King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) is pleased to announce the addition of two new partners, Patric McGonigal and Ryunosuke Ushijima to King & Wood Mallesons Law Office (Foreign Law Joint Enterprise). It is a further step taken to strengthen the capacity of our Japan practice group, following the joining of three Japanese partners and two Japanese counsel in 2016, and the internal promotions of new partners in 2018. Currently, our locally qualified Tokyo team combines the expertise of nearly 20 lawyers including eight partners and two counsel, offering a wide range of services covering corporate, M&A, banking and finance, cross-border investment, restructuring and insolvency, real estate, labor and employment, Chinese law matters, litigation and international dispute resolution (including cross-border arbitration and mediation).

Patric is a senior international dispute resolution lawyer. He covers a broad range of commercial, international trade, construction & infrastructure, energy & resources, anti-bribery & corruption, shipping & insurance matters. Patric has substantial experience in both Europe and Asia. He has practiced in London for over 10 years and in Asia for over 12 years, based in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo. He therefore has genuine multi-jurisdictional and multi-cultural experience and the necessary understanding to assist clients in Asia solve their international disputes in efficient, commercial and business friendly ways. Patric is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb), a member of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre’s Users Council and a Singapore International Mediation Centre Specialist Mediator (Japan). He has extensive experience of conducting arbitrations before the LCIA, ICC, SIAC, JCAA, LMAA, FOSFA & GAFTA as well as having handled numerous cases reported from the Commercial Court and Court of Appeal in London.

Ryunosuke Ushijima specializes in cross-border contract practices, international dispute resolution and antitrust law. He served as an associate attorney of Miyake & Yamazaki from 1997 to 2002, and as a partner there since 2002. In 2005, he participated in the cooperation between KWM and Miyake, and has developed sound personal and working relationships with multiple KWM partners. The arrival of Mr. Ushijima will enhance the services of the Tokyo office with respect to foreign law matters and promote the office’s globalization.

Patric remarked, “I am delighted to join KWM’s growing team. With KWM’s unrivalled strength in Asia-Pacific and my experience in both Europe and Asia, I am hoping to act as a bridge and help further expand and compliment the local and international operations of the Tokyo practice. Together with my fellow partners, I would like to build upon the success already achieved over the last thirteen plus years of KWM’s business in Japan.”

“I have been working with the KWM team for many years,” stated Ryunosuke Ushijima. “I’m honored to join KWM. KWM has been leveraging its global perspectives and network resources, to provide excellent local services and help clients navigate through their global expansion. This strength in depth has made KWM a well-established law firm in Japan. In recent years, I have witnessed the steady development of KWM and its strong commitment to implementing its global strategy, and I welcome this opportunity to grow with what is a far-sighted and ambitious firm.”

“We are excited to welcome Patric and Ushijima to KWM’s Tokyo office,” commented Liu Xinyu, the head of KWM’s Japanese practice group. “KWM stands ready to provide a comprehensive full service practice to clients in the Japanese market. Thanks to our dedicated and diligent legal professionals, we have earned wide recognition from both our Japanese as well as our Chinese and international clients for Japan-related matters. We are also grateful for the long-standing support received from our clients. With the acceleration of KWM’s global strategy, our growing capabilities in various practices and jurisdictions will further consolidate our leading position in the legal industry.”