Nishimura & Asahi opens two offices to increase its presence in Europe

With the planned opening of new offices in London and Brussels, Nishimura & Asahi Europe has increased the number of its abroad locations in Europe to four, after those in Frankfurt and Düsseldorf.

According to the business, the opening of these additional offices is meant to improve client assistance for European M&A concerns and projects, guarantee adherence to European laws and policies, and put us in a better position to provide strategic counsel in line with local policies.

The two locations will open by early next year, which is around four years after the company had its first presence in Europe with the establishment of offices in Düsseldorf and Frankfurt. Since 2020, Nishimura has advised Japanese businesses operating in Europe on matters pertaining to corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) through its offices in Germany.

The London office will concentrate on transactions in the UK and Europe in sectors such corporate and financial transactions, as well as cross-border M&A. Yoshiyuki Kizu, a partner with expertise in this field, will lead the office. A group of Japanese lawyers and one locally trained attorney will run the new office throughout its first operating phase.

The international law firm said that the establishment of the Brussels office, which will be led by partner Kojiro Fujii, a specialist in antitrust as well as international trade laws, expressed recent rapid changes in competition as well as international economic laws, particularly in the Belgian capital, as well as updated regulations and policies regarding sustainability and data protection. The new office will provide advice on issues pertaining to EU competition legislation, international trade law, sustainability, and associated public policies through a team of skilled European and Japanese attorneys.

According to Fujii, they would collaborate closely with the London office to improve their capacity for quick responses both domestically and internationally. They will be able to quickly learn about modifications and advancements made to EU laws and rules, particularly those pertaining to data protection, digital regulation, and sustainability.