International law firms in Japan have been revving up their hunt for both foreign-registered and Japan-qualified partners since August, senior recruiters in the country said.

An increasing focus on Japan amid U.S.-China tensions, the need for succession planning due to a chronic midcareer partner shortage, and billing rate disparities between Japan-qualified and foreign-registered lawyers under a weak Japanese yen are all factors driving recent lateral partner hires, according to Tokyo-based recruiters.