Pacific Basin

Our Pacific Basin Practice Group lawyers, with transnational experience in a wide array of business transactions, litigation and dispute resolution matters, have a long history of working with Japanese and Korean companies, and we have expanded our practice in China and other parts of Asia during the past several years.  Attorneys in our practice have native Japanese and Korean language capabilities.

Our greatest strength in working with Asian clients is how we combine “big picture” advice with the resources and expertise of a law firm having specialists in numerous substantive legal areas.  We act as general counsel for a majority of our Japanese clients and major Korean clients.  Attorneys who are familiar with Japanese or Korean business practices are generally designated to handle all matters for a particular client.  This system is popular with Japanese and Korean clients, who under Japanese and Korean tradition are often accustomed to bringing all of their legal matters to one lawyer.  At the same time, the attorney-in-charge works cooperatively with other attorneys to ensure the client receives the best available expertise.

Among all major U.S. law firms, we have been particularly active in representing several of the largest Japanese and Korean corporations.  In Korea, we have represented major private corporations, as well as public corporations owned or controlled by the Korean government, in connection with a variety of commercial transactions, international litigation and arbitration.  In all of these complex matters where we acted as the lead international counsel, we have succeeded in providing world-class legal services to our clients and assisting them in accomplishing their goals.  This has been possible through our constant delivery of high-caliber legal skills, attention to overall objectives and minute details alike, and pro-active attitude towards servicing our clients.

In working with Asian clients, we emphasize building long-term relationships in which the client feels comfortable consulting attorneys concerning any and all pending legal matters.  In addition to our intimate knowledge of Japanese and Korean business practices, decision-making procedures and cultures, our attorneys regularly maintain a presence in Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul and other cities throughout Asia to foster strong working relationships with our clients.  Our practice includes native Japanese and Korean partners who have extensive knowledge of how the Japanese and Korean governments and business establishments operate and who have clients and contacts in both of these countries and throughout Asia.

When fulfilling our role as lead international counsel, we do not offer advice on Japanese, Korean or local law but, instead, draw upon our close relationships with a number of major law firms in Tokyo, Osaka and Seoul to jointly provide coordinated and coherent advice under the applicable U.S. and Japanese, Korean or local laws.  We also keep abreast of developments in Japan and Korea that are of interest to our clients and have basic knowledge of Japanese and Korean law which allows us to provide U.S. legal advice to our clients in the context and manner most helpful to them.  Furthermore, we maintain a network of correspondent law firms throughout Europe.  This ensures that our clients can receive first-class legal representation wherever their needs may arise.

Our list of clients in the Pacific Basin covers a broad range of industries, including airline, automotive, banking, chemicals, communications, construction, consumer electronics, finance, food, insurance, manufacturing, material processing, optical instruments, pharmaceutical, real estate development, retail, transportation and service businesses.  In addition, we have an active practice representing quasi-governmental agencies in the area of portfolio sales of non-performing loans and other distressed assets.

We provide the full spectrum of legal services for our Asian clients, including advice on general corporate matters, international joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, sales of corporate assets, financing transactions and financial products, corporate reorganization, labor and employment, employee benefits, intellectual property, insurance, leasing, securities, tax, environmental law, litigation and international arbitration.  We also act as international counsel to U.S. and European clients for establishing and operating businesses in Japan, Korea, China and elsewhere in the Pacific Basin.