.
• Representing several major U.S. companies in efforts to do business in Japan as well as various contract and transactional projects between Japanese and U.S. companies.
• Representing U.S. chemical company in its efforts to obtain licensing agreements with a Japanese company.
• Representing Japanese automobile manufacturer with successful outcome in safeguards case against Japanese imports.
• Serving as counsel to a major Japanese auto parts supplier in an anti-dumping action.
• Assisting airports in increasing their access to international aviation markets, including Japan.