(Tokyo, Japan, March 11, 2008) Ropes & Gray is pleased to announce that Tsuyoshi Imai has joined the firm's Private Equity practice as a corporate partner. Imai will base his practice in the firm's office in Tokyo, Japan.

Imai comes to Ropes & Gray from Latham & Watkins LLP. His practice focuses primarily on cross-border mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, and private equity transactions. Imai, who also is experienced in handling United States securities matters, is fluent in both English and Japanese.

"We are very pleased to have Tsuyoshi help us expand our private equity and corporate practice in Asia and, particularly, in Japan," said Al Rose, the co-chair of Ropes & Gray's Private Equity Practice Group. "His extensive M&A and finance experience, coupled with his local market knowledge, significantly enhances our ability to serve clients from our Tokyo Office."

Imai earned his undergraduate degree from the University of California, Irvine, and his law degree from Northwestern. He is admitted to practice in the State of California.

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