Withers has hired Junko Pitt (Shiokawa) as a partner for its Hong Kong office. Junko joins from the Hong Kong office of Harneys, an offshore law firm.
Junko specialises in investment funds, corporate and private clients. She has extensive experience acting as lead counsel for Japanese and other Asian financial institutions and investment managers in the structuring and formation of various types of funds, including private equity funds and hedge funds. She has also worked on a number of corporate matters, including Hong Kong IPOs and financing transactions of private and listed companies. In addition, Junko will continue to focus on Japanese private client matters including cross-border succession planning and divorce.
Junko started her career as a Japanese qualified lawyer (bengoshi) at Nagashima & Ohno (currently known as Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu). Prior to joining Withers, she spent over 8 years working in offshore law firms. Before she moved to work in offshore law firms, she was a director at Barclays Capital Japan Limited and has also worked as an associate for Sullivan & Cromwell LLP in their New York and Tokyo offices.
Mabel Lui, Head of Greater China Commercial practice, comments: "We are pleased to welcome Junko to our Asia practice. Her significant experience and knowledge of the investment funds space will be a great addition to Withers' expanding corporate practice. With the addition of Junko, we will strengthen our commitment to global clients operating in Asia, as well as to local clients who are seeking to invest abroad."
Junko’s focus on the Japanese market will coincide with further hires in Withers' Tokyo office later this year, expanding the firm's scope of services available to clients operating in Japan.
