Since the late 1970s, MANDEL & ASSOCIES has been one of the first law firms to represent Japanese companies for their investments in France.
Ever since, we continue to advise and assist Japanese companies wishing to set up a subsidiary, branch or liaison office in France, as well as the French subsidiaries of Japanese companies already incorporated in France, in the main areas of business law: corporate law, labor law, contract and distribution law, intellectual property and immigration law.
We have an extensive experience in Franco-Japanese affairs, whether it is in advising a Japanese company on the choice of the best form of company for its operations in France, assisting Japanese executives or employees in order to enable them to work and stay in France with their families, explaining to a Japanese employer the complexities and subtleties of French labor law, drafting and negotiating distribution or sale agreements, or protecting and defending the intellectual property assets of Japanese companies through our assistance in French and EU trademarks filings, the drafting of licensing agreements or the conduct of infringement actions before the courts.
Regarding IP, our firm relies on its very valuable expertise as well as the cooperation of its Correspondent Office it has in Alicante, Spain, seat of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).
Our partners regularly travel to Japan and are largely familiar with the Japanese culture and mentality.
Ms. Nahoko Amemiya, a Japanese lawyer, who is admitted both to the Tokyo Bar and the Paris Bar, works with our law firm as of-counsel. We can therefore easily communicate in Japanese with our Japanese clients.
Moreover, MANDEL & ASSOCIES assists its French clients wishing to develop their activities or to invest in Japan. In this context, we have signed a non-exclusive correspondence agreement with the law firm AKASAKA INTERNATIONAL LAW PATENT & ACCOUNTING OFFICE, composed of Japanese lawyers who are fluent in French.
We have also developed close ties for over 45 years with other well-known Japanese law firms based in Tokyo, Osaka and Kobe.
Finally, in order to reinforce our relationship with Japan, we regularly welcome Japanese judges for internships at our firm. We also co-organize from time to time the visit in France of official delegations coming from Japan.