Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has opened an office in Tokyo, its 19th globally. The office will be led by former White & Case partners Keisuke Imon (L) and Simon Collins, with Collins relocating from WFW’s Hong Kong office.  

The announcement of the Tokyo office comes only two months after WFW opened its Seoul office in February. The new Japan office, registered locally as Watson Farley & Williams (Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo Horitsu Jimusho) and including both Japanese-qualified lawyers and registered foreign gaiben lawyers, will initially focus on asset and structured finance in the aviation and maritime sectors. A number of the lawyers were originally in White & Case’s asset finance practice in Tokyo.

With roughly 20 years of experience, Imon advises clients such as export credit agencies, financial institutions, and Japanese and international leasing companies on financing matters, including asset, project, structured, debt and real estate finance. Prior to his stint at White & Case between 2016 and 2022, Imon worked more than 11 years at Clifford Chance.

Meanwhile, Collins re-joined WFW in May last year after 17 years at White & Case. He advises clients on cross-border aviation and maritime finance transactions.