Morrison & Foerster has hired a litigation partner from DLA Piper in Japan to bolster the firm’s cross-border disputes and regulatory offering.

Takahiro Nonaka joins as a partner in the firm’s Tokyo litigation department, bringing with him experience in commercial litigation, internal investigations and global compliance and regulatory matters. As well as those areas, his practice focuses on anti-corruption, antitrust, data privacy and government. He advises a range of multinational companies, particularly in the life sciences and technology sectors.

Ken Siegel, managing partner of MoFo’s Tokyo office, said: “Takahiro’s practice complements our Tokyo and global litigation practices extremely well. Building on the strength of our market-leading IP litigation practice, he will help accelerate the continued growth of our Tokyo commercial litigation practice.”

He added: “The regulatory side of his practice in particular – which focuses on trade and export control compliance – is a growing area of need for many of our Asia clients. Further, his Japan-law investigations and white collar defence practice and data privacy experience will reinforce global areas of strength for the firm.”

Nonaka arrives at the firm after two years at DLA Piper, having previously spent more than six years at Sidley Austin. Prior to his career in private practice he was a judge on the Tokyo District Court, during which time he was seconded to the Japanese Embassy in Washington. 

Notable matters he has worked on include representing US pharma, tech and manufacturing companies on internal investigations into employee misconduct, including serious crimes. He has also represented several Japanese car parts companies in connection with international antitrust cartel activities.

Nonaka said: “Morrison & Foerster has a highly impressive global litigation platform and powerful brand in the Japanese market. The combination of its robust bench of litigators in Tokyo and cross-border capabilities across litigation, investigations and white collar defence, as well as regulatory and compliance more generally, made the firm a very attractive proposition for me.”

Earlier this year, MoFo hired Brandon Van Grack – former lead prosecutor in the Mueller Investigation – as co-chair of its US national security and global risk and crisis management groups.