Wataru Nakamori handles an extensive variety of legal matters, ranging from his specialty, which is finance, mergers and acquisitions, and business rehabilitation, to general corporate affairs (with a particular focus on real estate and risk management, including dealing with organized crime and other anti-social forces). Mr. Nakamori continues to improve his standing by participating in a variety of academic societies and research organizations, and he also actively provides lectures and seminars, teaches law students, writes articles and books, and participates in bar association activities. Mr. Nakamori offers clients the best solutions and continuously strives to implement them through both his legal practice and also by utilizing such extensive activities and experience.

Work Highlights

• Attorney for debtors, creditors, and sponsors, and acted as a trustee, supervisor, examiner, dispute resolution provider, and member of the rehabilitation plan review committee, etc. in cases of legal reorganization (corporate reorganization, civil rehabilitation, and bankruptcy), and out-of-court workouts (ADR for business rehabilitation, the use of the Small and Medium Enterprises Agency, and special mediation, etc.) of commercial facility operating companies, golf course operating companies, transportation companies, building maintenance companies, manufacturing companies, medical corporations, dispensary operating companies, consulting companies, and semi-public corporations, etc.
• Legal counsel, formation and analysis of structures, documentation, etc. in connection with asset securitization, trusts, private funds, equity financing, mezzanine financing, M&A financing, etc.
• M&A transactions and reorganization of listed companies and small and medium-sized companies, the privatization of Osaka Metro, and reorganization, etc. of public corporations/organizations such as the integration of Osaka Prefecture University and Osaka City University
• Shareholders representative actions, acting representatives of representative directors, commercial cases involving provisional directors, etc., and fraud investigations
• Sponsorship Type Out-of-Court Workout of a Photography Studio
• International Arbitration in Singapore

Education & Professional Career

2008 – Present	Kitahama Partners, Representative Partner
2002 – Present	Kitahama Partners, Partner
1995	Graduated from the Legal Training and Research Institute of the Supreme Court of Japan; Admitted to practice in Japan; Joined Kitahama Partners
1991	Kyoto University (LL.B.)

Other Activities

2023 – Present	Statutory Auditor, Academia-Launched Bio and Healthcare Venture Association
2023 – Present	Advisor, Biocommunity Kansai (BiocK)
2023 – Present	Executive Director, Japanese Association for Business Recovery
2022 – Present	Member, Building Review Council of Ashiya City
2021 – Present	Auditor Secretary, Institute of Innovative Medical Technology
2021 – 2023	Representative Facilitator, Insolvency Law Practice Study Group, Osaka Bar Association
2019 – Present	Ordinary and Executive Committee Member, Japanese Association of Turnaround Professionals
2017 – 2018	Vice President, Osaka Bar Association
2015 – 2020	Representative, Japan Federation of Bar Associations; Director, Kinki Federation of Bar Associations; Permanent Member, Osaka Bar Association
2015 – 2017	Vice Chairperson, Legal Training Committee, Osaka Bar Association
2014 – 2016	Adjunct Professor, Kyoto University Law School (Insolvency Law)
2012 – Present	Member, Review Committee on Insolvency Law, etc., Japan Federation of Bar Associations (2013-2020, Vice Chairperson)
2012 – Present	Director, National Network of Insolvency Attorneys
2011 – 2012	Vice Chairperson, Legal Training Committee, Osaka Bar Association
2010 – 2017	Vice Chairperson, Judicial System Committee, Osaka Bar Association (in charge of Insolvency Law Division)
2009 – 2023	Adjunct Professor, Osaka University of Economics, Graduate School (Trust Law)
2008	Member, Research Committee on Facilitation of Business Succession of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises by Using Trusts, Small and Medium Enterprise Agencies
2007 – 2008	Vice Chairperson, Committee on Measures against Organized Crime and Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee, Osaka Bar Association
2006 – Present	Auditor, Saito Bio Hills Club (currently general incorporated association)
2006 – 2012	Counselor, Osaka Prefectural Center for the Elimination of Anti-Social Forces
2005	Visiting Professor, Osaka University, the Center for Advanced Medical Engineering and Informatics (Intellectual Property Law)
2004 – Present	Auditor, NPO BioGrid Center Kansai
2003 – 2005	Vice Chairperson, Committee on Measures against Organized Crime and Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee, Osaka Bar Association
2002 – 2017	Adjunct Professor, Osaka Prefecture University Graduate School of Economics (Corporate / M&A Law)

Memberships

• Japan Association of the Law of Finance
• Japan Association of the Law of Trusts
• Japan Association of the Law of Civil Procedure
• Japanese Association of Turn-Around Professionals
• National Network of Insolvency Attorneys
• Japanese Association for Business Recovery