Awards and Recognitions
“Lawyers were responsive at all hours and had a global knowledge of deal terms and custom. They were a pleasure to work with.”
(Legal 500 Asia Pacific – 2023)
“[E]xcellent, top-quality advice with a quick turnaround . . . . They really care about their clients and go the extra mile.”
(Chambers Asia-Pacific – 2021)
“Very experienced, closely knit team, very hands-on.”
(Legal 500 Asia Pacific – 2022)
“[A]n excellent firm. . . . It combines the expertise and experience of a large international firm with the hands-on approach of a boutique.”
(Chambers Asia-Pacific – 2021)
“southgate provides ‘outstanding service . . . excellent bilingual capabilities [and] fantastic value for money’.”
(Chambers Asia-Pacific – 2020)
“southgate is a first-rate law firm”
(The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific – 2019)
“The boutique is ‘genuinely excellent’ at cross-border M&A.”
(The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific – 2018)
Chambers Asia-Pacific
Ranked in Corporate/M&A: Domestic category in Chambers Asia-Pacific guide: 2018-2023; Eric is a recommended lawyer in the M&A category.
Chambers Global
Ranked in Corporate/M&A: Domestic category in Chambers Global guide: 2019-2023; Eric is a recommended lawyer in the M&A category.
Legal 500
Ranked in Corporate and M&A (2017-2023) and TMT (2023) in the Independent Local Firms category in the Legal 500 Asia Pacific guide; Eric is recognized as a Leading Individual for M&A; Gaku and Takeshi are recognized as Recommended Individuals for M&A, and Takahito is recognized as a Rising Star for TMT.
Asian Legal Business –
“Firms to Watch”
ALB featured southgate in its 2017 “Firms to Watch” in Asia, one of only 15 law firms to be so honored (and the first Japanese firm ever to receive this honor), and ALB recognized southgate as 1 of 10 “Firms to Watch” in Japan in its inaugural ranking in 2022.
Asian Legal Business –
“Boutique Firm of the Year”
southgate received the Boutique Law Firm of the Year Award at the 2019 Asian Legal Business Japan Legal Awards ceremony. The award recognizes southgate’s excellence in cross-border transactional matters.
Asian Legal Business –
“Rising Law Firm of the Year”
southgate received the first ever Rising Law Firm of the Year Award at the 2023 ALB Japan Law Awards ceremony. The award recognizes our growth as a powerhouse in cross-border transactional work in the seven years since our founding.