TMI Associates

Colin Passmore, a former senior partner at Simmons & Simmons and who  currently serves as a Special Adviser to TMI Associates (Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Managing Partner: Katsuro Tanaka), has been awarded the title of Honorary King’s Counsel, one of the highest honours in the legal profession of England and Wales. Honorary King’s Counsel is a prestigious distinction conferred on only a select number of individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the development of the legal system of England and Wales. The title is conferred by the King on the recommendation of the Lord Chancellor. Mr. Passmore played a central role for more than 30 years at the leading UK law firm Simmons & Simmons, with which TMI has maintained a long-standing relationship in the context of its foreign law joint enterprise. He served as Senior Partner of the firm for ten years from 2011 to 2021, making a significant contribution to its growth and development. In addition to his role as Special Adviser to TMI, Mr. Passmore currently serves as Chair of the City of London Law Society, where he oversees 20 specialist committees that work with government bodies, regulators, and businesses on legislative and regulatory matters. He is also the author of Privilege, a definitive legal practitioner work on legal professional privilege in England and Wales, often cited by the courts.   This award recognises not only his academic contributions to advancing the understanding of legal professional privilege, but also his broad efforts to promote diversity within law firms and the legal profession, to foster a more inclusive legal community, and to support the development of the next generation of legal professionals. TMI will continue to draw on Mr. Passmore’s extensive experience and insight in enhancing legal services for clients, particularly in Europe and Africa. Comment from Colin Passmore I am really proud to receive this award. It has been a privilege to contribute to the profession and to work alongside so many talented colleagues over the years. I am grateful for the opportunities I have had to help shape the law and to support the next generation of lawyers. For further details, please see the announcement on the UK Government website. About TMI Associates Since its founding in 1990, TMI Associates has strived to create a law firm which is distinct from any other in Japan and to recast the image of both attorneys and patent/trademark attorneys. During the past 35 years, the firm has experienced rapid organic growth, both numerically and geographically, while maintaining its progressive culture. Starting with 43 personnel, including ten attorneys and one patent attorney, TMI now has 678 attorneys and 101 patent/trademark attorneys among a total of 1,316 personnel as of February 2, 2026, and is one of the five largest law firms in Japan. TMI has numerous branch bases overseas, in Shanghai, Beijing, Yangon, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Phnom Penh, Bangkok, Jakarta*, Kuala Lumpur*, Silicon Valley, London, Paris, and Brussels. TMI is also well positioned to provide a wide range of global legal services through its Chinese service group, French practice group, India and Korea desks, located in its Tokyo office, as well as its joint venture relationships in Japan with Simmons & Simmons LLP, (UK), Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP (US), and ARQIS Foreign Law Office (Germany). TMI provides a comprehensive range of legal services regarding international corporate transactions and international investment and trade business transactions. The firm has an unrelenting focus on supporting the global business development needs of its clients – both Japanese and global companies – with legal services spanning acquisition and protection of patent and intellectual property rights through to licensing, mergers and acquisitions, financing and dispute resolution, among other major areas of law.

