Associate, Capital Markets, Tokyo

Who we are

We are one of the largest international law firms in the world. With over 30 offices across the globe, we strive to exceed the expectations of our clients, providing them with the highest-quality advice and legal insight, which combines the firm’s global standards with in-depth local expertise.

Our firm, work and people span jurisdictions, cultures, and languages. We offer our clients a truly international perspective. We believe every career should be rewarding and stimulating - full of opportunities to learn, thrive, and grow. That’s why we’re so proud of our inclusive, friendly, and team-based approach to work.

You’ll find our clients in commercial and industrial sectors, the financial investor community, governments, regulators, trade bodies, and not-for-profit organisations. But no matter who they are or why they’ve reached out to us, we provide a world-class service every step of the way. And that’s possible thanks to the entrepreneurial spirit and conscientious approach to work that you’ll find across all of our teams.

Whichever area of the business you join, you’ll become an integral part an innovative, diverse and ambitious team of people. Clifford Chance is a place where the brightest minds and the best of colleagues meet

Our Tokyo Capital Markets team, part of the firm's Global Financial Markets practice, is consistently ranked as a Tier 1 practice in Japan. We advise on some of the most prominent and innovative transactions in the market and are recognised in the market as leaders in the field.

You will advise corporate, financial institution, and sovereign issuers, underwriters, and financial investors across the full range of capital markets products, including:

• Standalone securities and debt issuance programmes
• Convertible and exchangeable bonds
• Regulatory capital and hybrid securities transactions
• ESG-related financings, including social, green, blue, sustainable, and sustainability-linked securities
• Liability management
• Equity offerings
• Repackagings
• Asset-backed structured notes
• Financial markets transactions, including derivatives, stock lending, and repos

Recent Awards

• Capital Markets: International: Asia and Euro Markets (Band 1) – Chambers, Asia-Pacific, Japan 2021
• Capital Markets: International: Securitisation & Structured Finance (Band 1) – Chambers, Asia-Pacific, Japan 2021
• Capital Markets: International Firms and Joint Ventures (Tier 1) – Legal 500, Asia-Pacific, Japan 2021
• Capital Markets: Structured Finance and Securitisation: Foreign (Tier 1) – IFLR1000, Asia-Pacific, Japan 2021
• Capital Markets: Debt: Foreign (Tier 1) – IFLR1000, Asia-Pacific, Japan 2021
• Capital Markets: Equity: Foreign (Tier 2) – IFLR1000, Asia-Pacific, Japan 2021
• "COVID-response Deal of the Year" at IFLR Asia-Pacific Awards 2021 (MUFG-TLAC Eligible Covid-19 Response Sustainability Bond)

The Capital Markets team in Tokyo consists of 3 partners, 11 associates, and 3 paralegals. You will be part of a dynamic team comprising England and Wales qualified and Japanese qualified lawyers, providing a one-stop service to our clients. The team is part of the broader APAC Capital Markets group, offering opportunities to work on a wider range of capital markets transactions in the region.

You will advise clients on all aspects of the matters outlined above, both in Japan and internationally. You will regularly work as part of cross-border and interdisciplinary teams essential to the complex and high-value transactions we support for our clients.

As a lawyer, your responsibilities will include:

• Drafting legal documents clearly and concisely
• Drafting and reviewing risk and general disclosure sections of offering documents and participating in due diligence processes
• Creating solutions using your legal knowledge and applying effective research techniques
• Challenging and testing advice against legal compliance and risks
• Proactively pursuing and expanding legal knowledge
• Utilising client focus initiatives to continually improve service levels and respond to individual client needs
• Engaging with knowledge resources effectively and collaborating in knowledge initiatives for the firm
• Managing matters within a disciplined practice, including good time management and adhering to best practice financial discipline and risk management processes
• Adopting best delivery tools, including utilising our Delhi-based team dedicated to supporting the APAC Capital Markets group

Your experience

• We are seeking an exceptional Commonwealth-qualified lawyer with experience in debt capital markets. Experience in other capital markets products, such as equity, securitisation, and other structured debt, will be advantageous.
• We are also open to considering more junior candidates with a general finance background. In all cases, you should possess first-class legal ability, a practical commercial approach, excellent drafting and communication skills, and the ability to work to tight deadlines while enjoying being part of a diverse and outgoing team.
• Your experience is likely to have been gained at a leading practice with a strong reputation in finance and capital markets.
• Language: Japanese language skills are not essential but would be advantageous.

Equal opportunities statement

At Clifford Chance, we understand that our true asset is our people. Inclusion is good for our team and their families, our firm and society.

We are committed to treating all employees and applicants fairly and equally regardless of their gender, gender identity and expression, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour, national or ethnic origin, social or economic background, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation, or age.  This applies to recruitment and selection, terms and conditions of employment including pay, promotion, training, transfer and every other aspect of employment.

We have a variety of flourishing employee networks. These networks are a place for colleagues to share experiences and advocate for change wherever they see an opportunity for improvement.

Our goal is to deliver an equality of opportunity, an equality of aspiration and an equality of experience to everyone who works in our firm. 

Find out more about our inclusive culture here