Mayer Brown has decades of experience representing Japanese corporations in Europe, and beyond, on significant projects, disputes, and transactions, via its offices in key locations within the United Kingdom, France, Belgium and Germany. Our lawyers based in Europe work closely with colleagues across the Americas, Asia (including our Tokyo office) and the Middle East to provide our clients with a seamless global service.
Our global platform is built to serve the growing needs of our clients, whose businesses and matters often span a number of jurisdictions. Our lawyers in the region are fully integrated into the firm's global practice groups, and the work we do in Europe extends well beyond the locations where we have offices.
With international trade and tariffs broadly affecting global businesses, Brussels is a key location for the firm's top tier International Trade practice. We also have a thriving and well-established Africa practice with key team members based in Paris and London.
In 2018, the firm was ranked among the Top 50 firms in the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Report Europe.
Examples of work undertaken from the firm's offices in the UK and Europe for Japanese businesses (sometimes working as part of a wider global team) include advising:
- on a major Japanese mining investment (over $1billion) in a copper mine project in Chile.
- numerous Japanese banks, securities companies and insurers on a range of major regulatory matters, disputes and transactions.
- major Japanese trading companies on transactions, disputes, compliance and international trade matters
- major Japanese institutions on data, cyber security and cyber crisis matters, including GDPR.
- numerous Japanese corporations regarding US, EU and UK economic sanctions relating to Iran, Russia and other countries
- a multinational vehicle manufacturer on the introduction of its connected vehicles services.
- a facial recognition technology provider on issues around the collection of biometric data.
- a Japanese bank on the development and implementation of a competition law compliance programme.
- a Japanese autoparts company on a major European Commission cartel investigation, parallel investigations in other jurisdictions and related litigation.
- a Japanese manufacturer of chemicals and other materials, on its agreement to acquire a US-headquartered business for approximately US$1.1 billion.
- a Japanese transportation group on large-scale risk assessment.
- a Japanese electronics company on competition law compliance including in relation to market dominance.
- many Japanese businesses on the implications of Brexit.
