One of Japan’s biggest law firms has opened its London office as it targets UK and European companies looking to enter the Japanese market.

Anderson Mori & Tomotsune, one of Japan’s so-called ‘Big Four’ firms, will focus on cross-border mergers and acquisitions, real estate transactions and joint ventures, as well as acting for clients on international disputes related to Japan.

The London office is the firm’s first in Europe and first outside Asia, where it has offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok as well as in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya in Japan. Anderson Mori & Tomotsune also has associated firms in Hong Kong, Jakarta and Singapore.

The firm said in a statement: ‘Our London office will enable us to provide timely Japanese law advice to UK and Europe-based companies which expand their businesses globally regarding their investments in Japanese entities or real estates through M&A or joint venture transactions.

‘We will also assist global companies with international disputes related to their businesses in Japan and advise them on legal issues that may arise after their entry into the Japanese market, such as intra-group restructuring and labour issues.

‘In addition, we will provide prompt and sophisticated legal services to Japanese companies that have already entered or are considering entering the European market, in collaboration with local law firms.’

Atsutoshi Maeda, an Anderson Mori & Tomotsune partner who was previously co-head of its Singapore office, will lead the London office.