Branches

Committee:
Legal Services
Published:
Legislation was finally passed in 2014, permitting a gaiben law firm to incorporate itself as a hojin, and thereby become eligible to open more than one branch. However, the 2014 legislation did not permit gaiben and bengoshi together to establish a hojin. The effect is to severely limit the usefulness of the 2014 legislation. We understand that the changes in the Act to permit gaiben and bengoshi to establish a hojin together have been enacted and we await confirmation that the changes have been implemented by no later than September 2020.

Recommendations

  • Implement the changes to the legislation to permit gaiben and bengoshi to establish a hojin together. Even better, abolish the restriction on branching, which is archaic and does not suit the needs of either domestic or international law firms.