San Francisco -- February 12, 2003 -- Morrison & Foerster LLP today announced the launch of the firm's Japanese-language website. The site, which can be found at www.mofo.jp, is the firm's third non-English website, joining the Chinese and Hebrew language sites the firm launched last year. Morrison & Foerster's English website, www.mofo.com, is consistently ranked as one of the top websites for U.S. law firms by national marketing and web surveys.

The new website will provide Japanese clients and colleagues with access to critical information on the numerous legal issues that they face in the global market. The site will include information about the firm's international legal services as well as timely updates and relevant content in Japanese about legal developments across a broad range of industries. The new site is intended to provide convenient access to valuable information for Japanese companies that are active internationally, as well as all companies that may benefit from legal developments in Japanese.

"The Japanese market continues to evolve and become increasingly competitive," said Ken Siegel, Managing Partner of the Tokyo office. "The new website provides a platform to showcase the high-end legal services Morrison & Foerster offers in Japan. The convenience of the web allows us the means to communicate quickly and efficiently with our clients on legal developments that are critical to their business needs."

Keith Wetmore, Chair of the firm, commented: "Morrison's international practice over the past twenty years has been anchored by its commitment to clients in Japan and the Pacific Rim. The new Japanese-language website is the latest example of that long-standing commitment and an acknowledgement of the role Japan continues to play in the global economy."

Morrison & Foerster was one of the first U.S. law firms to set up operations when Japan changed its laws in 1987 to permit foreign lawyers to practice in the country. In April 2001, Morrison established a joint enterprise with the firm Ito & Mitomi, led by Fuyuo Mitomi, one of Japan's most eminent securities lawyers. Currently, Morrison & Foerster has approximately 50 U.S. and Japanese admitted attorneys in its Japan offices, making Morrison & Foerster's presence the largest of any U.S. firm in Japan.

Fuyuo Mitomi commented, "More and more of our clients have accessed our English-language website to learn about the Tokyo office and its capabilities in recent years. We view this new website as a key step in making our office more accessible, as well as in broadening our service offering to include information in Japanese on key developments in U.S. and Japanese law to our Japanese clients."

Morrison & Foerster has had a significant presence in the Asian technology and finance community for over 20 years. With over 70 lawyers in Beijing, Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo, the firm is positioned to provide both U.S. and Asian clients with on-the-ground support for their business ventures around the world.