Anthony, Linder & Cacomanolis Opens Tokyo Office to Bolster US-Japan Capital Markets

Anthony, Linder & Cacomanolis has opened a new office in Tokyo to enhance legal and advisory support for US-Japan cross-border capital market transactions. This strategic expansion aims to serve as a dedicated bridge for Japanese enterprises seeking access to US public capital markets.

Rafael Montoya

September 25, 2026 · 3 min read

Anthony, Linder & Cacomanolis (ALC), an international capital markets law firm, formally opened a new office in Tokyo's Otemachi financial center on September 25, 2026. The expansion is strategically aimed at enhancing legal and advisory support for US-Japan cross-border capital market transactions and complex mergers and acquisitions, according to an announcement by ACCESS Newswire. This move establishes ALC's Tokyo presence as a dedicated cross-border legal bridge, specifically designed to facilitate Japanese enterprises' access to US public capital markets.

Comprehensive Advisory Services for Cross-Border Transactions

The new Tokyo office will offer a wide array of legal and advisory services tailored for the intricate landscape of US-Japan transactions. ALC advises on various capital market activities, including initial public offerings (IPOs), de-SPAC transactions, direct listings, and reverse mergers. Beyond public offerings, the firm provides continuous guidance on ongoing regulatory compliance under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, corporate governance structuring for dual-jurisdiction boards, and follow-on public offerings. Additionally, ALC supports complex cross-border M&A, mid-market acquisitions, and corporate restructuring, as reported by Morningstar.

Navigating Dual Regulatory Landscapes

A core aspect of ALC's service offering is its expertise in structuring cross-border transactions to ensure seamless alignment between Japanese and US regulatory standards. The firm works with Japanese local counsel to navigate the Japanese Companies Act while simultaneously ensuring compliance with US regulatory expectations, including SEC compliance, ongoing SEC reporting requirements, and national exchange listing rules for platforms like Nasdaq and NYSE. This approach aims to create compliant and efficient pathways for Japanese companies entering US markets, as detailed by Voice of Alexandria. ALC also provides bilingual technical analysis across its platforms to support cross-border communication and executive education.

Proven Track Record in Pioneering Japanese Access to US Markets

ALC brings over two decades of capital markets experience to its cross-border mandates, combining legal scholarship with practical deal execution. The firm states it has completed transactions with an aggregate deal value exceeding $25 billion, demonstrating an established track record of pioneering transactions and leadership in the Japan-US capital markets corridor, according to Corsicana Daily Sun. This experience includes serving as securities counsel on the first-ever direct listing of a Japanese-centric enterprise on the Nasdaq Global Market.

Landmark Achievement: The First Japanese-Centric Nasdaq Direct Listing

A significant milestone highlighting ALC's expertise is its role as securities counsel for the direct listing of Tokyo-based fintech firm Advasa Holdings, Inc. on the Nasdaq Global Market. This transaction, successfully completed on August 25, 2026, marked the first-ever direct listing of a Japanese-centric enterprise on the Nasdaq Global Market. The firm navigated and integrated complex US securities laws, Nasdaq listing requirements, and a cross-border corporate structure to create a novel route to the US public markets for a Japanese operating company, as reported by ACCESSWIRE Newsroom.

Contributing to the US-Japan Legal Infrastructure

ALC's new Tokyo office and its specialized expertise are set to significantly contribute to the legal and advisory infrastructure supporting US-Japan cross-border transactions. The firm's commitment extends to providing comprehensive overviews of US securities regulations, exchange standards, and structuring guides in both English and Japanese on its website. Furthermore, ALC publishes a weekly legal and capital markets newsletter in both languages, offering commentary on regulatory developments, SEC rulemaking, and exchange listing dynamics. The firm also actively participates in industry events, having served as a Platinum Sponsor and panel participant at the Japan Go IPO Summit in Tokyo in September 2026, where it addressed executives on capital formation and public-market readiness across multiple jurisdictions, according to citybiz.