Mori Hamada & Matsumoto has made its latest global push with plans to launch its first European office in London in 2026, following its recent expansion into the US with branches in New York and San Francisco.
Yohsuke Higashi
Yohsuke Higashi, a corporate and M&A partner who is set to relocate to London to lead the UK office, told Asia Business Law Journal that this branch would directly assist British and European clients requiring Japanese law advice, while collaborating with English and other European law firms to address the legal needs of Japanese clients.
Besides international clients’ increasing interest in the Japanese market and assets, Higashi said there were also Japanese clients’ expanding needs in Europe. He added that, through the office in London, which hosted many Japanese corporate offices, his firm could better assist its Japanese clients in tackling today’s complex geopolitical challenges.
“My own specialties are in cross-border M&A, foreign investment regulations, and international trade, and I look forward to advising on these matters on the ground,” said Higashi. He added that, besides himself, at least one other Japanese-qualified attorney would be assigned to the office initially.
In its 26 September London office launch announcement, Mori Hamada noted the increasingly complex global landscape, and a growing emphasis on national priorities and bilateral negotiations over multilateral co-ordination. The Tokyo-based firm pointed to how, under such circumstances, it had become essential to gather real-time legal and policy information on the ground in Europe and to further strengthen its longstanding ties with local firms.
The UK government referred to Japan as an important contributor to its economy in a 28 August press release this year on UK’s promotion of trade and industrial strategies in Japan and South Korea, citing over 1,200 Japanese companies in the country supporting more than 150,000 British jobs.
Higashi said his firm did not plan to provide English or European law advice from our London office, which would serve as a gateway for European clients into Japan, and for Japanese clients into the UK and the wider Eurozone.
“For European clients, we plan to assist with M&A, projects, and other transactions in Japan and Asia, as well as regulatory matters and crisis management in Asia. For Japanese clients, we will … maintain and grow our longstanding relationships with leading English and European law firms to deliver high-quality advice through such collaboration,” said Higashi.
