Leading Japanese law firm TMI Associates has expanded its international network to Brussels to support its Japanese clients looking to do business in the EU, particularly in the antitrust and data protection space. 

This is the firm’s third European office, following a Paris expansion in 2023 and an earlier office in London. “Brussels is a key location in the EU, home to the headquarters of the Council of the European Union and the European Commission, among other institutions, and the Brussels office will function as an office that can quickly provide clients with information on the latest trends in EU law,” TMI said in a statement. 

The firm's three-pronged European presence – Brussels, London, and Paris – will create a strategic triangle for handling complex cross-border matters, the firm added, noting the Brussels office will specialize in several key areas, including European competition law compliance, data protection regulations, energy and environmental matters, ESG-related advisory services, and cross-border transaction support.

“The three TMI European bases will support a variety of businesses, including the growth of global businesses of Japanese companies in the European market, and the expansion and development of Japanese sports and content,” the firm said. 

The Brussels operation will be helmed by Mizuki Koshimoto, whose expertise spans energy and cross-border transactions. He will “support Japanese companies in renewable energy transactions, carbon credit transactions, and environmental/ESG-related cases in the EU, as well as actively support European companies considering entering the Japanese market,” The firm said. 

Working in tandem with EU competition law specialist Akihiro Kudo, based in London, the team will focus on supporting Japanese corporations navigating EU regulations while facilitating European companies' entry into the Japanese market.

This expansion comes amid growing Japanese corporate interest in European markets and increasing regulatory complexity in the EU. Recent EU initiatives, particularly in technology regulation and sustainability requirements, have created new compliance challenges for Asian businesses operating in the region.

Earlier this month, Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu announced the opening of a London office in 2025, while Nishimura & Asahi revealed plans to open in London and Brussels. Anderson Mori & Tomotsune also has offices in London and Brussels, while Atsumi & Sakai launched a Brussels branch this year. 

These firms will also be competing with growing international legal market interest in Japanese outbound M&A. In May, UK-headquartered Bird & Bird announced the launch of a Tokyo office to support Japanese clients with outbound cross-border work in Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, focusing on key industry sectors such as renewable energy, life sciences, technology and media.