Linklaters has boosted its Japanese practice with the hire of a fifth partner in the firm’s Tokyo office in just three months.

The magic circle firm has hired tax and corporate specialist Hidehiro Utsumi from Japanese firm Nishimura & Partners.

Before qualifying in both Japan and New York Utsumi was a chartered accountant.

In April Linklaters’ Tokyo office became Japan’s first fully merged international and domestic law firm. Linklaters now boasts 11 partners and around 60 associates in Tokyo.