1999
LLB, Waseda University
2000
Entered the Legal Training and Research Institute (54th graduating class)
2001
Admitted to the bar (Daiichi Tokyo Bar Association) , Joined Abe, Ikubo & Katayama
2007-2024
Project Manager at the National Headquarters of the Small & Medium Enterprises Revitalization Support Council
・Bankruptcy Act Committee, Daiichi Tokyo Bar Association
・Network of Japanese Restructuring Lawyers
・Japanese Association of Turnaround Professionals
Hirofumi Kato’s strengths lie in his close cooperative relationships with other specialists (certified public accountants, certified tax accountants, etc.) in order to advise his large client base consisting of medium and small enterprises on matters relating to general corporate legal affairs, dispute resolution, as well as business succession. In addition, as corporate counsel, Mr. Kato is broadly engaged in litigation and dispute resolution cases including negotiations, and has extensive litigation experience in cases such as class action lawsuits and patent litigation.
In the field of business rehabilitation, Mr. Kato has abundant experience in legal liquidation (company reorganization, civil rehabilitation), voluntary liquidation (voluntary liquidation guidelines, turnaround ADR, SME revitalization support council schemes, pure voluntary liquidation), and is involved in various positions acting as representative for debtor companies and sponsor candidates. Recently, he has been handling a large number of cases supporting the rehabilitation or winding up of medium and small enterprises going through voluntary liquidation, as well as debt consolidations based on the guidelines for management-guaranteed debt.
In addition, Mr. Kato has been involved with streamlining the systems and procedures at the Small & Medium Enterprises Revitalization Support Council as a project manager at their national headquarters since its inception in 2007.
– “Revisions to Small & Medium Enterprises Revitalization Support Council Operating Guidelines (July 13, 2007)” (Turnaround and Credit Administration No. 162, Kinzai Institute for Financial Affairs, Inc., 2018)
– “Role of Regional Financial Institutions and Legal Specialists in Improving Management and Rehabilitating Regional Firms – Part II Role of Lawyers in Voluntary Liquidation” (Turnaround and Credit Administration No. 162, Kinzai Institute for Financial Affairs, Inc., 2018)
– “Legal Liquidation and Voluntary Liquidation – Approaches of Financial Institutions and Small and Medium Enterprise Revitalization Support Council and Role of Lawyers” (Turnaround and Credit Administration No. 160, Kinzai Institute for Financial Affairs, Inc., 2018)
– “Guidelines for Management-Guaranteed Debt – Practical Application and Issues” (editorial committee member, collaboration, Shoji Homu Co., Ltd., 2018)
– “Utilization Situation of Support Council ‘Temporary Rescheduling’ and Approaches to ‘Exit Strategies’ (with examples)”, (Turnaround and Credit Administration No. 154, Kinzai Institute for Financial Affairs, Inc., 2016)
– “Practical Guide to Voluntary Rehabilitation – 140 Q&A” (editorial committee member, collaboration, Kinzai Institute for Financial Affairs, Inc., 2016)
– “Roundtable Discussion ‘Two Years On From Start of Introduction of Guidelines for Management-Guaranteed Debt’ – Challenges and Hopes in Case Examples of Regular Voluntary Liquidation Procedures’” (Kinyu Homu Jiho No. 2018, Kinzai Institute for Financial Affairs, Inc., 2015)
– “Everything You Need to Know About Turnaround ADR” collaboration, Shoji Homu Co., Ltd., 2015)
– “Practical Guide to Voluntary Rehabilitation – 100 Q&A (Supplement)” (editorial committee member, collaboration, Kinzai Institute for Financial Affairs, Inc., 2014)
– Article-by-Article Explanation of ‘Capital Borrowing’ Contracts (Templates) – Small & Medium Enterprises Revitalization Support Council Edition (Vol. 2)” (Kinyu Homu Jiho No. 1980, Kinzai Institute for Financial Affairs, Inc., 2013)
– Article-by-Article Explanation of ‘Capital Borrowing’ Contracts (Templates) – Small & Medium Enterprises Revitalization Support Council Edition (Vol. 1)” (Kinyu Homu Jiho No. 1979, Kinzai Institute for Financial Affairs, Inc., 2013)
– “Latest Information on Voluntary Liquidation” (author and editor, Kinzai Institute for Financial Affairs, Inc., 2013)
– “Practical Guide to Bankruptcy – 200 Q&A” (collaboration, Kinzai Institute for Financial Affairs, Inc., 2012)
– “Practical Guide to Voluntary Rehabilitation – 100 Q&A” (editorial committee member, collaboration, Kinzai Institute for Financial Affairs, Inc., 2011)
– “Insolvency Case Manual” (collaboration, Kinzai Institute for Financial Affairs, Inc., 2011)
– “Practical Guide to Ordinary Rehabilitation – 120 Q&A” (editorial committee member, Kinzai Institute for Financial Affairs, Inc., 2010)
– “Practical Guide to New Bankruptcy Act, Vol.3, Non-Trial Insolvency Procedures, Part II Support by Small & Medium Enterprises Revitalization Support Council – Example Cases” (Dai-Ichi Hoki Co., Ltd., 2010)
– “Practical Guide to New Bankruptcy Act, Vol.3, Non-Trial Insolvency Procedures, Part II Support by Small & Medium Enterprises Revitalization Support Council –Explanation of Procedures” (Dai-Ichi Hoki Co., Ltd., 2009)
– “Banking Practice Legal Measures, 3800 [V] – Recovery / Repossession / Turnaround Edition” (collaboration, Kinzai Institute for Financial Affairs, Inc., 2009)
– “Index of Insolvency Court Decisions” (collaboration, Shoji Homu Co., Ltd., 2009)
– “Practical Guide to Non-Trial Turnarounds” (collaboration, Shoji Homu Co., Ltd., 2009)
– “Procedural Guide to Non-Trial Turnarounds” (NBL No. 897, Shoji Homu Co., Ltd., 2009)
– “Challenges to Small Business Rehabilitation Through Civil Rehabilitation Procedures -Rehabilitation of Small Enterprises in Local Regions” (Turnaround and Credit Administration No. 123, Kinzai Institute for Financial Affairs, Inc., 2009)
– “Business Transfers & Company Breakups as Rehabilitation Method of Small and Medium Enterprises at Small & Medium Enterprises Revitalization Support Council”, (Turnaround and Credit Administration No. 120, Kinzai Institute for Financial Affairs, Inc., 2008)
– “Practical Guide to Bankruptcy – 150 Q&A” (collaboration, Kinzai Institute for Financial Affairs, Inc., 2007)