John has extensive experience in complex cross-border litigation and multi-jurisdictional regulatory investigations. Described by clients as ‘excellent’ (Legal 500), he has advised on some of the highest profile cases of the last decade arising from the diesel emissions investigations, allegations stemming from the leaked Panama Papers, the LIBOR benchmark rigging scandal and the collapse of the Icelandic banking system.

John represents clients from all industries but has a particular focus on regulatory misconduct, fraud and white-collar crime in the financial services, healthcare and manufacturing/transport sectors. His notable matters include:

Financial services

• Acting for a global investment bank in a Financial Services Agency (Japan) investigation into allegations of inappropriate use of confidential client information
• Advising an insurer on a Financial Conduct Authority (UK) enforcement investigation into the alleged mishandling of client pensions
• Acting for a global wealth manager in an enforcement investigation by the Dubai Financial Services Authority into various regulatory issues
• Acting for an investment bank in its successful defence of an $8 billion claim by a Turks & Caicos SPV for breach of contract in relation to prime brokerage and FX trades made during the Global Financial Crisis

Healthcare

• Advising a US-headquartered life sciences company on an internal investigation at its Japanese subsidiary
• Acting for a US pharmaceutical company in a regulatory investigation concerning the alleged off-label promotion of certain drugs in Japan

Manufacturing/transport

• Representing a Japanese heavy-duty vehicle manufacturer in a class action in Australia
• Advising a Japanese automotive company on a wide-ranging criminal investigation by the US Department of Justice and Environmental Protection Agency (in association with US counsel)
• Advising a Japanese industrial manufacturer on criminal proceedings in the UK
• Advising a Japanese logistics company on allegations of harassment at its Australian subsidiary

Other

• Acting for a global consulting company in relation to claims for breach of fiduciary duty against its former directors in Japan
• Advising a construction company in relation to allegations of bribery and corruption by a former employee

John has been seconded to several American and European financial institutions during his career as well as the Bank of England where he worked with the Chief Legal Adviser to the Governor on various public and private law matters and was involved with the establishment of the Prudential Regulation Authority.

John seeks to guide clients through times of crisis by thoroughly understanding their business and providing pragmatic, commercially sensible advice.

John trained and worked at Freshfields in London prior to joining Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu’s Tokyo office. He was educated at The University of Melbourne – where he won the prize for highest standing in Criminal Law and was an Assistant Editor of the Melbourne Journal of International Law – and at Queen’s University.

Awards
Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2025 – Next Generation Partners ‘Risk management and investigations’
Asian Legal Business 2025 – one of the ‘Top 30 Litigators’ in Asia