{"id":8620,"date":"2023-09-23T10:02:27","date_gmt":"2023-09-23T02:02:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/business\/?p=8620"},"modified":"2025-09-23T10:59:36","modified_gmt":"2025-09-23T02:59:36","slug":"business-talk-with-mr-shinichiro-uemura-lawyer-momoo-matsuo-namba-law-offices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/business\/business-talk-with-mr-shinichiro-uemura-lawyer-momoo-matsuo-namba-law-offices\/","title":{"rendered":"Business Talk with Mr. Shinichiro Uemura, Lawyer, Momoo, Matsuo & Namba Law Offices"},"content":{"rendered":"

From Law to Cross-Border Synergy, and into the Future: Momoo, Matsuo & Namba Law Offices\u2019 Legal Strategy Bridging Japan and the Philippines<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Partner and leader of Momoo, Matsuo & Namba Law Offices Mr. Shinichiro Uemura<\/strong><\/p>\n

Since 1989, Momo-o, Matsuo & Namba Law Offices has built its reputation as a highly specialized legal firm in Japan. In 2015, it became a pioneer among Japanese firms partnering with a Philippine law firm\u2014Quasha Law\u2014to better serve cross-border legal matters and support Japanese businesses entering the Philippines. We sat down with Mr. Shinichiro Uemura, Partner and leader of the Japan-Desk of Quasha Law, to hear about what Japanese businesspeople need to know when operating in the Philippines\u2014from legal differences to recent reforms and common pitfalls.<\/p>\n

Philippine Primer:<\/strong><\/p>\n

What are the strengths of Momo-o, Matsuo & Namba Law Offices?<\/em><\/p>\n

Mr. Uemura:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Since our establishment in 1989, we have grown from about seven lawyers to roughly sixty today, while maintaining our focus as a mid-sized but highly specialized law firm.
\nWe have a strong track record across a wide range of fields including commercial transactions, M&A, antitrust law, intellectual property, labor law, and litigation\/arbitration.<\/em><\/p>\n

We are also the only Japanese law firm that is a member of the global legal network INTERLAW, enabling us to collaborate with independent firms worldwide and handle cross-border cases effectively.<\/em><\/p>\n

Philippine Primer: <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Q: How is your current status in the Philippines?<\/em><\/p>\n

Mr. Uemura:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

In 2015, we became the first Japanese law firm to establish a formal partnership with a Philippine firm.<\/em><\/p>\n

As you may know, Japanese lawyers are not permitted to practice law within the Philippines. Therefore, reliable local partners are essential. We partnered with Quasha Ancheta Pe\u00f1a & Nolasco (now Quasha Law), one of the oldest and most respected firms in the country with over 75 years of experience. Quasha Law is a full-service firm covering real estate, inheritance\/trust\/family law, commercial and banking law, intellectual property, litigation, taxation, labor, maritime, and mining, and it is also the Philippine representative in INTERLAW.<\/em><\/p>\n

My role is to organize consultations from Japanese companies, clearly explain differences between Japanese and Philippine law, and accurately hand over the matters requiring local action to Quasha Law. I manage the \u201cfront-end\u201d and quality control, while Quasha Law handles local execution. This clear division of roles ensures Japanese companies can proceed with confidence.<\/em><\/p>\n

Philippine Primer: <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Could you explain the legal differences and key concerns between Japan and the Philippines, with case examples?<\/em><\/p>\n

Mr. Uemura:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The first thing to keep in mind is time. Everything takes longer than in Japan\u2014government procedures, or the implementation of new laws (which may wait for implementing rules for a long time). Many Japanese companies aiming to start operations by a specific fiscal deadline have seen plans disrupted due to these delays.<\/em><\/p>\n

For example:<\/em><\/p>\n