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Morrison Foerster said in an announcement on its website on 22 October 2026 that it served as legal advisor to SoftBank Group on a ¥1.7 trillion bond issuance. The firm said the Nikkei had highlighted its role on the transaction, which it described as one of the largest high-yield bond offerings in the world.
Key points
- Morrison Foerster said it acted as legal advisor to SoftBank Group on the ¥1.7 trillion bond issuance.
- The firm said the offering ranked among the largest high-yield bond deals anywhere globally.
- Morrison Foerster said the deal enabled SoftBank Group to tap the US investor market for the first time in 13 years.
- The firm said the funding secured was for SoftBank Group’s AI investments.
- Morrison Foerster said the Nikkei’s coverage highlighted its role as legal advisor on the transaction.
The team
Morrison Foerster said the cross-border and cross-practice team advising SoftBank Group was led by Jesse Gillespie, a Capital Markets partner based in Tokyo. The firm said the broader team included Kelley Howes, chair of Morrison Foerster’s Investment Management Group, based in Denver; Ambarish Dash, an English Law partner; Rachel Faye Smith, an Executive Compensation partner; and Matthew Lau, a Tax partner based in Hong Kong.
The firm said the team also included Jumpei Seto, Corporate of counsel, and Corporate associates Sophie Xiang, Hilary Lee and Benedikt Jaeger, all based in Tokyo.
Coverage
Morrison Foerster said the Nikkei’s article on the bond issuance drew attention to its role as legal advisor to SoftBank Group on the transaction.