Japan Business Practice Grows at Warner Norcross

1/31/2008

Fueled by attractive exchange rates and renewed interest in American investment opportunities, the Japan Business Practice of Warner Norcross & Judd LLP continues to grow.

Over the past year, Warner Norcross has added new professional staff with extensive experience in Japan, as well as new clients with operations in both Japan and the United States. The Firm has seen an increase in restructuring of international joint ventures, international investment in the United States and Japan, and transactional matters involving international automotive suppliers and other manufacturers diversifying their customer bases.

The Firm offers broad expertise in Japanese business transactions and culture. Warner Norcross attorneys regularly handle foreign investment, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, cross-border technology and intellectual property agreements, labor and employment issues, litigation, arbitration, reorganization and related issues.

"We continue to see strong interest in business investment opportunities in the United States, particularly in Michigan," said Andrew Thorson, lead attorney for the Japan Business Practice. "Warner Norcross has assembled a team of bilingual and bicultural professionals who understand the issues that international companies face, whether they are doing business in Tokyo or Detroit."

"Our Japan Business Practice has grown consistently during 2007. We expect that pace will accelerate during 2008 as Japanese companies continue to search for opportunities in the United States and vice versa."

The Warner Norcross team of Japan business attorneys and specialists includes:

• Andrew H. Thorson, a Japanese-fluent partner who lived in Japan and practiced there for nearly a decade, representing both U.S. and Japanese clients, including as in-house counsel with a major Japanese trading company
  
  
• Craig N. Meurlin, a partner with extensive transaction experience in Japan and other Asian countries 
  
  
• Charles E. McCallum, a partner who specializes in international business and service as chairman and CEO of TerraLex, an international network of independent law firms, and chairman of the Business Law Section of the America Bar Association
  
  
• John Young, of counsel and specialist in international business transactions, licensing intellectual property and international distribution agreements
  
  
• Mark Spitzley, a partner who also had in-house experience at a Japanese law firm and focuses on international transactions
  
  
• Mai Nishikubo, a native of Japan who joined the Firm as its Japan business specialist after working for the Consulate General of Japan in Chicago and Detroit

Warner Norcross is a member of TerraLex, which gives clients access to licensed attorneys in nearly 100 countries worldwide, including Japan, China and Korea.

* * *

About Warner Norcross & Judd

Warner Norcross & Judd LLP is one of the leading law firms in Michigan. With more than 200 attorneys in Southfield, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Holland and Muskegon, Warner Norcross is a full-service provider of legal services. Nearly half of our partners are listed in the 2007 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Warner Norcross was also named the best corporate law firm in West Michigan by Corporate Board Member magazine for the third year in a row. Warner Norcross has been recognized as a national leader in client service among law firms by BTI Consulting, as one of the nation's leading employment law firms by Workforce Management, as one of the 101 Best & Brightest Companies to Work For in both West Michigan and Metro Detroit and as one of the Best Michigan Businesses by Corp! Magazine. The Firm represents local, statewide, regional, national and international clients in all areas of business and civil law.


Brendy Barr

T 248.340.9622