Lewis Silkin expands employment team establishing Japan Business Group

Top 100 UK law firm Lewis Silkin LLP today announces the appointment of Koichiro Nakada as Consultant Partner and Yoko Nakada as Senior Associate in the firm’s market-leading employment team. Their appointments also establish a new Japan Business Group within Lewis Silkin, building upon the firm’s expanding focus on supporting businesses across the Asia-Pacific region.

Koichiro Nakada, who will serve as Head of the Japan Business Group, brings with him a wealth of experience acting for companies, governmental organisations and high net-worth individuals in the Japanese community in the UK, Europe and Japan. He has previously worked for Baker McKenzie and Clifford Chance, and will continue to act as General Legal Counsel for the Embassy of Japan, JETRO London and Honorary Chairman of the British Japanese Law Association.

Yoko Nakada qualified as a solicitor in 2012, and joins the firm as a Senior Associate from 3HR Corporate Solicitors. Acting as Deputy Head of the Japan Business Group, she will specialise in employment, company commercial and data protection law.

The new Japan Business Group will focus on providing employment, business immigration and company commercial services to Japanese clients operating in the UK and throughout Europe. It builds on longstanding relationships with existing Japanese clients and complements Lewis Silkin’s wider offering to clients based across Asia through its Hong Kong office launched in 2015 and its Korean Desk established in 2016 with the hire of Soyoung Lee.

Michael Burd, partner and Chair of Lewis Silkin, said:
“We are pleased to welcome both Koichiro and Yoko to the firm, and to be able to draw on their stellar experience to establish the Japan Business Group. The addition of this new group sits seamlessly alongside our wider offering to clients based across Asia, including our Hong Kong office which opened in 2015. Taken together, we are keen to position Lewis Silkin as a go-to firm to support businesses across the region on their employment and global mobility issues, as well as advise them on their commercial interests in the UK marketplace.”

Koichiro Nakada adds:
“The Japan Business Group is an exciting opportunity to expand Lewis Silkin’s international client base. With more than 1,000 Japanese companies operating in the UK, there is a clear need amongst Japanese businesses for market-leading employment and commercial advice.”