Edward Johnson

Edward "Ted" Johnson has over 30 years' experience as a deal lawyer and strategic advisor in M&A, joint venture and other strategic transactions. He served as a partner in two U.S.-based global law firms, Paul Hastings, where he served as the Managing Partner of the Tokyo office, and Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe. In 2018, Ted left “big law” to form his own legal and strategic advisory firm, ZelusTech, and in the Spring of 2019 he joined colleague Ko Iwahori in forming Acadia.

Ted’s deal experience as a lawyer has spanned multiple industries and included advice to both major multi-nationals and emerging technology companies as well as to multiple private equity and venture capital funds. In addition to handling transactions, Ted has substantial experience in negotiating and structuring real estate investment platforms among sponsors, capital and operators across multiple real estate sectors and strategies.

Major transactions Ted has handled that were real estate driven or involved major real estate issues have included representing: Walmart in its series of investments in and eventual successful tender offer to acquire Seiyu, a chain of approximately 400 grocery and department stores in Japan. Johnson Controls in its acquisition of a 60% interest in the global HVAC business of Hitachi Appliances, a business with approximately US$2.6 billion in annual sales, 24 manufacturing plants around the globe and 14,000 employees. The Walt Disney Company in selling to and later re-acquiring from Oriental Land all stock in Retail Networks, the operator of over 50 Disney Stores in Japan. Morgan Stanley Real Estate Funds in the acquisition of further interests in the Shanghai World Financial Center, as well as in amendment of the related joint venture agreement between MSREF and Mori Building. Grove International Partners, Tokio Marine Capital Co., Ltd. and Globis Capital Partners & Co. in the collective sale of their controlling shares in HCM Corporation, a provider of in-home care and retirement home services at over 60 locations in Japan. Warburg Pincus, as a shareholder in Nikko Asset Management, one of Japan’s largest real estate management companies, in negotiations with majority shareholder Nikko Citi and negotiations with acquiror Sumitomo Trust and Banking in connection with the acquisition by Sumitomo Trust and Banking of all stock of Nikko Asset Management for approximately $US 1.2 billion. Warburg Pincus in the acquisition of the “Hakuba 47” ski resort and in investments in and a joint venture with a related management company, as well as in the subsequent divestment from the project. Nomura Investment Real Estate Management in negotiation of a real estate investment joint venture platform with Starwood Capital Group. Accor Group in negotiating an innovative fixed-term building lease and hotel management agreement with Chuo Mitsui Trust and Banking Company, involving the conversion of a former Ginza office building into a hotel, the first such conversion project in Japan. Grove International Partners in establishing separate operating platforms for investments in hotels (with Westmont for Ishin Hotels and with Hoshino Resorts), golf courses, ski resorts, distressed debt and distressed retail. Lendlease and Merrill Lynch in structuring a joint venture sponsor company and platform structure to pursue the acquisition, redevelopment and disposition of a portfolio of Tokyo office buildings. In addition to his professional experience, Ted Johnson has since 2005 served as an Adjunct Professor at Keio Law School, where he has taught courses on Global Gaming Law, International Business Transactions and International Licensing.

Ted received his J.D. degree from Harvard Law School and B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of North Carolina. He spent one year as a Fulbright Scholar at the Tokyo University Faculty of Law and two years as Visiting Scholar at Harvard Law School's East Asian Legal Studies Department, during which time he co-authored a textbook on Japanese business law that has been used at multiple law schools in the U.S., Japan and Australia.

Together with a business partner, Ted has acquired and redeveloped and operates two vacation rental properties in the U.S. He also owns and operates together with his wife a community performing arts hall in the Shimokitzawa area of Tokyo. Ted is an active member of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan and Urban Land Institute and an avid cyclist who has traveled widely in Japan and elsewhere on his bicycles.