Leading Japanese law firm Mori Hamada & Matsumoto has expanded its presence to the Philippines after announcing a strategic alliance with local firm Tayag Ngochua & Chu in Manila.
This makes it the second major law firm from Japan to enter into a tie-up in the Philippine legal market after Nishimura & Asahi. Last September, Nishimura entered into an association with Sy & Partners to closely support Japanese clients investing in the Southeast Asian country.
“The Philippines is a growing market with a population of over 110 million, which is expected to increase until around 2050,” said MHM in a statement. “MHM Group has been involved in Philippine-related matters for many years. This strategic relationship will allow it to take one step further.”
By this alliance, MHM now has seven bases in the ASEAN region, either in the form of a local office or an alliance. The other bases are Singapore, Bangkok, Yangon, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Jakarta.
Established in 2022, TNC is an independent Philippine law firm led by name partners Carlos Martin Tayag, Patricia Cristina Tan Ngochua and Allan Christopher Sy Chu, who have more than 40 years of combined experience as transaction lawyers. The firm advises local and multinational clients on M&A, joint ventures, restructuring, foreign investments, banking and consumer lending, data privacy, technology, antitrust and compliance.
Before founding TNC, Tayag was a partner at Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc & de los Angeles for more than 17 years. Chu, who was most recently general counsel of Paloo Financing and online lender Cashalo, also had an in-house stint at Oriente Finance after spending eight years at Romulo.
