Why I came back

Just over a year back with the firm, I have really enjoyed working as a partner. We work collaboratively within the team and with other practices, particularly our Corporate practice in Tokyo, to gain new clients and expand out our relationships with existing clients. If I can put it this way, we have to hunt as a pack when it comes to clients in the Tokyo market which really fits with the firm’s ethos.

The combination with Kramer Levin gives us a huge opportunity, which we are pursuing. This opens up avenues to work with our Japanese clients on more US-related disputes and transactions. The US is Japan’s biggest trading partner, and, present difficulties and challenges relating to trade tariffs aside, this should present plenty of opportunities for us. I think the US will remain a very focal point for Japan going forward.

We have arranged a whole series of meetings with clients, in particular the Japanese trading houses, and they have all expressed an interest in the new capabilities. We expect at the start it will be referral work to our expanded team in the US, but our longer-term objective will be to have US law- qualified partners based in Tokyo.

Coming back was an interesting experience. Covid had happened while I was away. More flexible working had been introduced, so there was a different feel to the office, although I am all in favour of flexible working. At its heart, it is still very much the same firm, rooted in the same values of technical expertise, collegiality and friendliness.

After a couple of years back in London, I returned to Tokyo. That time in London was also necessary in order to achieve a qualification as a gaikokuho jimu bengoshi, which basically allows foreign lawyers to practise in Japan.

I was sent for two years originally, but managed to extend it for one more year, then another year until finally Paula Hodges, who then headed the Arbitration group, said, ‘You’re not coming back, are you?’ That was very good of the firm.

I now have personal as well as professional reasons for being based in Japan. I have a Japanese wife and a five-year-old son. He is a train enthusiast, so quite a lot of my free time is spent with him admiring Japanese trains or going to train museums! I have got into cycling. I like to ride along the Tama River and there are some hills around – even in Tokyo – to do some climbing on the bike. Riding is a good way to switch off. When I was younger, I played a lot of cricket and, at one point, considered going professional, so maybe I will pick up a bat again at some point – although baseball is Japan’s number one sport so my son is more likely to be into that than cricket.”

The big money is coming from offshore. I read recently that Japanese funds have invested A$6 billion into Australia real estate over the past two years, the same amount as they had invested over the previous two decades. We have also noted funds from Singapore (such as Keppel) and North American superannuation funds in particular are investing here. The way it typically may work is that a local company with day-to-day management experience takes on a management role for an overseas investor that’s supplying the vast majority of the funds. Having said that, while deal values are on the increase, deal volumes were down during the first half of 2025.

We are a two-partner practice in Sydney, with a strong team of associates, including one associate from my previous firm.

Carpentry is a wonderful pastime, helping me to relax but also – the problem solver in me! – offering scope for good execution.

Before an injury, I used to run, which I found very meditative. While running, I find you don’t totally zone out, but can plan things through in your head without kind of stressing or worrying about it. Carpentry has a similar sort of place, mentally. You can be focusing on the piece of timber in front of you or planning out how you’re going to build something and not consciously realise that, at the same time, you’re planning out things that you’re going to do that week. That is a great process.”