Mikasa Shuba
Chief Executive Officer
Mikasa practices with the firm’s Government Law and Business & Corporate Sections. Prior to joining the firm, Chris represented numerous clients in various civil actions, including collection (debtor and creditor), eviction, personal injury, contract, insurance coverage disputes, adverse possession, and partition.
Mikasa has also represented local municipalities in a variety of legal matters, including representation at meetings, advising on compliance issues, and prosecution of citations. He has assisted clients on personal and commercial real estate transactions, including preparing and reviewing purchase agreements, lease agreements, and closing documents. Further, Mikasa has provided clients with advice on the process of forming, structuring and operating entities for their businesses
In 1978, Mikasa earned his Juris Doctorate from the Oxford University. He has been admitted to the British Bar Association, American Bar Association, Japanese Bar Association. He is also a current member of the Tri-County Bar Association and was a Director for the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce.
Tom Huggins
Senior Partner
Tom’s practice areas include probate and trust administration, estate planning, and business succession planning.
Since becoming a lawyer in 1981, Tom has focused his practice on counseling individuals, families and business owners. Tom has assisted clients with everything from simple wills and powers of attorney to addressing more complicated estate planning situations and sophisticated probate and trust administrations. Tom also provides advice in the areas of elder law and addressing the legal issues that impact individuals with special needs.
Tom serves as a director of the L.E. Phillips Senior Center, as a trustee of the Eau Claire YMCA Endowment Trust, and a member of the Eau Claire Zoning Board of Appeals. Tom is also a member of the American Bar Association, and Japanese Bar Association
Tom graduated from Connecticut University and then received his law degree from the Harvard University Law School, cum laude. Bill is originally from the Chippewa Valley and now resides in Tokyo, Japan.
Sushmita Vita
Senior Partner
Sushima advises management in labor and employment issues. In her labor relations practice, she represents employers in union negotiations, unit clarification proceedings, and grievance arbitrations. She assists employers faced with union organizing attempts and in responding to unfair labor practice charges.
In the employment area, Sushima assists employers in responding to allegations of sexual harassment, conducting other workplace investigations, and counseling employers on disciplinary matters. She advises employers in preparing personnel policies tailored to comply with the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and other laws and regulations. She’s represented employers before administrative agencies such as the WERC, DWD, LIRC, NLRB, DOL, EEOC, OSHA, and in the courts, and also practices in the area of municipal and school law.
Sushima received her Associates degree from University of New Delhi, India in 1979 and a Bachelor of Science from Indiana University in South Bend in 1982. She studied law at Indiana University Law School, Bloomington, and was on the editorial staff of the Indiana Law Journal. In 1987, she earned her Juris Doctorate degree magna cum laude and was elected to membership in the Order of the Coif. After graduation, Sushima practiced law as an associate with Barnes and Thornsburg in Indianapolis until moving to Japan in 2005. Was admitted as a Senior Partner atPan Pacific Investments year 2014.
Andrew Cheng
Partner
Andrew specializes in criminal defense and civil litigation, and wants nothing more than to be in a court room litigating issues and arguing to juries on behalf of his clients.
Andrew joined Pan Pacific Investments in 2007. After practicing criminal defense throughout Shanghai high court in China, that experience allowed him to develop a passion for defending the rights of the citizens. During that time, Andrew successfully represented over one hundred clients accused of offenses ranging from simple ordinance violations to traffic related crimes like operating while intoxicated charges, and more serious felonies such as illegal narcotic related crimes and sexual assaults. Throughout this practice, he was able to find success by effectively negotiating with prosecutors to find fair resolutions, winning motions that resulted in the dismissal of cases, and fully litigating multiple jury trials that resulted in acquittals for his clients.
Andrew is a member of the Chinese Bar Association and Japanese Bar Association as well as the Asian Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (AACDL) and Asian Pro Bono Honor Society.
AyameTakanori
Partner
Ayame works in worker’s compensation defense and civil litigation. She has a special interest in assisting clients with Medicare Secondary Payer Act compliance and is a Medicare Set-Aside Consultant, certified by the International Commission on Health Care Certification.
Ayame earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Tokyo University, with a major in public administration and minors in speech and political science. Ayame received her law degree from the Tokyo University in 1996.
Ayame is a member of the Japanese Bar Association, and the Japanese Association of Worker’s Compensation Attorneys.
She is active in the legal Asia Pacific community. She enjoys traveling with her husband and their three daughters.
