Akito Watkin
Counsel
Areas of Focus
- Corporate & Finance
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Investment Management
- Joint Ventures & Strategic Alliances
- Shareholder Activism
- Hedge Funds
- Corporate Governance
- Concentrates on cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A), private equity transactions and equity capital markets.
Akito Watkin has experience advising corporates and private equity funds on a wide range of cross-border and domestic acquisitions, disposals and joint ventures as well as general corporate advisory matters.
Prior to joining Akin, Akito was a corporate associate in a leading global law firm. During that time, he was seconded to the Tokyo office for six months and to Blackstone Credit (formerly GSO Capital Partners).
- Advising one of the world’s leading litigation funders on cross-border financing arrangements for a company in liquidation in Asia to enable the liquidators to pursue proceedings in Europe against a regional government.
- Represented Olin Corporation on its global joint venture with Mitsui & Co., Ltd. The joint venture is known as the Blue Water Alliance (BWA). BWA is an independent global trader of electrochemical units-based derivatives, initially focused on globally traded caustic soda and ethylene dichloride.
- Represented VPI Holdings Limited, an affiliate of energy and commodities trader Vitol S.A., in connection with the company’s proposed acquisition from Drax Group plc of four combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plants in the U.K. for a consideration of £193 million.
- Represented AstroBank on the establishment of Trusset Asset Management, a servicing platform for non-performing loans, and the sale of 74.9 percent of Trusset Asset Management to Qualco Group
- Represented an ad hoc committee of senior secured noteholders in relation to the further deleveraging and reorganization of commodities trader Noble Group (Noble), including the transition of ownership of a significant part of Noble to the noteholders.
LanguagesEnglish
Japanese
English
Japanese
EducationL.P.C., BPP University Law School, England, 2016
LL.B., London School of Economics and Political Science, 2015
L.P.C., BPP University Law School, England, 2016
LL.B., London School of Economics and Political Science, 2015
Bar AdmissionsRegistered Foreign Lawyer in Hong Kong
Solicitor, England and Wales
Registered Foreign Lawyer in Hong Kong
Solicitor, England and Wales