Leading global law firm Morrison Foerster announced the addition of Naoya Shiota as a partner in the global Private Equity Group in the firm’s Tokyo office. Shiota’s arrival further enhances Morrison Foerster’s international private equity capabilities in Japan, complementing its 50-strong team of corporate and M&A attorneys in Tokyo.
Shiota brings an impressive private equity practice to Morrison Foerster, with 20 years of experience advising global private equity funds and Japanese corporate clients on cross-border and domestic acquisitions and disposals. And Shiota has substantial experience in both M&A and finance, counseling clients across a breadth of different mandates, including acquisitions of private companies, tender offers and going-private matters. He comes from a major U.S.-based global law firm, where he served as a partner in its corporate and M&A group.
Shiota’s arrival also follows recent strategic growth in Morrison Foerster’s global Private Equity Group: James Lee (New York) joined the firm in April 2025, Xiaoxi Lin (Hong Kong) and Scott Jalowayski (Singapore) in January 2025, Greg Salathé (Tokyo) in September 2024, and Michael Vernace (San Francisco) in February 2025 along with recent partner promotions in Tokyo including Real Estate partner Yoshitaka Katayama, and Antitrust partner Yoshiya Usami.
Shiota holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Tokyo and a Master of Laws from Cornell Law School. And he is admitted to practice in Japan (bengoshi) and New York and is fluent in both English and his native Japanese.
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“We are delighted to welcome Naoya to Morrison Foerster’s market leading team in Japan. We are seeing unprecedented growth in the private equity market in Japan, with international investors actively seeking to expand aggressively in the market here. Naoya’s arrival will help us meet our clients’ growing demand for deep experience in both international and domestic private equity investments.”
Ken Siegel, managing partner of Morrison Foerster’s Tokyo office and head of the office’s M&A team
“Naoya is a preeminent bengoshi partner, adding significant private equity experience to our team that really positions MoFo as the go-to firm for international private equity work. We fully anticipate Naoya’s experience and broad practice will complement our existing bengoshi and international Corporate M&A practice, and we are looking forward to welcoming him to the firm.”
Jeremy White, global co-chair of Morrison Foerster’s M&A practice
“It’s clear that growing their private equity experience and bench strength is a strategic priority for the firm, and Morrison Foerster has demonstrated this growth by significantly increasing its global PE footprint over the last few years. I am looking forward to connecting with the firm’s prominent Corporate M&A team in Tokyo and working with colleagues worldwide to support clients as they invest into Japan.”
Naoya Shiota
