Mr. Nishikawa has been recognized by Asia Pacific Legal 500 and Who’s Who Legal as a leading individual in the Banking and Finance and Life Sciences categories.

Mr. Nishikawa served as a government officer at the Ministry of Construction (now Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, “MLIT”) from 1972-1975, and was a member of the Japanese House of Representatives from 1996-2000. In addition to his knowledge and experience as a government officer and a legislator, Mr. Nishikawa is thoroughly familiar with the complex administrative and legislative systems in Japan. With the experience he gained through his career as a government officer and a Diet member, Mr. Nishikawa is able to offer invaluable services to clients, applicable to circumstances in today’s global economy and to Japanese laws. Those laws still lack in transparency and often provide difficulties for many of the domestic and foreign businesses operating in Japan when it comes to interpretation. Prior to forming an affiliation with Sidley Austin LLP in 2002, Mr. Nishikawa was instrumental in the development of the Japanese No Action Letter system, an initiative which has been invaluable to increasing the transparency of the Japanese regulatory process. He is a pioneer of the system, having the first No Action Letter posted in Japan for a global insurance company. Mr. Nishikawa has been described in the Asahi Newspaper as a pioneering lawyer who took initiatives in the administrative law-making process.

TOMOO NISHIKAWA offers a unique practice utilizing his wealth of experience as a leading authority on regulatory and financing transactions, a legislator and a government officer. Mr. Nishikawa’s unique practice includes taking the lead advisory role in the following:

• Assisting a major foreign insurance company with the sale of its Japanese subsidiary insurance company resulting in a record speed governmental approval for the change in the parent of the Japanese subsidiary.

• Successfully assisting one of the world’s renowned airlines in its negotiation with a major Japanese airline regarding their global alliance issue. This included strategic advice on effectively presenting the focal points to the relevant parties, such as top government officials, and arranging opportunities to negotiate with the parties.

• Successfully assisting a foreign corporation in its formation of a LCC (low-cost carrier) with a leading Japanese airline.

• Assisting a global electric appliance company to prevail in a test case for “patent trolls,” through negotiations with relevant authorities by making convincing arguments on the initial purpose of applicable laws as well as possible adversary effects on relevant Japanese industries/businesses if the opposing party should prevail.

• Making theoretical explanations to and coordinating with relevant authorities to resolve anti-monopoly legal issues that seemed to arise out of an M&A between our client, a leading manufacturer of industrial instruments and another global manufacturer.  The merger between the two companies was ultimately approved by the authorities.