Steve is the managing partner of Herbert Smith’s Tokyo office and has lived in Japan for over 16 years. Steve has extensive experience of mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures with particular expertise in oil & gas, telecoms, media, insurance and publishing.
Credentials
- Royal & SunAlliance Insurance Group plc on the sale of its two insurance businesses in Japan. The value of the deal to R & SA was reported to be ₤118 million
- Skandia on the sale of Skandia Japan to Tokio Marine and Fire. The purchase price was reported to be $190 million
- INPEX Corporation on the acquisition of an oil & gas interest in the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) project in Azerbaijan's Caspian Sea area from Lukoil, in conjunction with Herbert Smith's Moscow Office. The purchase price was reported to be $1.375 billion
- JR West and JR Central on the acquisition by Vodafone of a 15% shareholding in Japan Telecom. Vodafone was reported to be paying $2.22 billion in cash for the stake
Accolades
"The ‘excellent’ Steve Lewis is both managing partner and head of the corporate group at Herbert Smith. According to clients, he ‘delivers the best the firm has to offer depending on the specific requirements of the deal’."
Asia Pacific Legal 500, 2007-2008
"In Japan for over 16 years, Steve Lewis heads up the Tokyo office and possesses 'knowledge of both the market and the culture,' according to clients. Lewis is commended for being 'totally focused on achieving a positive, yet cost and time-effective solution'."
Chambers Asia 2008
"Managing partner Steve Lewis is 'energetic and personable' say peers, who admire the strength of the clients he has brought to the firm over the years. His specialist M&A expertise distinguishes him in a field dominated by generalists"
Chambers Global 2007
"The immensely personable doyen of the Japanese market"
Asia-Pacific Legal 500, 2006-2007
"Leading individual: Corporate & Commercial"
Asia Pacific Legal 500, 2001-2002; 2002-2003; 2003-2004; 2004-2005; 2005-2006; 2006-2007
"Highly Recommended for Corporate/M&A in Japan"
PLC Which Lawyer? Yearbook 2008