Takako Onoki

Counsel, Tokyo

Biography

Overview

Takako Onoki joined White & Case in January 2008 and specializes in antitrust/competition law matters, including advising and representing clients in relation to Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) investigations for cartels and unilateral conduct. She represented a client in connection with the first JFTC hearing decision on abuse of superior bargaining position after the surcharge system was introduced, where she succeeded in arguing for a substantial reduction in the surcharge and partial cancellation of cease-and-desist order.

She also has experience in global antitrust/competition law matters, including US Department of Justice's criminal cartel investigation and US and Canadian civil class actions against Japanese companies.

She advises clients on merger regulation matters including submission of pre-notification with the JFTC. She works on global merger regulation cases with our NY and DC and Brussels offices.

She regularly attends trade association meetings in the pharmaceutical sector and provides advice from compliance perspective. She also provides compliance trainings.

Prior to joining White & Case, Ms. Onoki worked in Japanese law firms from 2004 to 2007 where she worked extensively on litigation matters. She also taught in the law school of Sophia University from 2008 to 2011.

She is educated in Japan and the United States, and speaks Japanese and English.

She is a member of the Daini Tokyo Bar Association, and the Competition Law International Editorial Board.

Bars and Courts
Japan
Education
LLB
Sophia University
Languages
English
Japanese

Experience

Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco), the world's largest oil company by production, in its US$69.1 billion acquisition of a 70% stake in Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), one of the world's largest chemicals companies, from the Public Investment Fund, the sovereign wealth fund of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Panasonic Corporation on its acquisition of the remaining 80% of the capital stock interests of Blue Yonder, a leading end-to-end, digital fulfillment platform provider, at an enterprise value of US$8.5 billion on a cash-free, debt-free basis. This transaction adds to the 20% stake of Blue Yonder which Panasonic Corporation acquired in July 2020, also represented by White & Case.

Canon Medical Systems Corp. (CMSC), a Japanese medical equipment company, on its agreement with leading Russian healthcare provider R-Pharm Holding, LLC (RPH) to establish a diagnostic imaging equipment joint venture that covers nine members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), including Russia.

Panasonic Corporation in its 20% strategic equity investment in Blue Yonder with an estimated enterprise value of US$5.5 billion.

DIC Corporation, a Japanese fine chemicals company, and its US subsidiary Sun Chemical Corporation, in connection with DIC's proposed acquisition of BASF’s global pigments business, known as BASF Colors & Effects (BCE). The purchase price on a cash and debt-free basis is €1.15 billion.

Kato Kagaku Co., Ltd., a Japanese company engaged in the manufacture and sale of cornstarch, in connection with a price-fixing claim filed against Kato Kagaku by the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) as part of the JFTC's investigation into an alleged cartel in the cornstarch. First and only case in which the JFTC overturned its surcharge payment order entirely.

Maruyasu Industries Co., Ltd., a Japanese auto parts manufacturer, in a US DOJ Antitrust Division's grand jury investigation and subsequent prosecution for alleged price-fixing, bid-rigging, and market allocation.

Zimmer Holdings, Inc. (renamed Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.), in obtaining regulatory clearance from the US Federal Trade Commission, European Commission and JFTC for its US$14 billion acquisition of Biomet, Inc. This transaction received a "Commended" ranking by the Financial Times in its FT North America Innovative Lawyers 2015 report, and represented one of the largest transactions in the medical devices sector, impacting hundreds of markets worldwide.

Toys"R"Us-Japan, Ltd. in a JFTC investigation and subsequent appeal in connection with certain business practices under the Antimonopoly Act.

Publications

Recent Developments in EU Competition Law Enforcement (4) Merger Control, Kokusai Shoji Homu Vol.47, No. 8, August 2019, Co-author

Recent Developments in EU Competition Law Enforcement (3) Financial Services Sector, Kokusai Shoji Homu Vol.47, No. 3, March 2019, Co-author

Recent Developments in EU Competition Law Enforcement (2) Cartel, Kokusai Shoji Homu Vol.46, No. 3, September 2018, Co-author

Recent Developments in EU Competition Law Enforcement, Kokusai Shoji Homu Vol.46, No. 6, June 2018, Co-author

Recent JFTC Investigations and Hearing Decisions on Abuses of Superior Bargaining Position Cases – including Japan ToysRus case, NBL No. 1064, December 2015, Co-author

Instructions to Trading Partners Regarding Sales Methods, Yuhikaku Jurist, July 2014

Practical Issues Concerning Abuse of Superior Bargaining Position, NBL No. 990, December 1, 2012, Co-author

Introduction to Antimonopoly Act for Construction Businesses, Seibunsha, September 2009, Co-author

Awards and Recognition

Leading Lawyer (Up and Coming): Competition/Antitrust—Japan, Chambers Asia-Pacific 2022

Rising Star: Bengoshi: Antitrust and Competition: International Firms and Joint Ventures—Japan, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2022