Mori Hamada & Matsumoto Will Open Three New Offices 2027
The firm will expand into Texas and Kyoto to support Japanese clients' cross-border investment and regional legal needs.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Remote Work
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Mori Hamada & Matsumoto plans to launch new offices in Dallas, Houston, and Kyoto by the first half of 2027. This expansion aims to capture growing demand for legal services tied to Japanese corporate investment in Texas and the Kansai region.
Why it matters
The firm is scaling its physical footprint to provide localized legal counsel for cross-border mergers and energy deals. This move reflects a broader trend of Japanese firms prioritizing direct, regional access to clients as Japanese corporate investment continues to climb in the U.S. and domestically.
The firm will add 3 new locations to its global network, building on its previous U.S. entry in New York in September 2023 and two San Francisco Bay Area offices in May 2025. The firm expects its Texas operations to commence in the first half of 2027.
The players
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
A full-service law firm with an international presence advising on cross-border transactions and corporate law.
Takao Kitano
A partner at Mori Hamada & Matsumoto who will lead the firm's new Kyoto office.
Kawamoto Sogo Law Offices
A law firm entering into a strategic alliance with Mori Hamada & Matsumoto to support the expansion.
The details
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto will establish a strategic alliance with Kawamoto Sogo Law Offices to bolster its service capabilities. The Texas expansion will focus on advising companies on mergers, acquisitions, and energy-related investments. In Kyoto, the firm intends to provide legal support closer to clients operating within the Kansai region.
Timeline
September 2023: Firm opened its New York office.
May 2025: Firm opened two San Francisco Bay Area offices.
First half of 2027: Texas offices expected to start operations.
Spring 2027: Kyoto office scheduled to open.
Market Landscape
The expansion follows a pattern set by the 2023 opening of the firm's New York office, signaling a continued build-out of its U.S. presence. This move mirrors the firm's established strategy of entering key global and regional hubs to capture international corporate demand.
Operators with legal needs in Texas or the Kansai region should monitor the firm's integration process and the timing of regulatory approvals in Kyoto. Businesses should evaluate if their current outside counsel provides the necessary regional proximity to match their own global growth strategies.
The takeaway
Firms are increasingly shifting from central hub models to localized satellite offices to follow their client base. Legal leads should evaluate if their firm's footprint aligns with their most critical investment regions as this expansion trend persists.
Further reading
For more on evolving workforce and location strategies, see our coverage of Remote Work.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Legalbusinessonline.
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