International law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP has reinforced its ] coverage across the Asia Pacific region with the opening of a new office in Tokyo, Japan.
The Tokyo office, the firm’s third in the region, will work collaboratively with existing teams in Shanghai, China and Seoul, Korea. It is Greenberg Traurig’s 37th office worldwide. Greenberg Traurig Tokyo Law Offices will be operated by Greenberg Traurig Horitsu Jimusho, an affiliate of Greenberg Traurig, P.A. and Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
The Tokyo office will be led by an award-winning team of English-speaking Japanese lawyers. “They understand the local culture and practical aspects of Japanese business and have a track record of solving clients’ most critical problems,” said a statement from the company.
Koji Ishikawa, managing shareholder of the new office, joins from DLA Piper, and shareholders Yuji Ogiwara and Koichiro Ohashi, co-chairs of the firm-wide Japan Practice, join from White & Case. All three are old friends who previously worked together for years at the latter firm.
The opening is responsive to client needs and the global business community’s growing interest in Japan, including the gaming industry.
“The Greenberg Traurig brand stands for excellence, value and collaboration globally,” said Richard A. Rosenbaum, chief executive officer of the firm. “This is the perfect time for us to enter Tokyo with our own full service office. While so-called ‘Abenomics’ (referring to Japan Prime Minister Shinz? Abe) has been effective, structural reform is still needed through further deregulation and a decrease in corporate taxation. With his recent landslide victory in the lower house election, re-charging Abe’s political capital, many expect an acceleration of structural reform, and a further increase, over time, of business generation from and with
Japanese businesses.
“The time has therefore come to bring Greenberg Traurig’s unique value proposition to Tokyo in order to serve the expected increase in demand, added Rosenbaum. “First, it is the right time: a large and stable global economy is at the beginning of its next leg up. Second, there is a niche we can fill: our space will be between the outposts of so-called ‘elite’ global firms at very high prices which do certain work but are perceived as unresponsive to most client needs; and global firms with a local presence that have been in the market for quite some time by acquiring existing Japanese local practices and rebranding them but not integrating them into their platforms or being nimble or responsive to the full range of client needs.
“Third, and perhaps most importantly, we have found the right people to trust: our founding shareholders are next-generation, recognized leaders of the Japanese bar who are focused on delivering excellence and value and want to be fully integrated with our culture and global platform.”
The attorneys opening the Tokyo office are experienced practitioners in their fields and licensed in both Tokyo and New York. Ishikawa advises clients on corporate finance and capital markets transactions. Ogiwara focuses on Japanese employment litigation, labor negotiations, and compliance matters. Ohashi is an expert in the world of investment funds and also specializes in advising financial institutions, both Japanese and international, on a variety of financial matters, particularly M&A transactions.
