Mori Hamada & Matsumoto Will Open Three New Offices in 2027
The law firm plans to expand its global footprint with new branches in Texas and the Japanese city of Kyoto.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Remote Work
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Mori Hamada & Matsumoto will open new law offices in Dallas, Houston, and Kyoto in 2027. The firm is also forming a strategic alliance with Kawamoto Sogo Law Offices as it seeks to better serve companies investing in Texas and the Kansai region.
Why it matters
This expansion aims to meet rising demand for specialized legal services from Japanese companies involved in mergers, acquisitions, and energy investments. The firm hopes to provide more localized support for clients across both the American market and Japan.
The firm will launch three new office locations in 2027, building on its previous international growth since entering New York in 2023. These additions follow Shigeyuki Kawamoto’s long-standing legal career, which began at the firm's predecessor in 1998.
The players
Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
This is a large international law firm that maintains existing offices in the United Kingdom, the United States, and several Asian countries.
Takao Kitano
He is a partner at the law firm who has been selected to lead the new Kyoto office.
Shigeyuki Kawamoto
A legal professional who previously worked at the Industrial Revitalization Corporation of Japan and is associated with the firm's new strategic alliance.
Kawamoto Sogo Law Offices
This is the legal practice forming a strategic alliance with Mori Hamada & Matsumoto to support the firm's expansion.
The details
The Texas offices will focus on advising corporations on energy investments and M&A activity, while Partner Takao Kitano will lead the new Kyoto branch. Operations in Texas are slated for the first half of 2027, with the Kyoto opening scheduled for spring 2027.
Timeline
September 2023: Firm opened its New York office.
May 2025: Firm opened two San Francisco Bay Area offices.
2006: Shigeyuki Kawamoto left Mori Sogo Law Offices.
First half of 2027: Texas offices expected to start operations.
Spring 2027: Kyoto office scheduled to open.
Market Landscape
The firm's new Texas and Kyoto offices follow the pattern of international geographic growth set by the 2025 opening of two San Francisco Bay Area offices. This expansion positions the firm to capture more market share from companies navigating complex cross-border energy investments.
Clients in the energy and M&A sectors should expect greater access to local legal counsel in the Texas and Kansai regions. The alliance may also provide corporate clients with a more seamless experience when navigating regulatory hurdles in these specific markets.
The takeaway
Large law firms are increasingly positioning themselves near energy and technology hubs to better serve their global clients' investment needs. Businesses planning international projects should consider how these new legal office clusters might affect their regional consulting options.
Further reading
Learn more about evolving office strategies in Remote Work.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Legalbusinessonline.
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