Japanese Big Four firm Mori Hamada & Matsumoto (MHM) has entered into an association in Indonesia with local firm ATD Law, which was set up this month by Abadi Abi Tisnadisastra, most recently managing partner of AKSET Law, the Japanese firm’s erstwhile strategic ally.

The alliance makes MHM the third Japanese Big Four law firm to have a formal Indonesia association. Nishimura & Asahi has had an alliance with Walalangi & Partners since 2018, while Anderson Mori & Tomotsune set up an association with H&A Partners in 2020.

MHM has been steadily expanding its presence in the ASEAN over the past few years. The firm opened an office in Hanoi earlier this year, after establishing a presence in Ho Chi Minh City in 2018. It acquired Thai firm Chandler & Thong-Ek in 2016, and also has an office in Yangon. In Indonesia, the Japanese firm established a Jakarta desk at AKSET Law.

Tetsu Takeuchi, currently a partner of MHM’s Singapore office, will move to Jakarta to oversee the alliance. He is experienced in M&A, corporate governance, and other general corporate matters in Singapore, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

Meanwhile, Tisnadisastra, who heads ATD Law, has more than 20 years of experience in M&A, corporate, finance, telecommunications, and technology work.