CC's Tokyo office hires corporate partner to strengthen offering in Japanese market

Clifford Chance (CC) has hired former Ashurst partner Alan Kitchin to lead its Tokyo corporate and projects practice.

Kitchin, who left Ashurst's London office this month (10 February), will join CC as a partner and is set to relocate to Tokyo in early March. Kitchin was the founding partner of Ashurst's Tokyo office in 1990 and went on to manage the office until 2002.

He also headed the top 10 City law firm's Asia practice between 1998 and 2002.

Kitchin will be the sole corporate partner at CC in Tokyo, as the previous corporate head, consultant Paul O'Regan, left the firm at the end of last year. He becomes the fourth partner in the office overall, working alongside one disputes partner and two finance partners, including office head Peter Kilner. Dispute resolution partner Jim Jamison relocated from Hong Kong to the office in January, with capital markets partner Reiko Sakimura joining from Linklaters in March.

CC global head of corporate Matthew Layton told Legal Week: "Alan will be core to our Tokyo practice going forward. He is bringing on board a lot of experience related to this market. His practice has been heavily focused on the Japanese market and Japanese clients, many of which we also have relationships with. The hire will help strengthen and deepen these relationships."

Kitchin, who is admitted to practise with the Tokyo Bar, has a practice focused on international corporate and commercial transactions including domestic and cross-border M&A, joint ventures, listings and commercial contracts. He also has experience advising on projects work. He had been a partner with Ashurst since 1986 after training with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.

CC also operates a joint venture with a local firm in Tokyo which operates as Clifford Chance Law Offices.