JAPAN

Options to Broaden for Lawyers: The Ministry of Justice will permit non-Japanese law firms to be jointly managed by foreign and Japanese partners, the Asahi newspaper reported. The ministry said the plan comes in response to pressure brought in the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade negotiations. The new policy will be incorporated in a revision of the Foreign Law Office Special Measures Law planned for next year, the paper said. Foreign lawyers are now restricted from serving Japanese clients and practicing in areas outside of international law. The United States and European nations are seeking to open the Japanese legal system to foreigners.