Allens Arthur Robinson has signed a collaborative agreement with leading Japanese firm Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu (NO&T).
"The co-operative alliance recognises that, notwithstanding the growth of China, Japan remains a critically important player in the region and clients from Japan continue to require premium level support and assistance and will benefit from this new approach to responding to their needs," Allens Japan practice head and corporate finance partner Tim Lester said. “For both of us, this alliance creates opportunities. NO&T would not have been capturing work flows in some cases, because they did not have capacity outside of Japan in Australia and South East Asia, which we can offer them,” he added.
Allens will second lawyers to NO&T's Tokyo office and NO&T will do likewise to Allens' offices with both firms working together on marketing and training initiatives in the region. Both firms will retain their structural and financial independence. “We already have a lawyer in NO&T offices in Japan, and expect to have some of their lawyers in our Jakarta office and Vietnam or Thailand offices by the end of the year or early 2011,” said Lester.
Allens has a ‘best friends' agreement with UK law firm Slaughter & May to work together in the Asia region, but this does not cover Japan. “This is different to the relationship Allens has with Slaughter & May in Asia, which is more of a referral service,” said Lester. “This arrangement is more structured and seeks to be a much more cohesive and collaborative arrangement.”
Practice areas AAR expect to see particular growth in following the alliance include infrastructure and projects, energy and resources, M&A, renewable energies and the agribusiness area. “The agribusiness area is especially important to Japan, because the two key areas of concern for them are resources and food supplies,” said Lester.
Although NO&T has a New York office, Lester said the agreement did not officially extend it. “But because of our closer relationship we could collaborate more easily with the NY office when opportunities arise,” he explained.
Blake Dawson opened a Japan office in April this year and is currently the only Australian firm with an office in the market.
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