Japanese law firm Atsumi & Sakai has enhanced its project finance capabilities with the appointment of Alan Kitchin as head of its international projects and M&A practice in Tokyo. Kitchin most recently managed his own practice in the UK.

With a career spanning several decades, Kitchin has developed expertise in global projects, project finance, and international M&A. His client base includes prominent Tokyo-based Japanese companies, such as government-owned financial institutions, major banks, trading houses, and other notable corporations.

Prior to joining Atsumi & Sakai, Kitchin was the managing partner of Simpson Kitchin in the UK, a firm he founded in 2012. Earlier in his career, he spent 24 years at Ashurst, where he established and managed the firm's Tokyo office and later led its Asia practice from Singapore. He also held a senior partner role at Clifford Chance in Tokyo.

According to Atsumi & Sakai, the appointment of Kitchin is part of the firm's ongoing effort to strengthen its capabilities in international project finance, project finance, and cross-border M&A transactions. “This move is notable for a Tokyo-headquartered Japanese domestic law firm,” the firm said in a statement.

Atsumi & Sakai has been on a steady expansionary track since last year. In October of last year, the firm hired real estate veteran Chris Hodgen and corporate partner Makiko Harada, after welcomed banking partner Akiko Hosokawa and corporate partner Dio Inoue earlier. 

With Kitchin's addition, Atsumi & Sakai's Tokyo office now has 104 partners.