In a press release, the firm said the openings are designed to meet increasing demand of foreign clients for Japanese legal services and of Japanese clients for outbound legal services.

Legal services

The Singapore office will especially focus on M&A, finance transactions and dispute resolution for international and regional clients. Experienced M&A and finance transactions partner Ko Hanamizu will head the Singapore office.
Partner Akira Moriwaki, who had served as the chief representative the firm’s Beijing office for many years, will be chief representative at the Shanghai base, which will provide legal services to international, Chinese and Japanese clients.

Business development

The Nagoya office is intended to provide clients in the middle region of Japan area with enhanced legal services close to their communities as well as the clients who develop or intend to develop their business in the middle region of Japan. Partner Yoshinori Aoyagi will lead the office.
In addition, the firm is relocating its Tokyo office in July to meet its increasing headcount and further expand its business.