Japanese firm Nishimura & Asahi has broken ground as the first of the country’s Big Four to open a branch in Europe.

The firm plans two offices – in Frankfurt and Düsseldorf. These offices will target Europe-based work post-Brexit and be led by partner Noriya Ishikawa and foreign law partner Dominik Kruse. 

The Frankfurt office will be Nishimura’s primary focus, and will provide services related to cross-border transactions, M&A, IP and dispute resolution. The Düsseldorf branch will advise on subsidiaries and affiliates of Nishimura’s existing Japanese clients based in the city and surrounding regions.

The German offices are the latest in Nishimura’s international push. The firm currently has offices in Vietnam, Singapore, Dubai, New York, Beijing, Shanghai and Myanmar, an associated office in Indonesia and an affiliated office in Hong Kong.

Last year it acquired Thailand’s SCL Law Group, making it the second major Japanese acquisition of a Thai law firm since Chandler MHM a few years ago.

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