Pinheiro Neto sets up shop in Japan

Brazilian law firm Pinheiro Neto has opened an office in Tokyo, becoming the only Brazilian full-service firm to have a local structure in Asia.

The opening of a local office in Japan follows the opening of the firm’s Palo Alto office, in California, last year.

“We have been operating with the Japanese market for almost 50 years with a growing demand from Asian clients, which naturally made us promote this business hub across continents, making processes more fluid to them,” according to Alexandre Bertoldi, managing partner of Pinheiro Neto.
 


Located in Marunouchi, a neighborhood known as the heart of Tokyo’s business district, the new office will be represented by equity partner Yuka Ono (pictured), who is fluent in Japanese and has solid expertise in the dynamics of working with Japanese companies of all sizes, the firm said.

Yuka began her career working at investment banks in Tokyo, including Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley and Mizuho Bank. She holds a law degree from the University of São Paulo and a business administration degree from Fundação Getúlio Vargas, and completed her research program in international law at Kyoto University in Japan.


“We are committed to providing fully customised services to our Asian clients. Additionally, we’ll foster business between the two countries in various areas,” Ono says.
 


The office in Japan will also have other members of Pinheiro Neto’s team of lawyers, who will make periodic trips to encourage investments between countries, the firm said.



Pinheiro Neto’s relationship with Japanese clients began in the 1970s, working with strategic investment projects in Brazil.
 
At that time, the firm assisted a large Japanese trading company in the potential acquisition of an ownership interest in an auto parts factory in São Paulo state, and also advised one of Japan’s largest steelmakers in the creation of a joint venture.
 


“Currently, with more than 6,000 clients worldwide, Pinheiro Neto represents Japanese companies in a variety of segments, such as trading, heavy industry and financial, automotive, food, pharmaceutical and paper markets.
 
The Pinheiro Neto office in Japan will work as a bridge between Brazilian and Japanese markets, by providing legal support for Japanese companies to succeed in business in Brazil.,” the firm said.