For years, Nishimura and Asahi worked Dubai's legal scene through a local partner. The firm opened a representative office in 2016, but that setup blocked it from offering direct legal services. Now, the firm is ditching the workaround. By January 2027, it plans to open a fully licensed Dubai office, stepping into a market where global legal know-how is in high demand. The move lines up with the UAE's push to draw international investment and talent under the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.
Masao Morishita, a partner who has called Dubai home since 2013, will run the new office. He's handled energy and infrastructure projects, foreign investment, economic sanctions, and cross-border deals across the Gulf and into Turkey, Egypt, and Pakistan. Morishita's track record gives the firm a foothold in the Middle East, offering clients both Japanese and locally qualified legal advice. Emirates News Agency (WAM) points to recent reforms from the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) as key factors making the city more attractive for international law outfits.
The Dubai team will zero in on sectors where legal and regulatory hurdles run high: energy, infrastructure, mergers and acquisitions, investment, manufacturing, real estate, regulatory compliance, and international arbitration. Nishimura and Asahi wants to blend Japanese legal expertise with local insight, serving Japanese and international clients as they navigate shifting rules in the region. The UAE's Ministry of Economy has flagged a jump in foreign direct investment, especially in energy and advanced manufacturing, as the country pushes economic diversification.
The firm's international network covers more than 20 offices across Japan, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and North America. That reach lets it handle cross-border legal work without missing a beat. The Dubai office is set to become a key base for clients working in the Middle East and nearby markets, especially when deals demand sharp legal instincts and a grip on local regulations. The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has reported strong growth in the financial sector, adding to Dubai's pull as a business hub. For more on the city's economic overhaul, see the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.
This Dubai move follows Nishimura and Asahi's recent merger of its Taiwan unit with Lexcel, a Taipei law firm, creating what the company calls a new international firm with integrated legal services. The global expansion is picking up speed, with Dubai joining the list of key international outposts. According to The National, the UAE has seen a sharp rise in foreign direct investment, cementing its role as a gateway for international business in the region.
Dubai keeps drawing heavyweight international players, from law to real estate. The legal market has seen a steady stream of global firms setting up shop, echoing trends in property development, as reported earlier. Nishimura and Asahi's direct investment in Dubai's legal sector is a calculated play on the city's growth as a hub for complex cross-border business. With leadership already on the ground and a focus on high-stakes sectors, the firm is positioning itself to compete for major mandates in energy, infrastructure, and M&A. The firm's entry raises the stakes for international legal services in Dubai's evolving market.
