A LEGAL practice has strengthened its case by appointing a black belt in karate from Japan via Greater Manchester!

Back home in Holcombe Brook, corporate specialist Andrew Clare, 40, has swapped the sushi bars of Japan for the fish and chip shops of his native north west and joined the expanding company commercial department at Roscoes Solicitors.

Andrew formerly worked as a senior associate within the corporate department of an American firm based in Tokyo. In 2003, he represented Jupiter Telecommunications Co Ltd, the largest multi-service provider of cable television, broadband internet and telephony services in Japan, in a deal worth approximately US$1.2 billion.

Although qualified as a "Gaikokuho Jimu Bengoshi," a registered foreign lawyer in Japan, he has returned home to take a key position with Roscoes Solicitors, who have offices in Blackburn, Preston and Bamber Bridge.

"The move back to England represents a very different challenge for me," explained Andrew on finally exchanging the Far East for East Lancs.

"While my main focus here certainly will not be Japanese business, I have already contacted some former Japanese clients in the area."

After four years in the Royal Marines, based in Plymouth, Andrew studied Japanese at Sheffield University, graduating with first class honours.

Fascinated by Japanese history and culture, he took a Master's degree in political science at the Faculty of Law at Japan's Kobe University.

Following further legal studies at Manchester Metropolitan University, he joined the corporate finance and banking department at a London-based solicitors, before taking the chair of the Japan practice group within the corporate finance department of a Manchester practice.

Andrew grew up in Radcliffe and has returned to the region with his wife Deborah, a primary school teacher, and three children Lawrence, 10, Esther, seven, and five-year old Patrick.

A karate black belt since 1980, he also enjoys running and is a qualified football referee and junior coach.