Paul Hastings, a leading global law firm, announced today that it has advised North America Sekisui House, LLC (“NASH”), the wholly-owned subsidiary of Sekisui House, Ltd – Japan’s largest homebuilder and a leading diversified developer, in its acquisition of the largest operating portfolio of residential master-planned communities in the United States. The acquisition was made through a new joint venture between NASH and Newland Real Estate Group LLC (“Newland”), a national real estate development company based in San Diego, California.

Leading international law firm Clifford Chance has hired Aaron Comerford to join the Tokyo office as Counsel on the derivatives and structured products team.

International law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is advising financial investor RHJ International (“RHJI”) on the divestment of its stake in Japanese automotive supplier Asahi Tec Corporation to funds managed by Japanese private equity firm Unison Capital Group (“Unison”).

Baker & McKenzie GJBJ Tokyo Aoyama Aoki Koma Law Office (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise) announced the expansion of its corporate/M&A practice with the addition of a team of highly regarded lawyers from Linklaters. The team includes partners Hideo Norikoshi and Jiro Toyokawa and associates Kiyoshi Endo, Seiji Tomimoto and Daisuke Wakamatsu.

Shearman & Sterling is advising Fujifilm Holdings Corporation (Fujifilm) in its acquisition of SonoSite, Inc. in a transaction valued at approximately $995 million.

Simpson Thacher is representing Pola Orbis Holdings Inc. (“Pola Orbis”) in connection with its approximately $300 million announced acquisition of Jurlique International (“Jurlique”).

Morrison & Foerster is pleased to announce that Dale Araki has joined the firm as a partner in the Tokyo office.  Mr. Araki, one of Japan’s leading M&A lawyers, specializes in representing Japanese, European, and U.S. companies in a wide variety of cross-border acquisitions, investments and joint ventures.

Hogan Lovells has strengthened its international litigation and arbitration practice with the lateral partner hire of Patric McGonigal in Tokyo.  Patric, an experienced litigator, will join Hogan Lovells on 31 October 2011 and will be based in the firm’s Tokyo office.

DLA Piper announced it has advised Japan Bank for International Cooperation (“JBIC”), Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (“NEXI”) and commercial bank lenders on a $1.5 billion advance pay structured financing facility to Venezuela’s national oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. (“PDVSA”) which was signed in Caracas on June 28.

Simpson Thacher’s Tokyo office recently represented the underwriters, led by BofA Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, UBS Investment Bank, Nomura and Citi in a shelf takedown of $400 million 5.00% Senior Notes due 2016 of ORIX Corporation. The notes are a further issuance of the $400 million 5.00% notes due 2016 issued by ORIX Corporation in January 2011.