Newly-merged transatlantic firm Squire Patton Boggs has bolstered its presence in Tokyo by tying up with Japan-headquartered corporate boutique Mamiya Law Offices (MLO).
MLO, a five-lawyer corporate and transactional practice founded in 2008 by M&A lawyer Jun Mamiya, has become a part of Squire just a month after the merger of Squire Sanders and Washington DC lobbyist firm Patton Boggs created a 1,500 lawyer firm across 44 offices in 21 countries.
Mamiya launched the firm after spells as a partner at Hashidate Law Offices, which formed an alliance with Addleshaw Goddard last year, and Atsumi & Partners. The Japanese firm’s practices include domestic and international transactions, corporate governance, corporate restructuring private equity, securities and disputes. The addition of this five-lawyer team to Squire’s existing office brings the number of Tokyo-based lawyers up to 40.
While Squire has lost a number of lawyers following the merger, including London shipping partner Linos Choo who opted to rejoin DLA Piper in June, the firm has secured several hires in Asia.
Corporate partners Kenji Funahashi from Jones Day and Hiroki Suyama from Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pitman joined its Los Angeles office in June, while competition lawyer Li Hua also recently joined the firm’s Beijing office from French firm Gide Loyrette Nouel.
Ken Kurosu, Squire’s Tokyo office managing partner, said: ‘We have developed a strong relationship with Mamiya-sensei, having first worked together almost 20 years ago. Not only do we share a number of major public institutional clients, but there are synergies with our financial services and intellectual property practices in Tokyo, which will lead to new and exciting opportunities in Japan as well as elsewhere around the world.’
Tom.moore@legalease.co.uk
