Asia PR News

TOKYO, July 31 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ –

Law Firm Announces New Partner in Tokyo Structured Finance and Securitization
Practice

Akira Nakazawa in the Tokyo office of Sidley Austin Gaikokuho Jimu Bengoshi
Jimusho, in association with Nishikawa & Partners, is among the 36 associates
and counsel elevated to partnership in the firm, which now has 659 partners in
offices in the United States, Europe, Asia and Australia. Mr. Nakazawa is a
new partner in the Structured Finance and Securitization practice.

"All of our new partners embody the client service values and collegial
culture of Sidley, in addition to being exceptionally talented lawyers," said
Thomas A. Cole, chair of the firm’s Executive Committee. "We are proud to
have them join Sidley’s partnership."

"Akira has been an integral member of the team in Tokyo and is wholly
deserving of this honor," added Tomoo Nishikawa, a partner in Nishikawa &
Partners, the registered affiliate of Sidley Austin Gaikokuho Jimu Bengoshi
Jimusho, and head of the firm’s Japan practice. "He has earned the respect of
his clients and colleagues. We welcome him to our partnership and appreciate
his continued dedication to the firm."

Akira Nakazawa advises on finance transactions including banking, asset
finance, securitization and structured finance. Mr. Nakazawa also has
experience in a wide range of general corporate transactions, including
advising on mergers of listed companies.

Mr. Nakazawa, who had been an associate, received his LL.M. from
Northwestern University School of Law and his LL.B. from the University of
Tokyo.

Sidley also named the following to partnership in its other offices:
Brussels - Arnoud R. Willems; Chicago - Michael C. Andolina, Jeannette K.
Arazi, John A. Chamberlin, Anny C. Huang, Kenneth P. Kansa, Christopher P.
Lokken, Brian A. McAleenan, Daniel J. Neppl, Clinton R. Uhlir, Robert L.
Verigan and J. Randal Wexler; Frankfurt - Jérôme S. Friedrich; Hong Kong -
Charles Allen; London - Jonathan Edge, Theresa D. Kradjian and Paul Matthews;
Los Angeles - Aimee M. Contreras-Camua, Sandra S. Fujiyama, Kelly L.C. Kriebs,
Jennifer A. Ratner and Robert M. Stone; New York - Laura M. Barzilai,
Madeleine J. Dowling, Lynn A. Dummett, Isaac S. Greaney, Joseph Kelly, Dennis
M. Manfredi and Aryeh H. Zarchan; San Francisco - Teague I. Donahey;
Washington, D.C. - Kevin J. Campion, Mark B. Langdon, Eric A. Shumsky, Eric M.
Solovy and John K. Van De Weert, Jr.

Sidley Austin LLP is one of the world’s largest full-service law firms,
with more than 1,700 lawyers practicing in 16 U.S. and international cities
including Beijing, Brussels, Frankfurt, Geneva, Hong Kong, London, Shanghai,
Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo. In 2006, Sidley was named to Legal Business’
Global Elite, their designation for "the 15 finest law firms in the world."
Sidley was again named the number one law firm for overall client service by
BTI, a Boston-based consulting and research firm, in 2007. BTI has also named
Sidley to their Client Service Hall of Fame as one of only two law firms to
rank in the Client Service Top 10 for six years in a row.

SOURCE Sidley Austin Gaikokuho Jimu Bengoshi Jimusho; Nishikawa & Partners

CONTACT: Kimi Ebinuma, Marketing Executive, Sidley Austin,
+81-3-3218-5012, kebinuma@sidley.com; or Dan Brady, Rubenstein Associates,
+1-212-843-8292, dbrady@rubenstein.com, for Sidley Austin Gaikokuho Jimu
Bengoshi Jimusho
Web site: http://www.sidley.com