Clifford Chance has hired Peter Coney as head of its litigation and dispute resolution practice in Tokyo from Japanese firm Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu, where he was a foreign law partner.

Coney has Japan-related expertise in international arbitration, litigation, compliance investigations and employment matters, and has assisted both private and public clients from a wide array of sectors including manufacturing, construction and infrastructure, energy, financial services, telecommunications and government.

Previously, Coney was at boutique firm Jamieson Legal in Sydney, and before that, Herbert Smith Freehills and Linklaters, both in Tokyo.

Clifford Chance was one of a handful of firms that grew their presence in Japan last year. The Magic Circle firm was ranked the fifth-largest international firm in Japan in ALB's Top 50 largest law firm ranking in 2017 with 46 lawyers, including nine partners.