Baker & McKenzie hired seven partners from Japanese firm Asahi Koma Law Offices and a linked operation for its Tokyo office. The firm hired name partner Fumio Koma, intellectual property partner Yasunori Hashiguchi, insolvency partner Shinichiro Abe and German-qualified counsel Markus Janssen. A group of four associates and counsel are also joining, putting Baker’s numbers in Tokyo up to 111. Baker & McKenzie is the largest practice of any foreign firm in Japan; about 75 percent of its lawyers there are locally-qualified bengoshi. There is a possibility that the firm may open a second office in Osaka in the future.
Source: www.legalweek.com