The international law firm says it is on a path of "dramatic" expansion.

A few days after the international law firm Withers announced a raft of hires on the American West Coast in a “dramatic” hiring drive, it announced another move further West with the opening of a Japanese tax practice in Tokyo.

The practice will operate under the name of "Withers Japan, Zeirishi Houjin" (Withers Japan). It has also hired partner Eric Roose from Morrison & Foerster, who will head Withers' international corporate tax practice in Asia. Corporate tax advisors ('Zeirishi') Chizuko Tomita and Takeo Mizutani will head Withers Japan, continuing their longstanding relationship with Roose as historic members of the Tokyo corporate tax team at Morrison & Foerster.

The development follows on closely from the launch of Withers KhattarWong in Singapore, which adds to the firm's corporate and litigation strengths at its Southeast Asian practice. The firm also recently expanded its California practice, opening offices in San Diego, Los Angeles and Rancho Santa Fe. The firm has also opened an office in Sydney and created the Withers SBL alliance in Australia. It has had an office in Hong Kong since 2008.

"Eric [Roose] is one of the leading corporate tax lawyers practising in Asia and his hire is a significant step in building on our commercial services in Asia. His experience of establishing teams across Asia will be a huge asset as we continue to add to our capabilities," Withers' managing director Margaret Robertson said. 

"Our family office and entrepreneurial clients frequently require us to handle their corporate transactions as well as personal legal matters, and Eric and the Zeirishi team add significant strengths to our existing corporate tax team in the US and Europe. We are also very excited to add an affiliate office in Japan to our network, and anticipate that it will result in new ways of working with clients across Asia and the US West Coast, where we are also investing in substantial growth,” she added.

Roose is qualified to practice in the US, is certified by the Singapore Institute of Accredited Tax Practitioners and has worked in Asia for over 15 years, including over a decade with White & Case in Tokyo. He will be based in Withers' enlarged Singapore office and will lead the firm's cross-border transactional tax services across Asia. Chizuko Tomita has worked as tax partner at E&Y and also as head of tax for Vodafone Japan. Takeo Mizutani has also worked at White & Case and an international accountancy firm.