Ropes & Gray to Open in Tokyo

Boston-based Ropes & Gray is opening its first overseas office in Tokyo.

Four lawyers will staff the office, the Boston Herald reports. Among them will be two Japanese attorneys from the firm’s New York office and partner James DeGraw, who is taking Japanese language classes in anticipation of a transfer there.

DeGraw says the office will help the law firm develop closer relationships with Japanese clients it represents on intellectual property matters. He also expects the office will be used by private-equity clients seeking Asian deals.