- Firm
AsiaWise Group is established as “Cross-Border Professional Firm from Asia.”
AsiaWise is a cross-border multi disciplinary firm focusing on serving clients in the Asian region. We collaborate across Japan, India and Singapore to deliver high quality services to clients keeping in mind local sensitivities and cultural practices. Our roots and our focus is on Asia.
At AsiaWise, we assist our clients in areas of law, intellectual property and risk management. Our team has worked across businesses, practice areas and countries to provide actionable resolution to complex business problems. The services we offer are innovative, effective and tailor made to client needs.
Unlike traditional network firms, our professionals work as a single integrated team, allowing clients to focus on business, while we anticipate, manage and resolve their needs. As a cross-border Firm, we strive to act as a bridge between regions.
Asiawise is a coined word combining Asia and -wise. This word represents our wish to harmonize Asian wisdom. Asia was never one and will not be one. However, because of the differences we have, we can encounter other values, and we can create synergies. AsiaWise Group hopes to realize a society, where people are connected beyond borders, where mutual understanding and respect is cherished between “you” and “us.” While keeping our aspiration high, we are committed to provide professional service in our daily practice.
We realize the following values as the first Asian cross-border law firm
- Professional
- professional practitioner, and professional management - Diverse
- value our difference. Asia was never one, and will not be one, but our difference will create strength, i.e., “wise” - Innovative
- be a creative pioneer in the legal industry
- engaged in the exciting and challenging works
We contribute to an integration of the economies, nation states and people for Asia from the legal aspect
- For the interests of clients: providing the best cross-border legal service to the clients doing cross-border business
- For the interests of legal community: developing a new career path for lawyers as legal expert for cross-border legal issues
- For the interests of society at large: contributing to the development of the Asian legal architecture
- Professional
- MembersAW consists of Professionals in various areas
Co-Founders
Kotaro Kubo
Team
Legal Team, Leader
Entity
AsiaWise Legal Japan, Representative Partner
AsiaWise Digital Consulting & Advocacy KK, Managing Director
AsiaWise Technology KK, Managing Director
Profession
Attorney at Law (Japan, 2001)
Registered Foreign Lawyer in Singapore (2011)
Kotaro Kubo has been located abroad for nine years (U.S.A., India, and Singapore). With his professional experience, he specializes in matters related to India, Singapore, and other Southeast Asian countries, which include M&A, crisis management (compliance work), and dispute matters.
Education
Keio University, LL.B. (1999)
Columbia University School of Law, LL.M. (2008)
Professional Experience
2001 Joined Nishimura & Asahi
2008-2009 Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, New York
2009-2010 Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A.Shroff & Co., New Delhi
2010-2011 MITSUI & CO. (ASIA PACIFIC) PTE LTD., Singapore
2012-2016 Co-representative of Nishimura & Asahi's Singapore Office
2017 Left Nishimura & Asahi
2018- Established AsiaWise Group
Language
Japanese, English (Hindi but थोड़ा थोड़ा )
Yoshinori Oku
Team
IP Team, Leader
Entity
AsiaWise Cross-Border Consulting Singapore Pte. Ltd., Managing Director
Yoshinori Oku has been located abroad for 5 years (India and Singapore). With his professional experience, he specializes in matters related to India and ASEAN which include Patent prosecution, Design prosecution, Trade Mark prosecution, Patent litigation, Raid Action.
