Nishimura & Asahi, the largest law firm in Japan by headcount, has grown its corporate offering in Thailand. M&A lawyer Christopher Osborne, lately a partner and head of the Thai corporate practice at Watson Farley & Williams in Bangkok, has joined the Big Four Japanese firm as a partner. More information regarding the hire was provided in this
recently published article.
Osborne brings to the table specialization in advising both international and Thai companies on the development, sale, and acquisition of renewable energy projects—not only in Thailand but also across the wider Asian region. His advice spans several energy sectors, including onshore wind, solar, and waste-to-energy projects. Osborne’s legal counsel includes providing advice concerning power purchase agreements, project finance to post-commissioning exits, and acquisitions. His consultation scope extends to covering mergers and acquisitions in the region, involving sectors such as manufacturing, logistics, and technology, media, and telecommunications.
In addition to the expansion in Thailand, the Tokyo-based firm has also recently cemented its global footprint by launching a new foreign law joint enterprise structure. This new structure allows the firm to legally have foreign-qualified lawyers in Japan as equity partners with management rights.