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Nancy Yamaguchi

合伙人
She/Her/Hers

日本語

Nancy Yamaguchi advises global technology companies on cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A), strategic and venture capital investments, joint ventures, strategic alliances, and technology transactions. With more than 25 years of experience, Nancy is a trusted advisor to private and public multinational companies, especially those based in the United States, Japan, and Taiwan, for all aspects of their corporate legal needs, including inbound and outbound corporate and technology transactions. Nancy is a member of the firm’s Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) Working Group and advises on foreign direct investment (FDI) and national security issues in the United States and Japan.

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We don't make a move without her advice. She is well versed in dealing with very difficult issues.
Chambers USA
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Nancy is a great lawyer. She is highly business-oriented and practical in her suggestions.
Chambers USA
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She has a business mind and tremendous attention to detail.
Chambers USA
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She is extremely helpful in concluding multinational deals.
Chambers USA
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press release

Morgan Lewis Represents Kofu Hong Kong Holdings in Acquisition of Pioneer Micro Technology

Nancy is ranked Band 1 for Corporate/M&A: Deals in Asia by Chambers and recognized by clients as having “a business mind and tremendous attention to detail." They commend her for being “excellent and speaking fluent Japanese but also able to translate the cultural context and is amazing when dealing with the Japanese government.” In addition, they note that “she is great at negotiation and everything legal and is extremely helpful in concluding multinational deals." In 2024, Nancy was named in the M&A Powerlist: USA by The Legal 500 US.

Nancy is a member of Morgan Lewis's Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) working group. CFIUS is a US government body composed of nine cabinet-level Executive Branch agencies reviewing foreign investments in US companies, especially from technology and data security perspectives. Nancy has experience advising both US and non-US technology companies, especially those in the semiconductor industry, with respect to their legal and regulatory compliance related to technology transfers, export controls, economic sanctions, data privacy, and cybersecurity. She is also a member of the firm’s Autonomous and Connected Vehicles Working Group and works closely with automotive OEMs and suppliers to support them on buy-side, sell-side and joint venture deals, including in the US and Japan.

ASIA

Japan

  • Acquisition by UMC of Mie Fujitsu Semiconductor Ltd., a subsidiary of Fujitsu, for approximately $510 million
  • Acquisition by Kofu Hong Kong Holdings, a joint venture between Shenzhen Yitoa Intelligent Controls (YITOA) and G Tech Systems Group (GTSGI), of Pioneer MTC Technology, a subsidiary of Pioneer Corporation
  • Acquisition by Yokogawa Electric of BioStinger, a Silicon Valley–based startup found by professors of University of California, Santa Cruz
  • Acquisition by ACCESS Co., Ltd. and ACCESS Europe GmbH of NetRange Automobile GmbH in Hamburg, Germany
  • Major technology transaction between MUFG Bank and Ripcord, a technology startup based in Silicon Valley, to support MUFG Bank in its digital transformation and digitalization of operations
  • Series A investment by Kurita Water Industries, Ltd. in Fracta Inc., a Silicon Valley–based artificial intelligence company, and acquisition of a robotics startup by Fracta
  • Joint venture between a major Japanese industrial company and a strategic partner in Italy 
  • Strategic investment and an acquisition of a minority stake by a major Japanese company in a privately held Singapore company 
  • Strategic investment and technology alliance between a leading financial institution in Japan and a fintech startup based in San Francisco
  • Venture capital financing in a Japanese mobile communication company by H&Q Asia Pacific, Goldman Sachs, Sony, Motorola, Tokyo Electric Power, NTT DoCoMo, and other US and Japanese investors
  • Technology collaboration and equity investments between ACCESS Co., Ltd. and Motorola/Freescale

China

  • Approx. $100 million sale of semiconductor assets, real estate located in North Tyneside, United Kingdom, and UK subsidiaries to a leading semiconductor manufacturing company headquartered in Taiwan
  • Private-label technology development and licensing partnership between a Silicon Valley–based semiconductor company and its strategic partner in Zhuhai, China
  • Investment by investors in Shanghai in a semiconductor startup based in Silicon Valley for technology development in China    

NORTH AMERICA

United States

  • Joint venture between a US automotive/industrial public company and a Japanese automotive/industrial public company spanning Japan, China, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore, Thailand, and India
  • Acquisition of technology assets and real estate from a semiconductor R&D company through the assignment for the benefit of creditors process under California law
  • $62 million acquisition of an Italian entity located near Rome from a US seller, and related technology agreements with Silicon Valley–based image sensor company 
  • Majority shareholders in the minority buyout of an automotive company based in San Diego
  • Spinoff of a high-voltage power device business by a Silicon Valley–based semiconductor company
  • Acquisition of an LED company for a public company based in Silicon Valley 
  • Lead investor counsel for the reorganization, bridge loan, and investment in a biotech/medical company
  • Equity investments by a leading Silicon Valley–based venture capital firm in several US internet and ecommerce companies and biotech/medical companies based in San Diego and Silicon Valley 

EUROPE

Germany

  • Acquisition of a technology startup based in Silicon Valley specializing in automotive applications for a German investor
  • Sale of the WiMax business of a US public company to a major German technology company
  • Sale of a German automotive business by a US technology company based near Stuttgart, Germany to a UK purchaser
  • Purchase of an operational semiconductor fabrication facility and related assets by a technology investor and purchaser based in California
  • Tax-driven restructuring of two business lines for a German semiconductor and technology development company
  • Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, 1998, J.D., cum laude
  • Harvard University, 1993, A.M.
  • 美国乔治城大学, 1989, B.A.
  • California
  • Illinois
  • Registered Foreign Lawyer in England & Wales

M&A Powerlist: USA, The Legal 500 US (2024)

Band 1, Corporate/M&A: Deals in Asia, California, Chambers USA (2021–2025)

Ranked, Corporate/M&A, California: San Francisco, Silicon Valley & Surrounds, Chambers USA (2021–2024)

Top 10 Firms in Japan for Cross Border M&A, Asia Legal Business Japan (2022)

Board member, The Japan America Society of Southern California

Board member and member of the MedTech Council, The Japan Society of Northern California

Co-chair, Women’s Leadership Counts, 2021, The Japan America Society of Southern California

Member, Innovation Advisory Council, Japan - U.S. Innovation Awards Symposium, Japan Society of Northern California and US – Asia Technology Management Center, Stanford University

Member, Business Section, American Bar Association