Norton Rose Fulbright has acquired the ability to offer Japanese-law advice for the first time, after hiring banking, finance and restructuring expert Akihiko (Aki) Takamatsu as a partner from Clifford Chance. His hire means NRF will now operate as a Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo, or foreign law joint enterprise.

With more than 15 years of banking, finance and restructuring experience with a focus on the aviation and other transportation sectors, Takamatsu advises clients including banks, financial institutions, export credit agencies, lessors, trading houses, airlines and investors on aviation finance and leasing. He joined Clifford Chance in 2008, and became a counsel in 2017.

This addition has brough the number of NRF partners in Tokyo to four.