Withers hires Eric Roose from Morrison & Foerster to lead Asia corporate tax practice and also opens new office in Tokyo

Withers continues its global expansion with the hiring of an Asian corporate tax head and the launch of Tokyo tax practice (which will operate as ‘Withers Japan, Zeirishi Houjin’).

The firm has recruited Eric Roose from Morrison & Foerster, who will head Withers’ International Corporate Tax practice in Asia. Corporate tax advisers (‘Zeirishi’) Chizuko Tomita and Takeo Mizutani will head Withers Japan, continuing a longstanding relationship with Eric as historic members of the top ranked Tokyo corporate tax team at Morrison & Foerster.

“Eric is one of the leading corporate tax lawyers practicing 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,” says Withers’ Managing Director Margaret Robertson.

Margaret adds: “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.”

Eric is qualified to practice in the US, is certified by the Singapore Institute of Accredited Tax Practitioners and has worked in Asia for over fifteen years, including over a decade with White & Case in Tokyo. He will be based in Withers’ newly 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.