J. Ryan Dwyer, III

Resident in Tokyo since 1999, Ryan Dwyer concentrates his practice on cross-border M&A and foreign direct investment into Japan by US and other non-Japanese companies, international joint ventures involving Japanese parties and Japan out-bound strategic M&A transactions for Japanese corporations.

Ryan is the managing partner of the firm’s Tokyo office and a member of the firm’s global advisory council. He is a past member of the firm’s global management committee and also served as one of the firm’s global coordinators of its M&A practice. He has extensive experience advising international companies on the corporate, regulatory, employment, and commercial aspects of transactions and investing in Japan and setting up and operating businesses in Japan.

He has worked across a number of industries on Japanese and complex cross-border deals, with particular focus in the technology sector, advising companies in relation to licensing and distribution agreements, and regulatory issues. Ryan has been ranked in several legal publications including Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2016 and Chambers Asia 2008-2009.

Representative Experience

• Represented investment arm of US hotel operator in its acquisition of real estate in Japan including a major international hotel in Tokyo, a hotel in Kobe, Japan, and commercial real estate in Tokyo.

• Represented Japan-based international consulting firm in its separation and MBO from a US-based global consultancy in response to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. This separation included obtaining a no-action letter from the US SEC.

• Represented Athens-based, publicly listed jewellery manufacturer and retailer in their acquisition of significant equity stake in their exclusive distributor in Japan.

• Represented Japanese mobile-internet service provider in relation to placement of a significant equity stake in an investment group led by America Online, Inc.

• Represented US credit company in the transfer of the business of their Japanese subsidiary to a Japanese financial institution.

• Represented acquirer in the acquisition of the Japan affiliate of a US-based software company and in relation to negotiation of related software development and distribution agreements.

• Representation of US-based Internet services company in the sale of the ISP business of its Japanese subsidiary.

• Represented Australian private equity fund in its acquisition of one of Japan’s premier ski resorts, adjoining mountain-base development areas and entitlements and a nearby golf course.

• Represented Danish-based multinational food company in relation to the Japan aspects of its global acquisition of a France-based food additives multinational company.