Big Four Japanese law firm Mori Hamada & Matsumoto (MHM) has agreed to acquire leading Thai law practice Chandler & Thong-ek Law Offices for an undisclosed amount.

This is the first instance of a Japanese law firm buying out an overseas practice of this scale. The 50-lawyer Thai firm will be called Chandler MHM starting from January next year.

Satosh Kawai, a partner at MHM, and Niwes Phancharoenworakul, the current managing partner of Chandler & Thong-Ek, will jointly lead the practice at Chandler MHM. The Japanese firm currently has around 60 lawyers based outside its home country, according to a Nikkei report. 

Earlier this year, as part of its expansion plans, MHM opened a Jakarta desk at AKSET Law. The firm also has offices in Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore and Yangon.

Related Articles

Deals

Nishimura, MHM advise on Dai-ichi Life’s $2 bln acquisition of Benefit One

by Mari Iwata |

Nishimura & Asahi has advised Japanese life insurance giant Dai-ichi Life Holdings on its 2.9-trillion-yen ($2 billion) acquisition of healthcare platform Benefit One, which was represented by Mori Hamada & Matsumoto.

Other News

MHM to expand in Japan with Yokohama office launch

by Mari Iwata |

Leading Japanese law firm Mori Hamada & Matsumoto has announced that it will establish a presence in Yokohama, the nation’s second-largest city. It will be the firm’s seventh domestic office.

Deals

Clifford Chance, Nishimura, MHM lead on CVC’s $1.2 bln acquisition of Sogo Medical Group

by Mari Iwata |

Clifford Chance and Nishimura & Asahi have acted for private equity firm CVC Capital Partners on its 17-billion-yen ($1.2 billion) acquisition of Sogo Medical Group, Japan’s fifth-biggest pharmacy by store numbers. Sogo was represented by Mori Hamada & Matsumoto.