Litigators for Major Businesses
Yasuhiro Saito
Managing Partner
For over 20 years, Mr. Saito has guided some of the world’s largest corporations through their toughest problems. A partner and practice-group leader at prominent Wall Street law firms prior to founding the Firm, Mr. Saito serves regularly as lead counsel for large businesses faced with major corporate scandals and complex commercial disputes.
A skilled advocate and trusted adviser, Mr. Saito has lead the defense of major financial institutions and large accounting firms in some of the largest financial and accounting scandals in the last two decades. Mr. Saito’s most recent cases include white-collar criminal and civil litigation matters representing major banks and their senior executives (some subject of national press coverage), a white-collar criminal defense matter involving FCPA and kick-back allegation against a major medical device manufacturer (settled with federal authorities for over $600 million), and a white-collar criminal defense matter involving allegations of OFAC violation and money laundering connected to the US-Iran nuclear deal and President Obama’s pardoning of several defendants (subject of intense press coverage).
Mr. Saito’s clients include some of the world’s largest banks, investment banks, major accounting firms, multinational trading firms, and large manufacturers in various industries such as chemical, pharmaceutical, medical device and automotive. Some of the world’s largest law firms also call on him to represent their clients on special engagements.
Selected Matters
White-Collar Criminal Defense / Regulatory Enforcement
- Representation of major financial institutions including major banks in regulatory enforcement matters.
- Representation of senior executives including a CEO of major financial institutions in white-collar criminal investigation.
- Representation of a Chairman/founder of major automotive parts manufacturer in a regulatory enforcement matter.
- Representation of major multinational trading firms in FCPA investigation.
- Representation of a major medical device manufacturer in FCPA and kickback investigation.
- Representation of senior corporate executives in federal white-collar criminal investigations.
- Representation of international trading firm in connection with federal prosecution arising out of alleged US trade regulation and OFAC violation and money laundering.
- Representation of a major accounting firm in a series of major regulatory enforcement actions.
Complex Commercial Litigation
- Representation of major banks in lenders’ liability litigation.
- Representation of large accounting firms in major securities class actions.
- Representation of a major automotive manufacturer in product liability lawsuits.
- Representation of major multinational companies in various contractual and product liability litigations and disputes.
- Representation of a major retailer in complex bankruptcy litigation and arbitration.
- Representative of a major chemical manufacturer in product liability litigation.
- Representation of a heavy equipment manufacturer in major product liability litigation and arbitration.
- Representation of a major brokerage house in various securities litigations.
- Representation of an office supply manufacturer in litigation concerning termination of an international distributor.
- Representation of a major real estate company in a series of major leasing litigation.
- Representation of a major chemical manufacturer in commercial litigation and bankruptcy proceedings.
- Representation of major multinational companies in employment discrimination disputes.
- Representation of a major airline in a series of lawsuits.
- Representation of a major bank in bankruptcy litigation.
- Representation of major pharmaceutical companies in various commercial disputes.
Patent / Intellectual Property Litigation
- Representation of a nation’s all authors and publishers in connection with a world-wide class action involving a major internet search engine.
- Representation of a major machine manufacturer in patent litigation.
- Representation of a major brokerage house in trade secret and competitive tort litigation.
- Representation of foreign multinationals in trade secret and competitive tort litigation.
- Representation of a major food manufacturer in trademark litigation.
- Representation of a major retailer in trademark litigation.
Financial Regulations / Regulatory Compliance
- Representation of a major foreign bank in connection with its NYSE listing.
- Representation of a major asset management firm in SEC and CFTC registration.
- Representation of two Big 4 accounting firms in PCAOB registration.
- Counseling major financial institutions and multinationals concerning various federal and state regulations such as Sarbanes-Oxley and Dodd-Frank Acts.
- Counseling major multinationals on assessing and reducing securities, antitrust, and product liability risks.
- Counseling major financial institutions and multinationals in compliance issues.
Outside General Counsel / Mergers & Acquisitions
- Representation as a lead counsel of a major air-conditioning manufacturer in a multi-billion dollar M&A transaction.
- Representation as a lead counsel of a major high-tech manufacturer in acquisition of a mid-sized public company.
- Representation of a foreign medical device manufacturer in acquisition of a US medical device manufacturer.
- Representation of a major accounting firm in major restructuring of their business.
- Representation of multinationals, banks and governmental entities in restructuring and asset disposition.
- Representation of major financial institutions and multinationals in compliance overhaul.