Education
Tokyo Institute of Technology, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Science and Engineering (2000)
Professional Experience
2000-2005 Join Matsushita Electric Industrial Corporation (present Panasonic Co. Ltd.); Intellectual Property Development Center
2006-2011 License Center of Panasonic headquarter
2012 Establishment of felicite Patent Professional Corporation
2013 Establishment of felicite IP consulting India Pvt Ltd
2013 Establishment of felicite IP consulting Singapore Pte Ltd
2018 Establishment of AsiaWise Group
Work Highlights
Patent, Design, Trade Mark Prosecution and Patent, Design, Trade Mark Litigation
Language
Japanese, English
Nitin Wadhwa
Team
India Legal Team
Entity
Wadhwa Law Offices, Managing Partner
Profession
Attorney at Law (India)
Other
Supreme Court of India Bar Association
Bar Council of Delhi
Mr. Wadhwa has over twelve years of professional experience in cross border mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, corporate financings, private equity transactions, joint ventures, securities & commercial litigation, corporate governance and risk management. Mr. Wadhwa has originated and lead complex transactions as well as advised clients on managing & resolving disputes. Before setting up Wadhwa Law Offices, he worked with the associate office of Jones Day in India.
Clerkships
Law Clerk to Justice P. P Naolekar of the Supreme
Court of India
Education
Pune University – BSL. LLB
Professional Experience
2006 Joined Associate Office of Jones Day
2016 Founding Partner Wadhwa Law Offices
2018 Became Associate Firm of AsiaWise
Language
English, Hindi & Punjabi
Other Members
Yoshinori Sato
Team
India Legal Team, Leader
Entity
AsiaWise Legal Japan, Partner
Profession
Attorney at Law (Japan, 2010)
Yoshinori Sato has eight years of experience as a lawyer. He worked at a middle size law firm in Tokyo before he joined us. He will be seconded to Wadhwa Law Offices (associate firm of AsiaWise Group in India) in Delhi/Gurugram this year and will work exclusively on the Indian matters.
Education
Tohoku University, LL.B. (2004)
Tokyo Metropolitan University, J.D. (2009)
Professional Experience
2010 Joined domestic law firm in Tokyo
2019 Joined AsiaWise Group
Language
Japanese, English
Mitsuhisa Watanabe
Team
Legal Team
Data/DX Team, Leader
Entity
AsiaWise Legal Japan, Partner
AsiaWise Digital Consulting & Advocacy KK, Director
Profession
Attorney at Law (Japan, 2012)
Mitsuhisa Watanabe previously worked in law offices which focused on corporate dispute resolution and general corporate law including M&A. His court experience includes handling litigation, provisional attachment, provisional dispositions, bankruptcy and liquidation, and tax litigation. He is also engaged in legal issues regarding data business and AI.
Education
Kyoto University, LL.B. (2008)
Kyoto University School of law, J.D. (2011)
Professional Experience
2012-2019 Joined law firms in Tokyo
2019 Joined AsiaWise Group
Language
Japanese, English
Kazuhiro Takano
Team
Tax Team, Leader
Profession
Certified Public Accountant (Japan)
Certified Public Tax Accountant (Japan)
Kazuhiro Takano has extensive experiences in tax consulting works as an outside expert. He has also abundant practical experiences in both tax planning and tax audit defense as a Japanese MNC’s tax department leader. He has particularly advanced experiences in tax management for cross-border projects.
Education
Osaka City University, BEc (1995)
Professional Experiences
1997 – 2002 ASG audit corporation
2003 – 2016 PwC Tax Japan
(2008 – 2011 Seconded to PwC India)
2016 – incumbent LIXIL Corporation
Language
Japanese, English
Kohei Yamazaki
Team
GRC Team, Leader
Tax Team
Entity
AsiaWise Technology KK, Director
Profession
Certified Public Accountant (Japan)
Certified Public Tax Accountant (Japan)
Kohei Yamazaki is a Japanese certified public accountant(CPA) with over ten years of professional experience in Governance Risk & Compliance(GRC) area. Kohei has extensive experience for multinational companies in statutory financial audit, international tax advisory services and risk advisory services such as enhancement corporate governance project, forensic accounting, factory quality audit, global internal audit project, Bribery audit, and China regulatory technology project in Big4 accounting firms.
