London-based Withers has launched in Tokyo by poaching two tax lawyers from U.S. firm Morrison & Foerster, while also tapping a former MoFo partner to serve as head of international corporate tax in Asia.

Chizuko Tomita and Takeo Mizutani have been hired as zeirishi, or Japanese tax advisers, and they will operate in Tokyo as Withers Japan, Zeirishi Houjin. They will be the only lawyers in the new office.