For a second year in a row, we have more Band 1 practice rankings and more Band 1 (or higher) leading individuals than any other international firm. We are also the only firm ranked Band 1 for Japan: Corporate/M&A and Real Estate, demonstrating our market leadership. Our China practices also put in a strong showing, adding two new practice rankings in the areas of China: Energy & Natural Resources; and China: Real Estate: International Firms.
We also have two additional new practice rankings in the areas of Asia-wide: Energy & Natural Resources; and Japan: Tax. Three practices have moved up in the rankings: Asia-wide Capital Markets: Equity; China: Life Sciences; and China: Technology, Media & Telecoms.
We have ten additional individual lawyer recommendations this year. In China, Paul McKenzie (Energy & Natural Resources), John Moore (Capital Markets: Equity) and Melody Chen (Capital Markets: Equity); and in Japan, Dale Araki (Corporate/M&A), Eric Roose (Tax), Michael Shikuma (Tax), Robert Hollingshead (Intellectual Property), and Stuart Beraha (Intellectual Property). In addition, Gordon Milner is ranked for the first time for China: TMT: Telecoms and Broadcasting to complement his long-term ranking in Information Technology; and Eric Piesner is also newly ranked for Investment Funds to complement his long-term ranking for Real Estate.
In addition, three of our Tokyo attorneys - Keisuke Mochizuki, Theodore Seltzer, and Ken Siegel - have been named as "Star Individuals" for the second year in a row in their respective fields, an elite ranking given to lawyers with exceptional recommendations.