The firm’s practice areas include corporate transactions, mergers and acquisitions, foreign investment, commercial agreements, dispute resolution, intellectual property, labour and employment, real estate, and regulatory matters. So & Sato supports overseas companies entering or operating in Japan, as well as Japanese businesses engaged in international activities, providing practical and business-oriented legal advice.
With experience advising multinational companies and Japanese enterprises, So & Sato positions itself as a boutique firm offering responsive, partner-led service and tailored solutions for clients navigating Japan’s legal and business environment.
The main specialisms of So & Sato Law Offices are focused on technology-driven businesses, finance, corporate transactions, and innovation-related legal matters. The firm has particular expertise advising Japanese and international companies on emerging industries and complex cross-border transactions.
Key practice areas include:
- FinTech & Blockchain
Regulatory advice for crypto assets, digital assets, blockchain businesses, security tokens, decentralised finance (DeFi), payment services, and financial technology ventures. - Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Emerging Technologies
Legal advice for AI businesses, generative AI applications, technology regulation, product launches, data issues, and innovation-focused companies. - Corporate Law & Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A)
Private and public M&A, startup transactions, joint ventures, corporate structuring, investment transactions, and general corporate advisory. - Banking & Finance
Financing transactions, structured finance, securitisation, derivatives, debt and equity financing, and financial regulatory matters. - Capital Markets
Equity and debt offerings, IPO-related matters, securities regulation, structured products, and capital-raising transactions. - Investment Funds & Venture Capital
Private equity funds, venture capital investments, hedge funds, fund formation, fund regulation, and investment management matters. - Financial Regulatory Law
Advice on Japanese financial regulations, compliance requirements, licensing, and regulatory frameworks affecting financial institutions and fintech companies. - Startups & Innovation Businesses
Legal support for founders and growth companies, including fundraising, business models, commercial agreements, regulatory analysis, and scaling strategies. - Technology Transactions & Commercial Agreements
Technology licensing, strategic partnerships, software-related agreements, and contracts supporting digital businesses. - Data Protection & Privacy
Advice on personal data handling, technology compliance, and regulatory considerations for digital products and services. - Intellectual Property & Technology Regulation
IP-related advice for innovative businesses, including technology development, commercialization, and protection of new products and services. - Corporate Governance & Crisis Management
Governance advice, internal controls, and support for companies dealing with complex corporate issues.
So & Sato is particularly recognized for its combination of corporate transaction experience and deep knowledge of emerging technologies, making it especially suited to clients operating in FinTech, Web3, AI, startups, venture investment, and innovation-led industries
