Japan

日本語

We have one of the leading and best-resourced legal practices in Asia Pacific, with a long-standing commitment to the region and an excellent track record of managing and successfully completing complex, cross-border transactions across a broad range of practice areas. Our services assist our clients to establish and maintain strong commercial presence across the region. Many of the legal professionals on our team have trained and worked in Japan, a number of them as in-house lawyers. The majority speak Japanese and all are familiar with the business structures and reporting processes of Japanese organisations. Our clients include large Japanese banks, government agencies, shipyards, trading houses, insurers and other major corporates. Key local industry sectors include: energy and infrastructure (oil and gas; mining and metals; carbon finance; power, water and renewables), transport (aviation, shipping, rail and road) and telecoms and technology.

Within the region we have over 800 lawyers, based in Bangkok, Beijing, Brisbane, Canberra, Hong Kong, Jakarta*, Melbourne, Perth, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo. Recently Michael Joyce, a Partner from our Brisbane practice relocated to our Tokyo office. In Australia, our Japan Business Group comprises around 60 people, including 20 senior lawyers, with a vast breadth of knowledge working with Japan’s most important companies and brands.

Entry to new markets

Our expertise, local knowledge, connections and legal resources of our network open new doors and provide tangible business advantages. We help our clients to introduce new products and services ahead of competitors, enter new markets which they may otherwise find difficult to penetrate, and ensure they are well protected against fluctuations in business conditions and regulatory changes that can hamper success and generate undue risk.

We have vast experience in most of the significant areas of business, commerce, industry and government. Many of the deals on which we act are complex and involve multiple joint venture partners, some of whom may not have conducted business in the relevant country before. Having assisted Japanese companies to establish their presence in international markets on many occasions, we can provide the contacts, advice, guidance and understanding to help bring these deals to fulfilment rapidly and profitably.

The highest level legal services

We provide a full and comprehensive suite of business legal services for Japanese clients which are managed and delivered through our Japan Business Group by lawyers who are familiar with the business structures and reporting processes of Japanese organisations. Our knowledge of the business and legal requirements of Japanese companies, coupled with strong local skills and experience, enable us to deal with matters extremely efficiently. This results in significant containment of costs, and ensures smooth and accurate communication and reporting.

Our services range from establishing greenfield operations to complex joint ventures, structuring of investment and franchise opportunities, corporate and debt restructuring matters, employment and contractor issues, tax structures, licensing and supplier contracts, and protection and enforcement of brands and intellectual property rights. We also handle all day-to-day legal issues, ensure compliance requirements are met, and provide assistance to executives with their relocation and visa requirements.

Investment into Japan

Clients starting out, expanding or restructuring in the Japanese market or dealing with Japanese companies in other countries, also benefit from our experience working in Japan, with Japanese companies and for Japanese clients. In addition to assisting on legal and strategic issues, we are able to help select and access the right Japanese partners and advisers.

*Associate office

Local contacts