“We are proud to promote Japanese investments and partnerships in Hungary and across Europe,” said Prof. Dr. János Martonyi, Hungary’s former minister of foreign affairs and previous managing partner at Baker McKenzie LLP’s Hungarian operations.
“Hungary was one of the key European member states to advocate the economic partnership agreement between the European Union and Japan.”
Martonyi is the only living Hungarian to have been awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun of Japan. The distinction recognizes his contribution to the fostering of relations between Hungary and Japan.
“We have been advising and representing Japanese companies and investors with their legal issues for many years and continue to take every effort to encourage and support Japanese investment in Hungary,” said Zoltán Hegymegi-Barakonyi, current managing partner at Hegymegi-Barakonyi es Tarsa Baker & McKenzie.
“We assisted Japanese clients with legal and policy changes following Hungary’s European Union integration and today we help clients navigate the country’s rapid economic development and commercial opportunities.”
Hegymegi-Barakonyi es Tarsa Baker & McKenzie’s relations with Japanese investors have flourished since Eva Ganzenmüller-Nagy, a graduate of Osaka University’s Faculty of Law joined the firm almost 15 years ago.
Fluent in Japanese, Ganzenmüller-Nagy actively manages the Japan Desk, advising on all business law inquiries of Japanese clients and representing them in connection with their operations in Hungary. Ganzenmüller-Nagy organizes presentations for the Japanese business community, covering topics such as developments in the Hungarian legal system and investment opportunities.
“Clients are challenged by the rapidly changing legal environment, the differences in the course of their business dealings and the characteristics of the Hungarian labor market. The Japan Desk at Baker McKenzie is uniquely positioned to provide tailor-made legal and practical solutions to these challenges because its specialists have an understanding of Japanese legal and cultural perspectives,” said Ganzenmüller-Nagy.
The firm is optimistic about the prospect of increased Japanese investment into Hungary.
“Japanese companies continue to bring their technologies and expertise to Hungary,” said Hegymegi-Barakonyi. “As these projects come to fruition, we are seeing companies expand into other European markets. We fully intend to support our Japanese clients as they expand their businesses across the continent.”