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Photo, Akihiro Kawasaki

Akihiro Kawasaki

Counsel
Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)

Biography

Akihiro Kawasaki is a member of the Firm's Tax / Transfer Pricing Group in Tokyo. He has a wide range of experience — including in Hong Kong IPOs, cryptocurrency issues and tax audits — and is particularly proficient in tax consulting involving complex reorganization-related tax concepts and anti-Controlled Foreign Corporation (CFC) rules. Prior to joining the Firm, he worked for a major Japanese tax consulting firm for 13 years, including a four-year assignment to Shanghai.

Practice Focus

Akihiro's practice focuses on cross-border tax planning for foreign multinational corporations (MNCs), including the development of tax-efficient capital structures to reduce clients’ effective tax rates.

Representative Legal Matters

  • Advised numerous Japanese listed companies on Japanese anti-CFC rules related to outbound investment and overseas restructuring.
  • Advised numerous Japanese listed companies on Japan-China cross-border restructuring.
  • Advised a Japanese listed company on the de-SPAC listing of its Israeli subsidiary on NASDAQ.
  • Advised numerous foreign MNCs, including US SEC-listed pharmaceutical companies, on domestic reorganization.
  • Advised numerous foreign MNCs on Japanese consumption tax matters.
  • Advised numerous foreign MNCs on setting up Japanese subsidiaries.
  • Advised a foreign MNC on tax structuring in connection with its investment in solar power generation facilities.
  • Advised a foreign medical device company on obtaining a determination by the National Tax Agency with regard to its tax treaty application.
  • Advised the Japanese subsidiaries of US SEC-listed industrial equipment manufacturers on domestic reorganizations using consolidated tax schemes.
  • Represented the Tokyo Regional Taxation Bureau in tax examinations against the subsidiaries of US SEC-listed companies.
  • Advised a Japanese company on its stock listing in Hong Kong.
  • Advised Japanese companies on virtual currency issues.

Admissions

  • Licensed Tax Attorney (Zeirishi)~Japan (2016)

Education

  • The University of Tokyo (Bachelor of Economics) (2006)

Languages

  • Japanese
  • English
  • Mandarin

Publications

  • Co-author, "Japan’s Corporate Tax Measures in Response to COVID-19," Daily Tax Report: International, Bloomberg Tax, October 2020, Language: English
Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise) is a member of Baker & McKenzie International, a Swiss Verein.