A Norwich lawyer has met with a Japanese franchising expert to discuss ways for UK businesses to expand into the Asian market.

Franchising specialist Jonathan Chadd, of Norwich law firm Leathes Prior, met with Hiroyuki Ito, chief executive of the Japan Franchise Association (JFA), to talk about the markets in their respective countries.

The meeting was brokered with the help of Tokyo law firm Atsumi & Sakai.

The JFA identified a strong appetite for British brands in Japan and the parties discussed at length the ways in which entering the Japanese market might be made easier for UK companies. Meanwhile, Leathes Prior said UK investors were keen to identify original business concepts with Japanese food one are which was pointed to as a potential contender for franchising.

The law firm presented a series of seminars at the Franchise Show at Excel in London last week.