The appointments will improve Allen & Overy’s presence in Japan and enable the firm to offer integrated Japanese and international legal advice.

The new partners, Nobuo Nakata and Osamu Ito, are both specialists in corporate and M&A work — a growing area of activity in Japan that is strengthening the economy.

Nakata, who is also admitted to the New York bar, is currently a partner in the Tokyo office of rival magic circle firm, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.

Ito is a partner at Asahi Koma law offices in Tokyo and has previously spent a year with Italian law firm Pavia e Asaldo in Rome and Milan.

David Morley, worldwide managing partner at Allen & Overy, said the appointments would improve the firms ability to advise on global transactions.

“With Japanese law capability, we will be able to provide seamless legal advice across markets. Japan plays a crucial role in our Asian practice and we are committed to our presence there”, he said in a statement.

Allen & Overy has had offices in Tokyo since 1988 but previously only practised US and UK law and relied on Japanese firms for local expertise.

Brian Harrison, head of Asian practice at Allen & Overy, said: “We are pleased to be adding bengoshi to our Tokyo practice. With a strengthened Japanese economy and as corporate and M&A activity grows, we feel this is the right time to broaden our capabilities in the market, so that our clients can enjoy the benefits of an integrated practice that offers both domestic and international expertise and a consistent level of excellence in service across jurisdictions.”