Big Four Japanese law firm Mori Hamada & Matsumoto (MHM) has agreed to acquire leading Thai law practice Chandler & Thong-ek Law Offices for an undisclosed amount.

This is the first instance of a Japanese law firm buying out an overseas practice of this scale. The 50-lawyer Thai firm will be called Chandler MHM starting from January next year.

Satosh Kawai, a partner at MHM, and Niwes Phancharoenworakul, the current managing partner of Chandler & Thong-Ek, will jointly lead the practice at Chandler MHM. The Japanese firm currently has around 60 lawyers based outside its home country, according to a Nikkei report. 

Earlier this year, as part of its expansion plans, MHM opened a Jakarta desk at AKSET Law. The firm also has offices in Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore and Yangon.