Education
Keio University, B.A.(Policy Management) (2004)
Tsinghua University Chinese Language Program(2012-2013)
Professional Experience
2007-2012 KPMG AZSA LLC
2013-2015 PwC Tax Japan
2015-2016 PricewaterhouceCoopers Consultants(Shenzhen)Limited,Shanghai Branch
2017-2021 Deloitte Touch tohmatsu LLC
2021 Joined AsiaWise Group
Language
Japanese, English, Chinese (Mandarin)
Achika Iwanaga
Team
Legal Team
Entity
AsiaWise Legal Japan, Counsel
Profession
Attorney at Law (Japan, 2011/New York, 2016)
Achika Iwanaga is qualified to practice in Japan and New York and has over seven years’ experience in the banking and finance services and tech industry as in-house counsel. Before joining AsiaWise, she has also advised and represented many multi-national companies on cross boarder M&A, structured finance, and compliance matters across a variety of sectors including financial institutions, real estate investment funds, payment companies, manufactures and retailers. Achika is enthusiastic about advising and supporting clients on cross border matters, and with her extensive experience in corporate laws and regulations, joined AsiaWise in 2023.
Education
Keio University, LL.B. (1999)
Keio University Law School J.D. (2008)
Columbia University School of Law, LL.M. (2015)
Professional Experience
1999-2005 J.P. Morgan Securities, Tokyo
2012-2013 Paul Hasting LLP, Tokyo
2015-2022 Nomura Securities Co. Ltd.
2022 Joined a startup company as Director of Legal and Compliance
2023 Joined AsiaWise
Deepayan Das
Team
India Legal Team
Entity
Wadhwa Law Offices, Founding Partner
Profession
Attorney at Law (India)
Other
Supreme Court of India Bar Association
Bar Council of Delhi
Deepayan has over ten years of professional experience and focuses and specializes in mergers and acquisitions, venture capital, private equity and general corporate matters. Deepayan has experience in representing both, buy and sell side in transactions and regularly advises and counsels board of directors, senior management and owners of international and domestic companies on corporate governance, new policy, and strategic initiatives as well as corporate social responsibility. Before co-founding Wadhwa Law Offices, Deepayan has worked with leading international and domestic law firms.
Education
NALSAR University of Law (B.A. LL.B (Hons))
Professional Experience
2008 Joined Associate office of Jones Day
2011 Joined AZB & Partners
2016 Founding Partner Wadhwa Law Offices
2018 Became Associate Firm of AsiaWise
Language
English, Hindi, Oriya & Tamil
Adarsh G
Team
India Legal Team
Entity
Wadhwa Law Offices, Partner
Profession
Attorney at Law (India)
Other
Supreme Court of India Bar Association
Bar Council of Delhi
Adarsh is a senior member of Wadhwa Law Offices and heads Bangalore office and the Private Equity & Venture Capital practice in India. Adarsh has over eight years of professional experience and focuses on venture capital funding; strategic investments; domestic and inbound acquisitions; regulatory and technology matters. Before joining Wadhwa Law Offices, Adarsh has worked with leading international and domestic law firms.
Education
NALSAR University of Law (B.A. L.L.B (Hons))
Professional Experience
2008 Joined India Associate Office of Jones Day
2014 Joined SAMVĀD: Partners
2019 Joined Wadhwa Law Offices. Set up Bangalore office
Language
English, Hindi & Kannada
Miki Fujita
Team
Legal Team
Entity
AsiaWise Legal Japan, Counsel
Lisse KK, Managing Director
Profession
Attorney at Law (Japan, 2001)
Miki Fujita has represented international and domestic clients in litigation and arbitration with respect to transactions between Japanese companies and foreign companies, among others, located in Southeast Asian countries and African countries.
Based on the experience above, she specializes in international commercial litigation and arbitration as well as dispute avoidance with respect to transactions between Japanese companies and foreign companies, among others, located in Southeast Asian countries and African countries.
