Akimoto's areas of specialty include mergers and acquisitions, securities regulations and other financial services regulations, and general advice on corporate matters (joint venture, corporate governance, antitrust, etc.). With 17 years' experience as a practicing lawyer, Akimoto brings valuable expertise and leadership skills to the firm's Corporate & Securities and Banking & Finance Practice Groups, both of which he is a member. Akimoto advises on corporate law and related areas of law and provides guidance on Japanese securities regulation and other financial services regulations. With regard to mergers and acquisitions, he primarily handles matters for publicly held companies in Japan and cross-border transactions. He provides general legal advice on M&A to corporations, investment banks and other financial institutions. He advises financial institutions on securities business regulations, the Banking Law, and other regulatory and compliance issues related to financial services regulations. In addition, he provides examination of past transactions which financial institutions have entered into, and advises on and negotiates settlement of past transactions. Akimoto has extensive experience in negotiating, and examining and clarifying issues in corporate matters such as advice on joint venture, and corporate governance. In 2001 and 2002, he was seconded to a foreign securities company where he provided legal services on securities regulations to Legal & Compliance and on M&A to IBD. Prior to joining the firm, Akimoto practiced at Hamada & Matsumoto from 1991 to 1995 and 1998 to 1999, where he specialized in capital market transactions, and with Kirkland & Ellis, Chicago from 1996 to 1998, where he represented Japanese clients in cross-border mergers and acquisitions deals and also participated in securitization transactions and antitrust litigation. Akimoto is fluent in English. Akimoto received his LL.B. from the University of Tokyo Faculty of Law, and his LL.M. from the University of Michigan Law School. He is a member of the Daini Tokyo Bar Association.