After more than 15 years at Japanese law firm Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu, Singapore-based partner Yutaka Sakashita has moved to Withers KhattarWong to lead the newly established Japan desk as a corporate partner.
Withers KhattarWong is the Singapore office of international law firm Withers.
In his new role, Sakashita will oversee the firm’s end-to-end service offerings for all inbound and outbound cross-border transactions and various corporate legal issues in the region.
Jeremy Wakeham, CEO of the business division at Withers in London, said Sakashita is well-recognised among the vast but tightly-knit Japanese business community in Singapore.
“His network and expertise are also valuable to our Tokyo office, which has established a stronghold in real estate and funds, and is growing its capabilities in corporate M&A,” said Wakeham.
Sakashita, who has been based in Singapore since 2015, has represented Japanese companies on their cross-border corporate transactions and advised Japan-based private equity and venture capital firms on their investments in the region.
In a press release, Withers is preparing for increased business from Japanese companies, supported by a Japan External Trade Organisation survey report published in November 2022 that found more than 90% of Singapore-based Japanese companies will maintain or expand their presence.
Compared to 2021, the “Survey on Business Conditions of Japanese Affiliated Companies Overseas: Global Edition” report showed a 3.3% increase in the number of Japanese companies planning to expand in Singapore, home to the largest number of Japanese subsidiaries outside of Japan.