TMI Associates (Location: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Senior Managing Partner: Katsuro Tanaka) welcomed Ms. Reiga Shimizu, attorney-at-law, as a Regional Partner at its Paris Office as of October 1, 2025. She moved to France in 2005, and studied at the University of Paris I Pantheon-Sorbonne and the University of Paris XII. Since 2012, she gained practical experience at DS Avocats law office and was admitted to the Paris Bar Association. With a focus on French and European law, she has extensive experience in various fields relating to corporate legal affairs, such as M&A, joint venture and business alliance, group restructuring, personal data, customs and taxation, transaction agreement, dispute resolution, real estate law, labor law and other regular legal services for European subsidiaries. On various occasions, she has also provided advice on international transactions and legal compliance to both Japanese and French companies. We strongly believe that her joining TMI Associates will further strengthen our presence and service system in Europe. With her international practical experience and professional insight, we will provide our clients with more comprehensive legal services. [Career of Ms. Reiga Shimizu] March 1997 Keisen Jogakuen Senior High School March 2001 Chuo University (LL.B.) June 2008 University of Paris I Pantheon-Sorbonne (LL.M) March 2010 DS Avocats law office (in Paris, France) (Trainee) June 2010 University of Paris XII (Professional second Master’s Degree of Contracts and commercial Law) March 2012 DS Avocats law office (in Paris, France) September 2019 Paris Bar Association October 2025 TMI Avocats & Associés (Regional partner (France))   About TMI Associates Since its founding in 1990, TMI Associates has strived to create a law firm that is distinct from any other in Japan and that recasts the image of both attorneys and patent/trademark attorneys. During the past 35 years, the firm has experienced rapid organic growth, both numerically and geographically, while maintaining its progressive culture. From starting with 43 personnel, including ten attorneys and one patent attorney at its founding, as of March 3, 2025, TMI now has 632 attorneys and 101 patent/trademark attorneys among its 1,232 total personnel, and is one of the five largest law firms in Japan. TMI has numerous overseas branches and local desks in Shanghai, Beijing, Yangon, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Phnom Penh, Bangkok, Jakarta*, Kuala Lumpur*, Manila, Silicon Valley, São Paulo, Mexico City, London, Paris, Brussels, Nairobi and Sydney. TMI is also well positioned to provide a wide range of global legal services through its Chinese service group, French practice group, India desk, and Korean desk located in its Tokyo office, as well as its joint venture relationships in Japan with Simmons & Simmons LLP (UK), Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP (US), and ARQIS Foreign Law Office (Germany). TMI provides a comprehensive range of legal services regarding international corporate transactions and international investment and trade business transactions. The firm has an unrelenting focus on supporting the global business development needs of its clients – both Japanese and international companies – by providing legal services ranging from the acquisition and protection of patent and intellectual property rights to licensing, mergers and acquisitions, financing matters and even dispute resolution. *Affiliated Office HP: https://www.tmi.gr.jp/ Contact Information Jumpei Osada, attorney-at-law (Daiichi Tokyo Bar Association) in charge of PR, TMI Associates TEL: 03-6438-5356 (PR department) FAX: 03-6438-5522 E-mail: [email protected]

TMI Associates (Location: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative: Mr. Katsuro Tanaka, hereinafter, “TMI”), has formed an alliance with Johnson Winter Slattery (JWS), which is an Australian law firm which has offices all over Australia, and established our Sydney Desk within the JWS’s Sydney Office. Sydney is the commercial center of Australia and the Sydney Desk, leveraging with easy access to Melbourne, Brisbane and capital city Canberra, will serve our clients’ needs promptly throughout Australia. At the Sydney Desk, Attorney-of-Law Masayuki Nagai, who has five years of experience stationed in Australia and extensive expertise in Oceania legal matters, will be seconded to JWS and stationed locally. At the Sydney Desk, we will leverage not only JWS's local network within the legal community but also TMI’s unique relationships with key figures in Australia’s legal, political, and business sectors, to provide optimal support for Japanese companies investing in or doing business in Oceania. Additionally, we will assist Oceania-based companies by acting as a gateway to one of Japan’s major law firms, providing support for investments and market entry into Japan. Through the development of the Sydney Desk, our firm aims to contribute, to strengthening the economic and legal cooperation as well as the friendly relations between Japan and Australia.   [Overview of the Sydney Desk] Office Name: TMI Sydney Desk Location: Level 14, 50 Bridge Street, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia (in JWS Sydney office) Email: [email protected] Contact: Mr. Masayuki Nagai (Seconded from TMI to station in JWS Sydney office and stationed) Commencement Date: Monday, March 10, 2025   About TMI Associates As attached. About Johnson Winter Slattery JWS is a leading Australian law firm known for advising corporates and funds on their most complex transactions, disputes and regulatory matters. The firm is comprised of more than 450 people, including over 85 partners, across Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra, Brisbane and Perth. JWS is globally connected and has strong relationships with major independent law firms around the world. The firm works regularly with a close network of independent firms in Asia, the US, UK and Europe, to deliver a seamless multi-jurisdictional service. JWS was recognised as Technology, Media and Telecom M&A Legal Adviser of the Year (Mergermarket M&A Awards Australia 2023), Energy Law Firm of the Year (Best Lawyers 2023) and Best Law & Related Services Firm (Beaton Client Choice Awards 2024). The firm’s lawyers are highly ranked in Chambers & Partners, Legal 500 and Who’s Who Legal.   TMI Associates Public Relations Team Attorney in charge: Jumpei Osada (Affiliated with Dai-Ichi Tokyo Bar Association) E-mail: [email protected]   Since its founding in 1990, TMI Associates has strived to create a law firm that is distinct from any other in Japan and that recasts the image of both attorneys and patent/trademark attorneys. During the past 35 years, the firm has experienced rapid organic growth, both numerically and geographically, while maintaining its progressive culture. From starting with 43 personnel, including ten attorneys and one patent attorney at its founding, as of March 3, 2025, TMI now has 632 attorneys and 101 patent/trademark attorneys among its 1,232 total personnel, and is one of the five largest law firms in Japan. TMI has numerous overseas branches and local desks in Shanghai, Beijing, Yangon, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Phnom Penh, Bangkok, Jakarta*, Kuala Lumpur*, Manila, Silicon Valley, São Paulo, Mexico City, London, Paris, Brussels, Nairobi and Sydney. TMI is also well positioned to provide a wide range of global legal services through its Chinese service group, French practice group, India desk, and Korean desk located in its Tokyo office, as well as its joint venture relationships in Japan with Simmons & Simmons LLP (UK), Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP (US), and ARQIS Foreign Law Office (Germany). TMI provides a comprehensive range of legal services regarding international corporate transactions and international investment and trade business transactions. The firm has an unrelenting focus on supporting the global business development needs of its clients – both Japanese and international companies – by providing legal services ranging from the acquisition and protection of patent and intellectual property rights to licensing, mergers and acquisitions, financing matters and even dispute resolution. *Affiliated Office