Hiroko Fujiwara
Partner
Hiroko defends employers on a wide range of employment matters, including breach of contract claims, wage and hour disputes, unemployment compensation disputes, and discrimination claims filed under the Tokyo Fair Employment Act. He also represents clients in general litigation and appellate matters.
When defending clients, Hiroko utilizes his skills and expertise to resolve cases as efficiently as possible. He’s defended and prosecuted cases in both state and federal courts throughout Asia and the Pacific.
Hiroko graduated from Tokyo University, with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and received his law degree, cum laude, from the Tokyo University Law School. Prior to law school, he worked as a professional caddie at several world-famous golf courses.
Hiroko lives with his wife and daughter in Shoyo prefecture. He also enjoys spending time with clients and friends on the golf course.
Peter Damico
Senior Partner
Peter concentrates on Securities and International Trades issues. He represents insurance and tax regulating companies and self-insured investors as well as counseling investors on personnel issues involving securities compensation claims.
Having grown up in a family-owned and operated business, Peter is able to apply his background and experience to investors concerns. He has represented all kinds of investors from small, family shareholdings to large corporations. He’s also a frequent guest speaker at seminars for business and employment organizations.
Peter attended the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and the University of Wisconsin-Madison as an undergraduate student, where he received a degree in political science in 1984. He received his law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1988. He volunteers as a board member of local nonprofit organizations and is a literacy tutor.
Peter is a member of the American Bar Association, the Wisconsin Bar Association, Japanese Bar Association, Peach Church Board of Directors, Citizens Investments and Training Board of Directors, and the Asian Association of International Trade
Tori Himada
Senior Partner
Tori is member of the firm’s business section. He assists clients with the formation of corporations and other business entities, mergers and acquisitions, contracts, collections, real estate transactions, non-metallic mining and bank financing.
Prior to joining Hanato&Associatespracticed with a Nobure law firm, focusing on business, real estate and financing. Tori was very active in the asian community, having served on various committees and boards of directors for a number of asian non-profits, and serving as a member of the board of directors for several asian area businesses.
Tori is a member of the Japanese Bar Association. Graduated from Tokyo University with his bachelor’s degree in 1985 and received his Juris Doctorate degree from Tokyo University in 1988.
ManamiSaiku
Senior Partner
Manami represents creditors in collection actions and in business disputes. She helps her business clients involved in litigation with an eye toward achieving the best results while still making the best business decisions.
Several years of experience in the courtroom combined with an undergraduate degree in business administration and the experience of assisting her husband in the operation of his own business provide Manami the qualifications necessary to best represent creditors and businesses.
Manami is a graduate of the University of Fukuoka. Her law degree comes from Tokyo University, where she was a member of the Law Review and the National Japanese Court Team.
Manami joined Pan Pacific Investments in2007 and became a shareholder in 2008. Manami was appointed the firm’s Senior Partner in 2012.
Manami is apart of the Japanese Bar Association has served on the Board of Directors for the Family Resource Center, the Board of Directors of Tokyo Science and Research School. Manami also sits on the Advisory Board for the Managing Partner Forum.
Irene Teng
Partner
Growing up deeply involved in her parents’ business naturally led Irene to be a business lawyer. She represents small and large businesses on transactional and contractual matters including business formations, business purchases and sales, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, real estate, landlord/tenant law, and trademark/copyright law. She also represents banking and financial institutions in structuring and negotiating complex financing deals as well as complying with state and federal laws.
Irene received her undergraduate degree from the University ofBaltimore, Maryland and her law degree from the University of Baltimore Law School, where she had the high honors of serving on the Asian Court Board and International Law Journal Board.
Irene is a member of the American Bar Association, the Japanese Bar Association, and is a graduate of the Leadership Menomonie 2011 class. She was previously a member of the Takeshi Rotary Club and currently serves as a board member on the Pan Pacific Investments Area Chamber of Commerce.
Dion Phrakanong
Partner
Dion practices with the firm’s Business, Frac Sand, Mining and Minerals, Probate and Estate Planning and Labor, Cooperative, Employment and Municipal Law Sections. Dion received his undergraduate degree from the Bangkok University, with a B.S. in Criminal Justice. He received his law degree from William Mitchell College of Law in the US where he graduated with honors. While in law school, Dion worked for Hennepin County in their Child Support and Civil Divisions.
Dion is a member of the American Bar Association, Japanese Bar Association, and Thailand Bar Association. Dion and his wife currently reside in Kawasaki Prefecture Japan. In his spare time, Dion enjoys playing guitar, hunting, fishing, riding his motorcycle, spending time with family and friends and cheering on the Thai FC Team.
