International law firm Morgan, Lewis & Bockius has strengthened its Japanese real estate practice with the addition of partners Gerald "Jerry" Fujii and Naoki Ueyama from Withers, enhancing the firm's cross-border real estate finance capabilities in Tokyo.
Fujii brings over 25 years of experience in real estate investment funds, REITs, sovereign wealth funds, and real estate lending, with particular expertise in green financing in Japan. Before joining Morgan Lewis in 2018, he spent two decades at White & Case.
Ueyama's practice focuses on advising investment funds, domestic and international investors, and financial institutions on real estate transactions, structured finance, and acquisition finance. He also joined Withers in 2018, having previously been a partner at Masuda & Partners Law Office and Paul Hastings, and holding an in-house role at Japan's Sanwa Bank.
At Morgan Lewis, Fujii and Ueyama will concentrate on real estate transactions and specialised financing, including green financing initiatives.
Their arrival underscores Japan's thriving real estate market, which continues to attract global investors drawn to the country's favourable investment climate. This includes advantages such as a weakened yen, low interest rates, and stable regulatory framework. These factors make Japan an increasingly attractive alternative for investors looking to diversify their portfolios away from China's challenging property market.
“At a time when Japan's real estate sector is showing sustained growth - buoyed by enduring low interest rates - and increased interest from global investors, the addition of these two talented lawyers will help us better guide our clients through emerging opportunities and risks,” said Morgan Lewis chair Jami McKeon in a statement.
Added Christina Melendi, leader of the firm’s global corporate and business transactions practice: “Complementing our strong, well-established corporate and business transactions team and creating natural synergies with our Tokyo investment management practice, Jerry and Naoki enhance our suite of services, helping clients capitalise on investment opportunities in Japan and internationally - including both inbound and outbound transactions.”
With the addition of Fujii and Ueyama, Morgan Lewis now counts six full-time partners in its Tokyo office. The firm recently shuttered its Shenzhen office, less than two years since it launched as one of the first foreign law firms operating in the Chinese tech hub.
Apart from Tokyo, the Philadelphia-based firm also operates offices in Almaty, Astana, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Singapore in the Asia Pacific region.
