The dissolution of Asahi Law Offices has continued to pay benefits for international firms in Japan, with Morrison & Foerster significantly boosting its China-focused legal service offering out of Tokyo by recruiting former Asahi partner Shingo Hisata as well as a team of six China-registered attorneys from Asahi that are based in Shanghai.

Hisata and his team will focus on China and other cross-border transactions, specifically in the areas of joint ventures, M&A, restructuring and licensing. Hisata, who was previously Asahi's chief representative in Beijing (2000-05) and Shanghai (2005-07), joins Mofo's registered associated office Ito & Mitomi in Tokyo, while the China attorneys have made the switch to Mofo's Shanghai office.
Mofo Tokyo managing partner Ken Siegel says with the addition of Hisata, the firm is the only major firm in Japan with both focused China-law specialists in Tokyo and a network of substantial offices in China's key financial centres with US and UK law expertise.

"This will allow us to extend the range of services we offer to Japanese companies as they continue to expand their critical investments in China," Siegel says.