Behind the scenes of mergers and acquisitions: Perspectives of an M&A Lawyer in Japan with Kotoe Oshima

Kotoe Oshima is an M&A associate at Shearman and Sterling's Tokyo office. Kotoe shares her international background and passion for advising Japanese companies on complex global transactions. Join us as Kotoe discusses the positive nature of Japanese companies, the importance of women in business, and her own journey of finding purpose in her work. Kotoe also turns the microphone on Catherine to find out more about what it’s like to go through a law firm merger on the other side of the table. 

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In this episode you’ll hear:

How Kotoe experimented with various ideas for her career to then choose corporate law

Some of the different things in working with Japanese organisations on M&A deals

What it’s like experiencing an M&A situation between two law firms and Catherine’s advice for going through it with ease 

The importance of purpose both inside and outside of work and how Kotoe is using her interest in aesthetics in an innovative way

Her favourite podcasts, books and other fun facts 


About Kotoe
As a senior M&A Associate in Shearman & Sterling LLP’s Tokyo office, Kotoe specializes in cross-border M&A and particularly enjoys advising Japanese companies to achieve complex global transactions. As a Japanese citizen, she was born in Singapore, raised in Hong Kong and the U.K, before moving to the U.S. to pursue her undergraduate degree at Duke University and J.D. at Cornell Law School. Having started her career at Shearman’s New York office for 4 years, she relocated to Singapore to advise clients in SE Asia and India for 4 years before joining the firm’s Tokyo office where she is also experiencing living in Japan for her first time.
Kotoe is passionate about promoting the benefits of international experiences and collaborates with various institutions in Japan and the U.S. to organize events influencing cross-cultural diversity both at the student and professional levels. In her spare time, she loves to play tennis and the piano, ski, wake surf, cook and hike. Inspired by her grandparents, she also designs luxury elderly wear in her free time and hopes to dress the elderly population in beautiful clothes one day!

Connect with Kotoe 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kotoe-oshima/ 

Links
Mixology Heritage: https://www.jrtk.jp/hibiya-okuroji/shop/detail_00013/ 
Sapiens: https://www.amazon.co.jp/Sapiens-Humankind-Yuval-Noah-Harari/dp/0062316095 
Esther Perel, Where should we begin podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/where-should-we-begin-with-esther-perel/id1237931798 

Connect with Catherine 
Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/oconnellcatherine/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyeronair
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@lawyeronair