Hammurabi & Solomon Partners has launched its dedicated Japan Desk to support Japanese businesses entering and expanding in India, and Indian businesses exploring opportunities in Japan.

The Japan Desk will provide integrated legal support across corporate and commercial transactions, foreign investment, joint ventures, M&A, intellectual property, technology, competition law, employment, regulatory matters and disputes.

The Desk will be led by Shweta Bharti (Managing Partner), Tripti Vini (Senior Partner), Thanuja Palla (Partner) and Shantanu Malik (Partner).

The Firm has further strengthened the initiative through its association with K. Kobayashi, who brings extensive international experience and a deep understanding of the India–Japan business ecosystem. Having lived and worked across six countries and regions, including the USA, the Netherlands, Japan, Hong Kong, India and Singapore, he brings valuable cross-cultural insight to the Desk. His role will include supporting Japanese business culture, India-market developments, industry trends, communication between Japanese headquarters and their Indian operations, and building relationships with Japan-linked business and institutional networks.

Speaking on the launch, Shweta Bharti, Managing Partner, H&S, said,

“We see the Japan Desk as more than a specialised legal vertical. It is an effort to create a meaningful India–Japan business interface where legal advice is accompanied by an understanding of the commercial, institutional and cultural context in which Japanese businesses operate.”

Tripti Vini, Senior Partner, H&S said,

“Japan has a distinctive business culture built around long-term relationships, trust, consistency and attention to detail. Through the Japan Desk, we want to build relationships that go beyond individual transactions and create a sustained legal and business support system for Japanese companies operating in India.”

Kazutada Kobayashi, Director, Japan Desk, Hammurabi & Solomon Partners, said,

"India and Japan are facing new era of collaboration. I have been finding many competitive advantages between two nation's businesses. My role is to assist the Japan Desk team at Hammurabi & Solomon Partners in building trusted and meaningful connections between Japanese and Indian businesses."

Thanuja Palla, Partner, H&S, said,

“The India–Japan relationship presents significant opportunities across sectors, particularly as businesses look at new supply chains, technology partnerships, manufacturing, innovation and long-term investments. The Japan Desk will bring together our multidisciplinary capabilities to provide coordinated legal support.”

Shantanu Malik, Partner, H&S, added,

“Successful cross-border relationships require more than technical legal expertise. They require an appreciation of how businesses think, negotiate, build relationships and make long-term decisions.”

The Desk will also focus on building greater cultural understanding within H&S through regular sessions on Japanese business practices and India-related developments, while strengthening engagement with Japan-linked organisations and networks.

With the launch of the Japan Desk, H&S aims to create a dedicated India–Japan platform combining Indian legal expertise with an informed understanding of Japanese business practices and expectations.

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