The US firm will launch in Tokyo in the first half of 2018. The office will be spearheaded by a team led by partner Rupert Burrows who joins from Ashurst. 'Over the last few years, we have focused on building our relationships with Japanese corporations, banks and trading houses,' said Paul Theiss, chairman of Mayer Brown. 'They have been telling us that, to continue to develop those relationships and expand them across the Mayer Brown platform, we now need a presence in Tokyo. Consistent with the firm’s wider strategic goal to be present in all of the major financial centers of the world and with our client-led initiative in Japan, we now intend to open in Tokyo in the first half of 2018. We are delighted that Rupert Burrows, an established projects lawyer in the Tokyo market, will be joining us to head up our new office.'

Projects and energy

Mr Burrows is well known for his expertise in projects and energy work around the world, including related corporate M&A transactions and finance. Fluent in Japanese, he has built a practice in Tokyo over the past 20 years. 'Launching this new office in Tokyo offers a compelling opportunity to expand Mayer Brown’s existing relationships with Japanese clients, joining up with the firm’s established capabilities, particularly in project finance, M&A transactions and international arbitration in the US, Latin America, Europe, and Southeast Asia,' added Mr Theiss. 'With lawyers on the ground in Tokyo, we will enhance our ability to serve existing and new Japanese clients. We will be able to bring a level of service and coordination – across a global platform using the firm’s existing infrastructure – that other firms cannot duplicate.'