Baker McKenzie Welcomes Commercial and Trade Law Specialist Izumi Matsumoto to the Tokyo Office as Corporate/M&A Counsel

Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise) would like to extend a warm welcome to Izumi Matsumoto, a commercial and trade law specialist who joined the Tokyo office on 1 February 2021 to become a key member of the Firm’s Corporate/M&A Group.

Prior to joining the Firm, Izumi worked at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) from 2007 to 2020. While at METI, he participated in the Japan-EU EPA negotiations, the Japan-US-EU trilateral subsidies agreement negotiations, several WTO dispute settlement cases and worked on the Brexit issue.

Izumi focuses his practice on commercial and trade laws and regulations, WTO dispute settlement, investment screening law and export control law. He has extensive experience on issues involving import restrictions and trade remedy matters, such as anti-dumping and countervailing duties. He also advises on customs matters, classification and valuation issues, export control and sanctions, tariff treatment, FTA/EPA applications and public procurement.

After graduating from Keio University in 2004, Izumi received a J.D. from the University of Tokyo, School of Law in 2007, an M.P.A. from Harvard Kennedy School in 2014 and an LL.M. from Harvard Law School in 2015. Izumi was recently admitted to the bar in 2021.

Commenting on Izumi’s arrival, Baker McKenzie Tokyo office Managing Partner Hiroshi Kondo stated, “In the constantly changing global environment, many companies are aiming to resolve pressing issues in order to better navigate this new order. As trade disputes and sanctions become increasingly nebulous, we are confident that Izumi’s practical experience at METI will enable him to provide unparalleled advice to companies both within and outside Japan.”