Atsumi & Sakai

In 2005, when Ms. Dixon joined Atsumi & Sakai (formerly, Atsumi & Partners) she became the first non-Japanese attorney to become a partner of a domestic Japanese law firm, pursuant to legislation that for the first time allowed law partnerships between Japanese lawyers and lawyers licensed elsewhere. Bonnie Dixon is licensed to practice law in the State of New York and is registered in Japan as a Foreign Registered Lawyer. She has extensive experience in international transactions, cross border labor and employment, structured finance, banking transactions, investment funds, etc.

Ms. Dixon speaks fluent Japanese and has worked in Tokyo for more than ten years in the aggregate. Before returning to Tokyo in 2002, Ms. Dixon practiced law in New York City, where she became a partner of Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP, and later of Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP.

Bar Admissions

New York (1982)

Education

University of Michigan (B.A., majoring in Japanese and Political Science, 1978)
University of Michigan Law School (J.D., 1981)

Significant Accomplishments

Representation of over 60 non-Japanese institutional investors in a suit against Olympus Corporation to recover losses in share value due to fraud

Representation of a major publicly held United States foreign exchange firm in connection with merger activity in Japan as well as regulatory matters.

Representation of both corporations and individuals in connection with alleged price fixing and market segmentation among auto parts manufacturers

Representation of numerous non-Japanese corporations in connection with labor law matters in Japan including hiring and firing, as well as compliance with local labor law

Representation of a European solar power company, as sponsor, in connection with the development of up to five solar power projects in Japan including assisting Japanese attorneys to provide advice as to due diligence, real estate issues, regulatory issues, preparation or review of documentation, and advice as to efficient structuring of activities in Japan

Professional Associations

Dai-ichi Tokyo Bar Association, American Chamber of Commerce in Japan, New York State Bar Association

Seminars

- "2016 Fall Meeting," hosted by ABA Section of International Law, October 20, 2016
*Speaker at a panel session entitled "The Growing Importance of Alternative Business Structures in the Asia-Pacific Region"
- "Personal Information Protection Act of Japan", hosted by the Japan Law Society, November 19, 2009
Moderator, "Emerging manager panel: showcasing the new talent in Japan," 2006 Hedge Funds Investment Japan, June 12 & 13, 2006
- Moderator, "Hotel Investment Opportunities," 6th Annual Summit on Japanese Securitization, Real Estate & Finance, May 18-19, 2005, organized by Information Management Network
- "An Introduction to Japanese Bankruptcy Laws," presented at "Opportunities and Issues for Midwestern Companies in Greater China and Japan," May 18, 2004
- "Doing Business in Japan: A guide for Female Executives," presented at the Womenfs International Business and Legal Forum, sponsored by Business Development Associates, March 12-13, 1998
- "Legal Issues Affecting Aircraft Operating Leases," presented at the Thirteenth Annual Convention of the International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading, March 8, 1996
- "Legal Issues Affecting Aircraft Engine Maintenance Providers," presented at the American Bar Association Annual Convention, Meeting of the Sub-Committee on Aircraft Finance, August 4, 1995
- "Documentation Issues in Aircraft Finance from the Lender's Perspective," presented at "Negotiation and Documentation of Aircraft Finance Transactions", September 29-30, 1994
- "Workouts, Foreclosure, and Bankruptcy," presented at "Legal Issues in Buying and Selling Hotel Properties II", sponsored by New York University, Continuing Legal Education Division, April 18 and 25, 1994
- "Asset Restructurings for Japanese Commercial Bankers in the United States: A Workshop," sponsored by Kinzai Institute for Financial Affairs, Inc., March 22, 1994
- "Securitization as a Basis for Financing Aircraft Lease Receivables," presented at the Eleventh Annual Conference of the International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading, March 8, 1994
- "Protecting the Rights of an Aircraft Lessor or Lender in an Airline Bankruptcy," presented at "FAA Aircraft Registration, Liens and Security Interests," sponsored by Strategic Research Institute, February 23, 1994
- "Lender Liability and Bank Regulatory Issues," presented at "Dealing with Troubled Hospitality Assets: Issues and Answers," sponsored by Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP, June 16, 1993
- "Selected Legal Issues in Lease Securitizations," presented at "Lease Securitization: Moving Assets off Your Balance Sheet," sponsored by Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP, June 9, 1993