TMI Associates (Location: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative: Mr. Katsuro Tanaka, hereinafter, “TMI”) is pleased to announce the commencement of operations at its new office, “TMI Associates Europe S.R.L.,” located in Brussels, Belgium, in the heart of the European Union (“EU”). Brussels serves as the EU’s headquarters, being home to various key EU institutions, including the Council of the European Union and the European Commission. TMI’s Brussels office is strategically positioned to provide clients with timely updates on the latest EU legal developments, offering a comprehensive resource for navigating complex EU regulations. The new Brussels office will leverage TMI's extensive international network to support clients operating within the EU. The new Brussels office will provide a broad range of legal services, including compliance support for EU regulations, competition law, data protection law and other related matters. Furthermore, the new Brussels office will deliver up-to-date practical insights on compliance with recently enacted various EU regulations, such as those concerning AI and cybersecurity. The new Brussels office will also extend legal support to European companies, particularly in energy, environmental, and ESG-related fields, facilitating their entry into the Japanese market and promoting reciprocal cross-border transactions. The new Brussels office will be led by Mr. Mizuki Koshimoto, attorney-at-law (https://www.tmi.gr.jp/people/m-koshimoto.html), who will be based at the office. Mr. Koshimoto has significant expertise in energy and cross-border transactions and will assist Japanese companies with renewable energy deals, carbon credit trading, as well as environmental and ESG-related matters within the EU. He will also actively assist European companies considering entry into the Japanese market. Additionally, Mr. Akihiro Kudo, attorney-at-law (https://www.tmi.gr.jp/people/a-kudo.html), who specializes in EU competition law and is currently based at the London office, will also spend time at the Brussels office providing support regarding EU competition law and various EU regulations introduced in recent years. TMI’s team of experts will offer comprehensive support to Japanese companies navigating EU regulatory requirements essential to succeeding in business within the EU. Moreover, the new Brussels office will work closely with TMI’s London and Paris offices to establish a support network across the EU. Together, TMI’s three European offices will offer comprehensive legal solutions to assist clients with business development as well as promote Japanese sports and entertainment content to the European market. As a regional hub for the entire European region, the Brussels office will aim to facilitate optimal legal services tailored to the laws, regulations, and business environments of each EU country.  

TMI Associates, one of the leading law firms in Japan, has engaged Mr. Colin Passmore,a former senior partner of prestigious UK law firm Simmons & Simmons, to enhance TMI’s expansion throughout the European and African regions. TMI was set up in 1990 with ten attorneys and one patent attorney, and it has grown organically within the past 34 years to now encompass over 720 attorneys, patent/trademark attorneys and foreign attorneys. TMI now has six offices in Japan and 17 overseas bases around the globe, including those in London, Paris and Nairobi. In addition, TMI will be opening a new office in Brussels this autumn. TMI and Simmons & Simmons have had a long-standing collaborative arrangement since 2001, and Mr. Passmore’s guidance and support for TMI’s further expansion is truly a key element to ensure our further worldwide growth.