Norton Rose is set to open an office in Tokyo, as a step towards strengthening its presence in Japan.

It will concentrate on corporate finance, transport, energy, financial institutions and technology with a particular focus on shipping, aviation, rail, ports, airports, oil and gas, power, minerals and mining, renewables, climate change and LNG.

The office will be led by senior partner Chris Viner, previously based in Moscow. Banking partner Jeremy Gibb will also be moving to Tokyo, having worked for the law firm in London and in Hong Kong.

Supporting Japan’s ties with the Middle East will also be high on the law firm’s agenda, with Japanese banks and export credit agencies actively supported a number of projects in this region.

Head of projects at Norton Rose, Jeffery Barratt remarks: “We have a well-established projects practice in the Middle East backed by Japanese banks and investors, and the establishment of the Tokyo office demonstrates our commitment to this area.  We look forward to working with existing clients in Japan and developing new relationships in this exciting market.”

Peter Martyr, chief executive, Norton Rose remarks: “The establishment of an office in Tokyo will enable us to push forward our strategic coverage of the principal financial and business centres worldwide. As the financial centre of the world’s second biggest economy, Tokyo plays a key role in this strategy.”