Singapore

Singapore is an island nation with an area that is only slightly larger than the 23 specialwards of Tokyo, with a population of about 5.6 million. Even so, a great manyindustries are based in Singapore, including the manufacture of electronics andpetrochemicals, environmental technology, ICT, pharmaceuticals and medical services, biotechnology, logistics, and finance and insurance. This has given the nation an extremely high degree of economic strength, evidenced by its per capita GDP of about USD 88,429, which is the 5th highest in the world (all figures are from 2022). In addition to its geographical advantages, Singapore also has a transparent legal system which is upheld and applied consistently based on a national strategy, a highly competitive taxation system, and other advanced business infrastructure. As such, it now holds a firm position as the headquarters of Asia. Singapore’s importance for Japanese companies is also growing, either as a stepping-stone into the Southeast Asian and Pacific regions or for locating their regional headquarters for the management of group companies in Asia.

Kitahama Partners has several Japanese attorneys who have experience working for local law firms in Singapore, and we have developed good relationships with these firms and many more over a considerable amount of years. We assist Japanese companies in establishing their presence in Singapore through the incorporation of local subsidiaries, joint ventures and transfers of technology, M&A transactions, and other means. We also handle an extensive range of matters related to Singapore, including dispute resolution, such as international arbitration in the Singapore International Arbitration Center (SIAC), and various types of legal research.