Mori Hamada & Matsumoto (MHM), one of Japan’s Big Four corporate law firms, will open a Singapore office in early 2012 to cater to a boom in the region’s Japanese business.
Asia One Business reports
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MHM has applied for a foreign law practice licence, a spokesman for the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) told The Straits Times (ST).
MHM’s move into Singapore will mark the first standalone foreign practice set up here by a top Japanese law firm.
MHM holds the 2011 title of Japan’s top law firm in the Chambers Asia-Pacific awards, and is a well-known name in the areas of Japanese finance, mergers and acquisitions, and litigation.
The firm, which boasts of a pool of 311 lawyers – about 20 fewer than Singapore’s biggest law firm Rajah & Tann – also regularly advises on large cross-border transactions involving Japanese companies.
Although more than 1,100 foreign lawyers are registered with the AGC, only about 10 practise mainly in Japan. They cannot practise Singapore law.
MHM’s decision to set up a Singapore branch for providing legal services related to the entire South-east and South Asia region was prompted by the country’s convenient location, said its spokeswoman, Ms Rieko Hirai.
Ms Hirai added that Singapore is also becoming a jurisdiction where dispute resolutions are taking place.
She confirmed that the branch will be a standalone foreign law practice and not a joint-venture with a local firm. This is as it will not be practising Singapore law.
MHM’s move is aimed at Japanese firms which prefer to deal with Japanese lawyers, and one positive outcome is the likelihood of MHM farming out its work involving Singapore law to local law firms.