Education
2001 The University of Tokyo (LL.B.)
2007 Duke University School of Law (LL.M.)
Professional Experience
2001 Joined Nishimura & Asahi
2004-2006 Deputy Secretary-General of the Japan Association of Arbitrators
2005-2006 Deputy Secretary-General of the ADR Center of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations
2007-2008 Seconded to Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP, New York
2013 Partner at Nishimura & Asahi
2018 Left Nishimura & Asahi
2019 Joined AsiaWise, Incorporation of a company for legal-tech services
Language
Japanese, English
Ravi Prakash
Team
India Tax Team
Entity
Wadhwa Law Offices, Of Counsel
Supreme Court Bar Association
Delhi High Court Bar Association
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India
Profession
Attorney at Law (India)
Certified Public Accountant (India)
Ravi is a dual qualified (chartered accountant and lawyer) legal and tax professional with over 35 years’ experience in legal, financial, accounting and tax matters. Ravi has vast experience in assisting clients across a variety of sectors and industries including telecommunications, IT, ITeS, healthcare, banking and financial services. Ravi has advised and represented many overseas corporations, multi-national companies, public and private companies, law firms, accounting firms, PE investors, FIIs/FPIs etc. on income-tax matters, tax planning, tax management, litigation support, transaction tax advisory (including corporate and business structuring, mergers, de-mergers, joint ventures, disinvestments), succession planning, personal tax, corporate law and compliances, accounting and disclosures, white collar crimes, accounting and fraud investigations etc.
Education
Chartered Accountancy (1985)
LL.B. (2007)
Professional Experience
1990 Head – Tax, Max India Limited, New Delhi
2003 Head–Knowledge Management, PwC, Delhi
2007 Senior Partner, AZB & Partner, New Delhi
2021 Of Counsel, Wadhwa Law Offices
Guangjia Justin Jiang
Team
Legal Team
Team Greater China, Leader
Data/DX Team
Entity
AsiaWise Legal Japan, External Counsel
With a multi-jurisdictional background consists of Japan, China P.R and the state of New York, cross-border transactions and data/TMT are Guangjia J. Jiang’s two core areas of practice. As an external counsel at AsiaWise, Jiang offers creative solutions to weather challenged client through unfamiliar business climates unique to Asia.
Education
Nagoya University, LL.B. (2019)
New York University, Visiting Scholar (2017-18)
Language
Cantonese, English, Japanese, & Mandarin
Associates
(alphabetical order)
Takeru Asai
Team
Legal Team
Entity
AsiaWise Legal Japan, Associate
Profession
Attorney at Law (Japan, 2019)
He qualified as a lawyer in December 2019. He then worked at a law firm in Tokyo for 3 years. He has a wealth of experience in domestic litigation matters.
Having previously worked in the legal department of a company handling international matters, he joined AsiaWise Law Office to work on cross-border matters that would support Japanese companies in their overseas expansions. At the same time, he is also currently involved in a legal tech company, Lisse Corporation, where he works on contract review on a daily basis.
Education
Meiji University Faculty of Law, LL.B. (2010)
Keio University Graduate School of Law, J.D. (2014)
Professional Experience
2019-2022 Joined law firm in Tokyo
2023 Joined AsiaWise Group
Language
Japanese, English
Masaki Nakatsuka
Team
Legal Team
Entity
AsiaWise Legal Japan, Associate
Profession
Attorney at Law (Japan, 2018)
Masaki Nakatsuka worked at a law firm in Tokyo as a lawyer and was mainly responsible for a wide range of litigation cases in Japan.
He joined AsiaWise Group in order to realize his long-cherished dream to be a cross border lawyer especially in the field of Asia. Now, he handles projects that support Japanese companies doing business with Asian and other overseas companies. Also involved in the legal tech company Lisse Inc.
