Mori Hamada & Matsumoto, a renowned Japanese law firm, is set to establish its first European office in London in 2026, marking a significant milestone in its global expansion strategy. This move follows the firm's recent ventures into the United States market, with offices launching imminently in New York and planned in San Francisco. The London branch is intended to provide direct Japanese legal expertise to British and European clients while working closely with English and other European law firms to meet the needs of Japanese clients operating in Europe.

Yohsuke Higashi, a corporate and M&A partner specialising in cross-border transactions, foreign investment regulations, and international trade, will relocate to London to head the new office. Speaking to Asia Business Law Journal, Higashi highlighted that the office will serve as a crucial gateway for European clients seeking to navigate Japanese law and for Japanese clients expanding into the UK and broader Eurozone. He noted the growing complexity of geopolitical challenges and the increased interest from international clients in Japanese markets as key drivers behind this expansion. Importantly, the office will not provide English or European law advice but will rather facilitate high-quality collaboration with local firms to support clients' cross-jurisdictional deals and regulatory needs.

The London office is part of a broader global push by Mori Hamada & Matsumoto, which has seen the firm aggressively broaden its footprint with offices across Asia and the Americas. The firm recently announced the upcoming launch of its New York office, led by Hideaki Umetsu along with partners Aruto Kagami and Nobuhiko Suzuki, all of whom bring expertise in international trade and cross-border transactions. Additionally, the San Francisco Bay Area office, set to become operational from 2025, will focus on emerging sectors such as start-ups, venture capital, private equity, and cross-border M&A, led by partners Mikito Ishida and Stephen Overton. These moves underline Mori Hamada’s commitment to providing sophisticated legal services that reflect the demands of a highly globalised client base.

Founded in 2002 through the merger of Mori Sogo and Hamada & Matsumoto, Mori Hamada & Matsumoto now boasts over 740 lawyers and 680 support staff distributed across multiple offices in Japan and key cities throughout Asia, including Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore, Bangkok, Yangon, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Jakarta, and Manila. Its recent expansions underscore a strategic push to meet the increasing legal complexity faced by clients operating in multiple jurisdictions. The firm also cultivates strong local expertise in regions where it operates, with the UK office continuing this tradition by embedding lawyers familiar with the UK legal system through postgraduate study and reciprocal secondments with leading local firms.

In the context of the UK's economic ties with Japan, the establishment of Mori Hamada’s London office aligns with government efforts to foster stronger trade and industrial relations. The UK government highlighted Japan as a vital contributor to the UK's economy, noting over 1,200 Japanese companies supporting more than 150,000 British jobs. Through its new office, Mori Hamada aims to deepen these economic ties by providing timely legal and policy insights on the ground in Europe – a vital asset in an era marked by growing national priorities and bilateral negotiations.

Yohsuke Higashi emphasised that, while the London office will primarily address Japanese legal matters, it will act as a hub facilitating seamless collaboration with European law firms to deliver integrated solutions for cross-border transactions and regulatory challenges. This strategy reflects Mori Hamada’s recognition that, in today’s fragmented global legal landscape, proximity and local insight are crucial to effectively managing complex multinational operations and crisis management.

The firm asserts that its expansion demonstrates responsiveness to both international interest in Japan and the evolving needs of Japanese companies expanding into Europe, reaffirming Mori Hamada & Matsumoto’s position as a leading player in the increasingly interconnected global legal market.

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Source: Noah Wire Services