On December 1, 2025, SAKURA Law Office (Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Managing Attorney: Kenshiro Michishita) concluded a Strategic Business Partnership Agreement with Marwa Suliman Advocates And Legal Consultants (MSALC) (Website: https://marwalegal.com; Email: info.marwalegal@gmail.com) (CEO: Ms. Marwa Suliman; Managing Partner: Mr. Anas Al Debsawi), a full-service law firm headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The purpose of the agreement is to establish an international and multilayered legal cooperation framework.

Through this partnership, the two firms will integrate their respective professional expertise, legal resources, and international networks to jointly develop a robust cross-border legal support system between Japan and the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council), while also forming a multinational legal alliance spanning Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and the Greater China region.

Background and Objectives of the Partnership

In recent years, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region—particularly within GCC member states—has seen rapid expansion of legal demand driven by infrastructure investment, the green energy transition, fintech innovation, and startup acceleration. Against this backdrop, SAKURA Law Office and MSALC have formed a long-term, exclusive strategic legal partnership that leverages each firm’s regional strengths and technical expertise.

The key objectives of this partnership include:

• Comprehensive legal support for Japanese corporations investing in or expanding into the GCC region (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, etc.).
• Legal advisory services for GCC-based and global companies entering the Japanese market.
• Cross-jurisdictional collaboration in advanced fields such as digital assets (cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, NFTs), Web3, blockchain, Islamic finance, ESG regulations, AI, and privacy law.
• Strengthening international dispute resolution capabilities, including arbitration and mediation at DIAC, JCAA, ICC, and other global institutions.
• Joint development of trilateral collaboration models involving Japan, the UAE, and third countries (e.g., the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, China, Saudi Arabia).
• Cooperative efforts in public interest law initiatives, including support for refugees, women, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ+ individuals, migrants, and legal work related to climate change, renewable energy, SDGs, and CSR.
• Capacity building through international legal training, professional exchanges, and collaborative programs for young legal professionals.
• Enhancement of global visibility and credibility through joint branding, media activities, publications, and public relations.

Scope of Cooperation: 10 Strategic Areas

The partnership agreement defines ten strategic fields of cooperation and specifies the mechanisms by which the two firms will collaborate:

1. Cross-Border Legal Services & Market Entry Support
   For matters involving M&A, joint ventures, direct investments, contract negotiations, licensing, compliance, and risk management between Japan and GCC countries, SAKURA will oversee Japanese regulatory and legal analysis, while MSALC manages GCC-side implementation, regulatory compliance, and negotiations.
2. Financial & Digital Asset Law
   Joint research and regulatory coordination on digital assets (cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, security tokens, DeFi, NFTs), including licensing, compliance, and legal risk management across Japan, the UAE, and the GCC.
3. Corporate Law & Governance
   Cooperation on IPO support, governance enhancement, ESG compliance, human capital disclosure, sustainability reporting, and oversight of overseas subsidiaries. SAKURA will lead on Japanese/Asian governance frameworks, while MSALC will provide local governance implementation.
4. International Dispute Resolution & Arbitration
   Joint representation and multilingual (Japanese, Arabic, English) procedural support for international arbitration and mediation before DIAC, JCAA, ICC, and other institutions, combining MSALC’s regional expertise with SAKURA’s client-side coordination.
5. Inbound/Outbound Business Expansion Support
   Coordinated support for Japanese corporations entering Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian markets, and for GCC/Asian companies expanding into Japan. SAKURA provides Japanese-side legal guidance; MSALC handles local incorporation and licensing.
6. Third-Country Legal Expansion
   Joint development of legal service models for third countries such as the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, China, and Saudi Arabia, including foreign investment frameworks, regulatory reform initiatives, and co-hosting seminars and forums.
7. Public Interest Law & CSR
   Collaborative legal initiatives supporting vulnerable populations, environmental and renewable energy law, climate-risk regulatory analysis, and SDGs/CSR policy coordination.
8. Talent Exchange & Capacity Building
   Implementation of joint programs for attorney and paralegal exchanges, short- and long-term secondments, mock arbitration, case studies, and multilingual training (Japanese, Arabic, English).
9. Public Relations, Branding & Outreach
   Co-branding activities across websites, brochures, social media, publications, joint events, white papers, and international forum participation.
10. Other Agreed Areas
    Any additional areas mutually agreed upon in writing will also fall under the scope of cooperation as part of this strategic partnership.

Future Outlook and Mission of SAKURA Law Office

This agreement represents a major step forward for SAKURA Law Office in establishing a comprehensive legal support structure spanning Japan, the GCC, and multiple jurisdictions across Asia and the Middle East. The firm aims to deliver even greater value as a strategic legal partner to listed companies, financial institutions, international organizations, and startups.

SAKURA Law Office remains committed to its core values of “harmonizing practice with principle” and “integrating local expertise with global perspective”, contributing not only to client success but also to the international legal community.

Contact Information

SAKURA Law Office
Ark Hills South Tower 4F, 1-4-5 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0032, Japan
Managing Attorney: Kenshiro Michishita
Website: https://sakura-lawyers.jp

Marwa Suliman Advocates And Legal Consultants (MSALC)
Office 406A, City Tower 2, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE
CEO: Ms. Marwa Suliman
Managing Partner: Mr. Anas Al Debsawi
Website: https://marwalegal.com
Email: info.marwalegal@gmail.com