Covington Expands Japan Initiative with New Co-Head Tai Kimoto

Covington Expands Japan Initiative with New Co-Head Tai Kimoto

November 8, 2021

LOS ANGELES—Taisuke (Tai) Kimoto has joined Covington as a co-head of the firm’s Japan Initiative and a partner in its Corporate Practice Group, based in Covington’s Los Angeles office.

Tai's practice focuses on M&A transactions, general corporate matters, technology transfer agreements, and real estate transactions for companies based in Japan. He also serves as an outside U.S. general counsel for a number of Japanese companies and in that capacity coordinates advice in many areas, including dispute resolution and employment. This year, Chambers Global recognized him among the leading lawyers for Japan Corporate/M&A (expert based abroad in USA).

Covington's Japan Initiative advises a number of Japan's largest corporations, as well as Japanese individuals, trade associations and governmental agencies, on their most sensitive and complex legal challenges in the United States, Europe, China, and elsewhere.

“We are delighted to have Tai join Covington and are confident that he will serve as a valuable asset to the firm’s clients headquartered in Japan,” said Doug Gibson, the firm’s Chair. “Drawing upon his long-standing business and legal relationships in Japan, Tai will be an ambassador of the firm to the Japanese business community and to Japanese law firms.”

“Covington’s Japan Initiative strategy and collaborative culture, as well as meaningful opportunities to partner with Covington’s leading practitioners across a wide range of practice areas and geographies to best serve Japanese clients, all make me excited to join Covington,” said Tai.

Tai received his LL.M. from the University of California, Los Angeles and his LL.B. from Keio University in Tokyo. Prior to joining Covington, Tai practiced at leading law firms in Japan and the United States.