Education
Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, Bachelor of Arts (Language and Area Studies) (2007)
University of Tokyo, School of Law, J.D. (2011)
Professional Experience
2018-2020 Joined law firm in Tokyo
2020 Joined AsiaWise Group
Language
Japanese, English
Nobuyuki Nishio
Team
Legal Team
Entity
AsiaWise Legal Japan, Associate
Profession
Attorney at Law (Japan, 2017)
Nobuyuki Nishio has worked at tax firm and law firms in Tokyo. He has supported various corporate clients on international tax, M&A, foreign regulation research, legal function consulting and so on. He joined AsiaWise Group in 2021 to focus on cross-border challenges.
Education
Okayama University, LL.B. (2013)
Kyoto University School of law, J.D. (2015)
Professional Experience
2017-2021 Joined tax firm and law firms in Tokyo
2021 Joined AsiaWise Grou
Language
Japanese, English
Sosaku Nitta
Team
India Legal Team
Entity
AsiaWise Legal Japan, Associate
Sosaku Nitta passed the Japanese national bar exam and started his carrier in a global accounting firm in India. He has experience in the field of accounting, audit, Corporate Law and other regulations, corporate tax, individual tax, GST, customs, transfer pricing, liquidation, and M&A. He decided to join AsiaWise Group from 2021 seeking for a work place where he can support clients in cross border matters by utilizing his legal and accounting knowledge of Japan as well as India.
Education
Kyoto University, LL.B.(2017)
Hitotsubashi University Law School, J.D. (2019)
Language
Japanese, English
Yosuke Tanaka
Team
IP Team
Data/DX Team
Technology Team, Leader
Entity
AsiaWise Cross-Border Consulting Singapore Pte. Ltd.
AsiaWise Digital Consulting & Advocacy K.K. Director
Yosuke Tanaka has ten years of experience in Intellectual Property, both in-house and firm in Japan and Singapore. He focuses on patent drafting, patent search, IP portfolio management in Southeast Asia and India. He has experiences especially in technical fields of mechanics, electronics, information and communication technology (ICT).
Education
Kyoto University, Bachelor in Electrical and Electronic Engineering (2004)
Kyoto University, Master in Electronics Engineering (2006)
National University of Singapore, Graduate Certificate in Intellectual Property Law (2011)
Professional Experience
2006 Joined Philips Intellectual Property & Standard (Japan)
2011 Joined Patrick Mirandah Co. (Currently known as Mirandah Asia) (Singapore)
2014 Joined Spruson & Ferguson (Singapore)
2019 Joined AsiaWise Group
Language
Japanese, English
Aya Uemura
Team
Legal Team
Entity
AsiaWise Legal Japan, Associate
Profession
Attorney at Law (Japan, 2022)
Aya Uemura worked at district publicprosecutors offices in Tokyo and Okayama as a public prosecutor. In 2022, she decidedto change her career path and registered as a lawyer in order to support Japanese companies in the fields of Asian legal affairs that she learned when she was a student.
Education
Kobe University, LL.B. (2015)
Kobe University Law School, J.D. (2018)
Professional Experience
2019-2021 a public prosecutor at Tokyodistrict public prosecutors office
2021 a public prosecutor at Okayamadistrict public prosecutors office
2022 Joined AsiaWise Group
Language
Japanese, English
Churan Zhang
Team
Legal Team
Entity
AsiaWise Legal Japan, Associate
Churan Zhang joined AsiaWise Group in order to continue to create new possibilities for himself by combining practical experience and academic knowledge, while challenging himself to practice in the cross-border area. He is willing to provide high quality legal services to clients, while demonstrating his expertise in the future.
Education
Nanzan University, Faculty of Policy Studies (2014)
Nagoya University Graduate School of Law, Master's Program in Law (2018)
Nagoya University Graduate School of Law, Doctoral Program in Law (2022)
Professional Experience
Daido University, Lecturer (The Constitution of Japan) (2021-2022)
National Institute of Technology, Toyota College, Lecturer (The Constitution of Japan) (2021-2022)
Language
Japanese, English, Chinese
