Brexit was a key factor when a major Japanese law firm chose Germany as its first European base, the firm's German lead said.

Last week, one of Japan's largest law firms, Nishimura & Asahi, announced it will open two new offices in Germany.

It became the first of the Japanese majors to debut in Europe, with the other elite players –  Nagashima Ohno, Mori Hamada & Matsumoto, and Anderson Mori & Tomotsune – yet to establish European bases.

In an interview, Dominik Kruse, co-leading partner for the German offices, told Law.com International that Brexit was as a key factor in its choice to debut in Germany.

"I think we can say that Brexit has, of course, influenced our decision to open our first European offices in Germany," he said. "The share of foreign investments in continental Europe versus the U.K. has been increasing steadily over the last years, and Brexit is certainly a driver for this."

He added that he would not be surprised if other firms followed his firm's example, "as they often have done in the past."

Nishimura anticipates law firm investment to continue in Germany, but also in Eastern Europe. Kruse described Frankfurt as a "gateway" to Eastern Europe, putting the firm in the "best position to serve our clients' current needs as far as investments in Europe are concerned."

A partner at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer's German base described Nishimura's debut as a "surprising move," adding that it remains to be seen whether it will be significant.

Meanwhile, a person at a large German firm said the move likely follows a recent surge in investment from Japan into the region, with transactions with Japanese companies becoming increasingly common.

"It's not bad timing." they continued. "For the market, it is a positive move."

Kruse said the firm's approach is not one of "competing with the incumbent German or international firms," as it prefers a collaborative approach.

"Our local presence is an opportunity for us as much as for the many firms we regularly work with to deepen our relationships and to expand our client bases," he said.

Kruse also said his firm will once again consider other European cities, should it serve client interests and the market remain favorable.

"London, or maybe Brussels, would be obvious candidates," he said.