<\/p>\n
Japan’s leading law firm Mori Hamada & Matsumoto announces plans to establish its first European office in London, signalling a strategic move to deepen cross-border legal services amid shifting geopolitical dynamics and growing Japanese engagement in Europe.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto, one of Japan\u2019s leading law firms, is set to make a significant global expansion with plans to establish its first European office in London in 2026. This move follows the firm\u2019s recent strategic growth in the United States, where it has already opened offices in New York and plans to launch a second branch in the San Francisco Bay Area next year. The London office is expected to serve as a vital hub for bridging legal services between Japan, the UK, and the broader European market.<\/p>\n
Yohsuke Higashi, a partner specialising in corporate and M&A law, foreign investment regulations, and international trade, will relocate to London to spearhead the new office. He told Asia Business Law Journal that the London office will focus on providing Japanese legal advice to British and European clients while collaborating closely with English and other European law firms to meet the complex needs of Japanese clients operating in Europe. Higashi emphasised the rising interest among international clients in Japanese markets and assets, alongside growing demands from Japanese clients for legal support within Europe. The office\u2019s location in London, a city that hosts a significant number of Japanese corporate headquarters, will enable the firm to better address these evolving cross-border challenges.<\/p>\n
Mori Hamada clarified that the London office will not offer English or European law advice directly but will function mainly as a gateway to facilitate transactions into Japan for European clients and from Japan into the UK and Eurozone for Japanese clients. Services will largely focus on cross-border M&A, projects, regulatory matters, and crisis management relating to Asia. This aligns with the firm\u2019s strategy to strengthen its real-time presence in Europe amidst an increasingly complex global geopolitical and regulatory landscape, where bilateral negotiations and national priorities are becoming more prominent than multilateral coordination.<\/p>\n
The UK government highlights Japan as a key economic partner, with over 1,200 Japanese companies operating in the country and providing employment to more than 150,000 British workers. This underlines the strategic importance of London as a base for Japanese law firms expanding their footprint to better serve corporate clients with intertwined interests in both regions.<\/p>\n
Mori Hamada\u2019s London launch momentarily aligns with moves by other major Japanese law firms expanding internationally. Notably, Anderson Mori & Tomotsune opened its own London office earlier this year, led by partner Atsutoshi Maeda. Their London office focuses on inbound deals into Japan and assisting clients with international disputes and post-entry legal matters, underscoring an intensified competition among Japanese firms for European market presence.<\/p>\n
In parallel to its global growth, Mori Hamada has embraced internationalisation at home, having recently introduced a foreign law joint enterprise model allowing foreign-qualified lawyers to become equal partners. This reflects the firm\u2019s ambition to enhance its global business development and expand its cross-border legal capabilities.<\/p>\n
Moreover, Mori Hamada is not only focusing on Europe and the US but also strengthening its Southeast Asia presence. It has integrated with Thailand\u2019s Chandler & Thong-ek Law Offices to establish Chandler MHM Limited, further reinforcing its regional footprint. This diverse global approach indicates the firm\u2019s commitment to servicing multinational clients with complex legal needs across Asia, Europe, and the Americas.<\/p>\n
Overall, Mori Hamada\u2019s planned London office represents a strategic move to deepen its engagement with European markets and bolster its capacity to manage legal challenges amid shifting geopolitical and economic frameworks. The firm\u2019s focus on collaboration with local European firms and reliance on its expertise in Japanese law seeks to provide a specialised, high-quality service tailored to the needs of a globalised client base.<\/p>\n