Professional Summary
Chizu Matsumaru is a member of the Corporate/M&A Group at the Firm’s Tokyo office. Prior to joining Baker McKenzie, she worked at a Japanese law firm where she handled a number of domestic and international transactions. She was seconded to Baker McKenzie’s Vietnam offices from May 2013 to July 2016, where she assisted a number of Japanese clients in connection with mergers, acquisitions, general corporate and employment-related matters and dispute resolution in connection with their business activities in Vietnam.
Practice Focus
Chizu regularly advises Japanese and international companies on domestic and cross-border M&A transactions, joint ventures, corporate restructuring and general corporate matters. She has significant experience handling due diligence in mergers and acquisitions, drafting a wide range of agreements including share purchase agreements, international license agreements, distributor agreements and purchase and sale agreements. Her experience includes advising Japanese clients on outbound investment in the United States, Australia, France, South Africa, Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and other jurisdictions.
Representative Clients, Cases or Matters
- Advised a listed Japanese garage shutter manufacturer on its acquisition of an Australian manufacturer through an auction process using warranty and indemnity insurance.
- Advised a Chinese private investment fund on its acquisition of a Japanese machinery manufacturer with several foreign subsidiaries through an auction process using warranty and indemnity insurance.
- Advised a listed Japanese steel manufacturer on its establishment of a joint venture in Thailand with a global steel manufacturer.
- Advised a Japanese trading company on its acquisition of a South African company holding mining rights through a SPC in Cayman.
- Advised a major Japanese real estate developer on its acquisition of a premier office building located in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam through a Hong Kong-based holding company.
- Advised a major Japanese IT service provider on its acquisition of a Vietnamese financial services company that provides online payment intermediary services.
- Advised a major Japanese steel company on its establishment of a joint venture company in Vietnam with a Vietnamese state-owned company.
Publications, Presentations and Articles
- Speaker, “M&A practices in Vietnam,” Financial Management Forums, Inc., January 2018
- Speaker, “Legal framework of franchising in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam,” Japan Franchise Chain Association, January 2018
- Speaker, “Foreign Investment in Vietnam, Impact of New Law on Investment and Law on Enterprises,” Baker McKenzie, May 2015
Admissions
- New York~United States (2011)
- Japan (2005)
Professional Association and Memberships
- Tokyo Dai-ichi Bar Association – Member
Education
- Columbia Law School (LLM) (2010)
- Faculty of Law at Kyoto University (LLB) (2003)
Languages
- Japanese
- English