DeCosse, Stephen J.

Languages

• English
• Japanese

Lawyer Overview

Steve DeCosse advises multinationals, focusing on cross-border M&A, tender offers, joint ventures and strategic alliances, and restructurings. He also advises clients on minority equity investments in public and private companies in the U.S. and Japan. He has more than 20 years of experience including 10 years in California where he was a M&A and corporate finance partner.

Steve has recent experience advising on transactions in the solar energy, power turbine, mining, specialty chemical, aviation, medical device, semiconductor, computer hardware and software, biofuel, and auto parts sectors. He has a particular focus on energy-related transactions.

Recent representations have included advising: a major Japanese energy company in its investments in solar energy in the U.S.; a major Japanese trading company in its investment in a uranium mine in Mongolia in cooperation with Jones Day Paris; American Airlines in its bidding war with Delta Airlines for, and alliance negotiations with, Japan Airlines; a major Japanese company in its prospective acquisition of a U.S. company in the power sector out of chapter 11; a major Japanese oil company in the negotiation of a significant specialty chemical supply arrangement with a major U.S. concern; and a European company in restructuring its auto parts manufacturing subsidiary in Japan including a joint venture arrangement with a major Japanese auto maker.

Steve is cited yearly as a leading M&A lawyer in Japan in the guides Chambers Asia, The Asia Pacific Legal 500, and PLC Which lawyer?

Areas of Practice

• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Joint Ventures & Strategic Alliances
• M&A
• Energy Transactions
• Private Equity

Representative Cases

• American Airlines in bidding war with Delta for Japan Airlines , (2010)
• American Airlines secures alliance with Japan Airlines and wins preliminary antitrust approval for joint venture with British Airways and Iberia , (2009)
• AnGes MG enters into collaborative agreement and invests $22.6 million in Vical , (2009)
• European financial firm forms joint venture with a major Japanese trading company to provide IT consulting services , (2010)
• European financial firm involved in the restructuring and recapitalization of its Japan auto parts maker subsidiary , (2010)
• Japanese company negotiates biofuel development agreements with major U.S. and European chemical companies
• Japanese conglomerate with gold and silver mining interests in western U.S. responds to EPA and state environmental agency inquiries , (2010)
• Major Japanese company bids (subsequently terminated) for a U.S. power company out of a Chapter 11 proceeding , (2010)
• Major Japanese energy company invests in solar energy business in U.S. , (2010)
• Major Japanese energy company negotiates specialty chemicals supply agreement with a U.S. maker including consideration of future joint venture arrangements , (2010)
• Major Japanese private equity firm performs due diligence in connection with prospective acquisition of a Japanense electronics manufacture , (2010)
• Mitsubishi participates in uranium exploration projects in Mongolia , (2010)

West Practice Categories

Banking & Finance Law, Business Organizations, Business Successions, Closely Held Businesses, Corporate Governance, Directors' & Officers' Liability, Dissolution, Formation & Business Planning, Franchising, Joint Ventures, Lending & Secured Transactions, Limited Liability Companies, Mergers, Acquisitions & Divestitures, Non-profit & Tax-exempt Organizations, Partnerships, Reorganizations, Shareholders' Rights, Trade Associations, Venture Capital

Bar Admissions

• California
• Japan (Gaikokuho Jimu Bengoshi)

Education

• Princeton University
• U of Wisconsin - Madison (Main

Address

Kamiyacho Prime Place
1-17, Toranomon 4-chome
Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0001, Japan

Phones

81.3.6800.1819 (Business Phone)

Faxes

81.3.5401.2725 (Business Fax)

Emails

Contact Us (Business Email)

Websites

http://www.jonesday.com