Previous Positions
- Partner, Carter Ledyard & Milburn, LLP (2008 to 2011)
- Practice Group Leader, Japan-related Litigation Practice Group, Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP (1994 to 2008)
- Federal Law Clerk, Hon. John T. Elfvin, United States District Court Judge for the Western District of New York (1992 to 1994)
- Intern, Hon. George C. Pratt, United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (1990 to 1991)
Other Activities
- Advisory Board Member, Center for International and Comparative Law, St. John’s University School of Law
- Former Board Member, Asian American Bar Association of New York
- Former co-chair, Litigation Committee, Asian American Bar Association of New York
- Former co-chair, Student Outreach Committee, Asian American Bar Association of New York
- Master, the Federal Bar Council Inn of Court
- Committee member, Litigation Committee, New York City Bar Association
- Barrister, New York County Bar Association Inn of Court
- Member, American Bar Association, Sections on International Litigation and ADR, International Subcommittee
- Member, International Bar Association, Sections on Litigation, International Litigation, Arbitration and ADR
- American Bar Association
- New York State Bar Association
- New York County Bar Association
Publications
- Regular Columnist, “Battling Corporate Scandals”, Kigyo Gaikyo
- Regular Columnist, Weekly Economist
- Co-author, “U.S. Litigation Winning Strategies”, ILS Publication (2003)
- “ADR Strategies—How to maximize the Benefits” (June 2004)
- Monthly Columnist, “This is How US Litigators Fight,” Monthly Lawyer
- Co-author, “The Hartford Decision: Two Years On,” International Litigation News (July 1995)
- “Litigation Management in the US,” International Legal Strategy (August 1999)
- “Microsoft Case — Substantive Analysis,” International Legal Strategy (October 1999)
- “Deposition in US Litigation — Practical Guidelines,” International Legal Strategy (May 2000)
Media Appearances
- TV Asahi, Hodo Station (commentator on US litigation process)
- TV Tokyo, News (commentator on US securities regulatory process)
- Nikkei Newspaper (commentator on US litigation trends)
Select Speeches & Seminars
- Keynote speaker, “Annual Training Workshop; Regulatory Compliance”, Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of New York (Summer 2017)
- Keynote speaker, “Future of Books”, International PEN Club Global Conference, Tokyo (Fall 2010)
- Lecturer, “Responding to White-Collar Criminal Investigation – The First Day”, Japanese Chamber of Commerce, New York (Spring 2016)
- Panelist, “Current Trends and Practices in Mitigating FCPA Risks and Threats in Global Private Equity Ventures” (Spring 2016)
- Lecturer, “Responding to Corporate Scandal – Dos and Don’ts”, New York (Winter 2015)
- Panelist, “Global Trends in Corporate Regulatory Investigations in 2015 and Beyond” (Summer 2015)
- Lecturer, “Antitrust and Trade Associations”, New York (Summer 2015)
- Lecturer, “Weathering a Perfect Storm”, New York (Winter 2014)
- Lecturer, “Prosecution of Wall Street”, New York (Winter 2014)
- Lecturer, “Antitrust Enforcement Trend and Risk Management”, New York (Winter 2014)
- Lecturer, “Anatomy of Commercial Litigation”, Business Research Institute, Tokyo (Summer 2014)
- Lecturer, “Hacker, Insider, Vendor, Spy”, New York (Spring 2014)
- Lecturer, “BP Settlement / GHG Litigation / Environmentalist Groups”, New York (Spring 2012)
- Lecturer, “Quantifying the Unquantifiable – Regulatory and Legal Risks Surrounding the Financial Industry – A Practical Overview”, New York (Winter 2011)
- Lecturer, “US Litigation Risk Management and Trial Practice”, Osaka Bar Association / Osaka Chamber of Commerce (Summer 2010)
- Lecturer, “Dealing with Major Corporate Scandal”, New York (Summer 2010)
- Lecturer, “US Litigation Risk Management and E-Discovery”, Japan Pharmaceutical Industry Legal Affairs Association, Tokyo (Spring and Fall 2010)
- Panelist, Global D&O Liability Conference, New York (Spring 2008)
- Lecturer, US Litigation Risk Management for Multinationals, New York (Winter 2007)
- Panelist, Annual Civil Litigation Symposium, Nichibenren, Tokyo (Winter 2007)
- Panelist, Global D&O Liability Conference, London (Winter 2007)
- Lecturer, Litigation Risk Management Seminar, JETRO New York (Fall 2007)