Our Malaysia Desk was established in October 2025 within the office of RDS Partners, a leading local law firm. Malaysia is experiencing active investment promotion among ASEAN countries, with steady growth in semiconductor and data center investments not only in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, but also in Penang, a major semiconductor hub, and Johor Bahru, where special economic zone initiatives are advancing. In response to these regional trends, we have built a structure in cooperation with RDS Partners that enables us to handle matters smoothly across Malaysia, including Penang and Johor Bahru as well as the greater Kuala Lumpur area. The Desk provides a wide range of legal services in Japanese, from pre entry strategic advice for companies considering investment in Malaysia to post entry matters such as compliance and labor issues. Our principal areas of practice include: ・Establishment, reorganization and withdrawal of Japanese companies’ local operations ・M&A and joint venture transactions ・Financing transactions (e.g., loan agreements and creation of various types of security) ・Tax, customs, licensing and regulatory approvals, and engagement with authorities ・Dispute resolution (litigation, arbitration, etc.) ・Compliance, labor matters, intellectual property and competition law, among others Akitaka Anzai, Partner and Head of our Bangkok Office, who has prior experience being stationed in Malaysia, will concurrently lead the Malaysia Desk. In close coordination with our Japan and overseas offices, including Singapore, and in collaboration with RDS Partners, the Desk is committed to providing prompt, high quality legal services grounded in the latest local practice to support our clients’ business activities in Malaysia. In addition, we, together with RDS Partners, are well‑placed to assist Malaysian companies seeking to invest in Japan or to transact with Japanese firms. Leveraging combined local and Japanese expertise, we provide comprehensive support — including due diligence, corporate structuring, regulatory approvals and contract negotiation — to facilitate a smooth and successful market entry. We welcome the opportunity to discuss how we can help your company capitalize on the strategic opportunities available in Japan.