One of Japan's leading finance lawyers in the capital markets and securitisation arena, Mitsuhiro Yasuda, has opted out of Linklaters' partnership in Tokyo after only a short two-year stint in favour of partnership with fast-growing Nishimura & Asahi.

Yasuda was a name partner at local firm Mitsui, Yasuda, Wani & Maeda before he joined Linklaters in 2005 as part of the firm's launch of a Japanese law capability in Tokyo.

Yasuda has significant experience in finance transactions, including issuances of equity and debt securities in the domestic and international capital markets. Nishimura hopes Yasuda's presence will bolster its capital markets practice.

Yasuda worked in the New York office of Sullivan & Cromwell between 1982 and 1983, and was a partner with Mitsui, Yasuda, Wani & Maeda for almost a decade.

The news comes as Nishimura announced the completion of its integration with the international division (Kokusai Bumon) of Asahi Law Offices to create Nishimura & Asahi. The firm has 325 lawyers in total, making it the largest in Japan.