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; both Mangyo and Eric are recommended lawyers in the M&A category.

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.

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; Mangyo is recognized as a Leading Individual for M&A and TMT and Eric for M&A; Takahito is recognized as a Rising Start for TMT.

Chambers Global

Ranked in Corporate/M&A: Domestic category in Chambers Global guide: 2019-2023; both Mangyo and Eric are recommended lawyers in the M&A category.

Asian Legal Business

Recognized by ALB as one of the top firms in Japan for M&A: 2017-2022.

Asian Legal Business –
“Firms to Watch”

ALB featured southgate in its 2017 “Firms to Watch,” one of only 15 law firms in Asia to be so honored (and the first Japanese firm ever to receive this honor).