Japanese ‘Big Four’ law firm set to open London office

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Anderson Mori & Tomotsune, one of Japan’s biggest law firms, has opened a new office in London and is set to target UK and European companies entering the Japanese market.

The firm will focus on cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A), joint ventures, and real estate transactions, as well as representing clients on international disputes related to Japan.

The firm opened its first international office in Beijing in 1998 but has been an established firm since the 1950s. It’s grown alongside its ‘Big Four’ rivals, Nishimura & Asahi, Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu, and Mori Hamada & Matsumoto. The new London office will be the firm’s first in Europe, as well as its first outside Asia.

In a statement, the firm said: “Our London office will enable us to provide timely Japanese law advice to UK and Europe-based companies which expand their businesses globally regarding their investments in Japanese entities or real estates through M&A or joint venture transactions.

In addition, we will provide prompt and sophisticated legal services to Japanese companies that have already entered or are considering entering the European market, in collaboration with local law firms.”

The London office will sit alongside eight other international offices for the firm in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, and Singapore.

The firm has two further Japanese offices in Osaka and Nagoya, boasting over 600 staff across all 11 of its offices. It’s regarded as one of Japan’s most diversified firms.

Atsutoshi Maeda, Anderson Mori & Tomotsune partner and former co-head of its Singapore office, will lead the London office.