Ashurst has strengthened its capability in advising on energy transition and infrastructure projects with the hiring of new Tokyo office partner Teruma Naito, who previously practised at Anderson Mori & Tomotsune for six years.
Alexander Dmitrenko, Ashurst’s Tokyo office managing partner, told Asia Business Law Journal that Naito’s deep understanding of the Japanese market and international experience, as well as his ability to navigate both inbound and outbound projects, would strengthen his firm’s client relationships in Japan and enhance its service offerings.
“One of our key growth strategies is to leverage our leading position in the infrastructure and energy industries, and to capitalise on the opportunities arising from the global shift to low-carbon and renewable energy sources,” said Dmitrenko.
He added that Ashurst was committed to expanding its capabilities and presence in key markets in Asia, such as Japan, Korea, Singapore and Indonesia, where it saw strong demand and potential for its services.
Qualified in England and Wales, Naito specialises in sponsors, lenders and equity investors on international project and cross-border finance as well as equity investment transactions within the energy, infrastructure, shipping and export credit financing sectors globally.
He began his legal career as an associate at Allen & Overy (now A&O Shearman) in London in 2004 and later spent more than eight years at the firm’s Tokyo office, including a four-year stint as a senior associate.
In December 2018, Naito joined Anderson Mori as a senior foreign counsel. Accompanying Anderson Mori’s launch of a foreign law joint enterprise in January 2021, which enabled Japanese lawyers and registered foreign lawyers to establish an equal partnership, Naito had become a partner together with three other senior foreign counsels.
