Services

Crisis Management & Incident Response

• Response to Data Breaches and Cyberattacks
• Response to Infringement of Third-Party Intellectual Property Rights
• Response to Hearings and Coercive Investigations by Regulatory Authorities Such as the Japan Fair Trade Commission and the Consumer Affairs Agency
• Reporting to Regulatory Authorities and Cooperating with Investigations Upon Discovery of Legal Violations
• Response to Fraud and Misconduct by Officers and Employees
• Initial Investigations Triggered by Whistleblower Reports
• Public Disclosure and Communication with Business Partners, Customers, and Other Stakeholders
• Root Cause Analysis, Accountability, and Formulation of Measures to Prevent Recurrence

▶ Crisis Management and Incident Response — Overview: our support from the initial response through internal investigations, dealings with regulators, disclosure and prevention of recurrence, with guides by type of incident.

Litigation & Dispute Resolution

• Civil and commercial litigation
• Provisional dispositions and other urgent preservation proceedings
• Intellectual property and trade secret disputes
• Employment disputes
• Commercial arbitration
• Negotiation, settlement and debt recovery

▶ Litigation and Dispute Resolution — Overview: guides by situation (system development and construction disputes) and our support from negotiations through litigation.

▶ System Development Disputes: Suspended Projects, Acceptance and Additional Fees — explains specific responses to contract and business disputes.

Labor & Employment

• Work rules and employment contracts
• Design and operation of HR systems
• Harassment investigations
• Handling problem employees and departures
• Labor unions and collective bargaining
• Labor tribunal proceedings and employment litigation

▶ For employers: Labor and Employment — Overview — guides for companies by situation, including employment disputes.

▶ For employees: Employment lawyers in Tokyo for English-speaking employees — for English-speaking employees working in Japan dealing with dismissal, a request to resign, a separation agreement or the non-renewal of their employment contract. See also Unfair Dismissal in Japan — Advice for Employees.

Regulatory & Compliance

• Compliance programs and internal control systems
• Advertising and labelling regulation, including the Premiums and Representations Act and the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act
• Antimonopoly Act, Subcontract Act and the Freelance Act
• Data protection and data governance
• Regulation of AI and other emerging technologies
• Export control and economic security
• Engagement with supervisory and regulatory authorities

▶ Regulatory compliance: overview — guides on internal whistleblowing, advertising, entrusted transactions, customer harassment, and dealings with the authorities.

Corporate Legal Affairs

• Companies Act and Commercial Code
• Contracts, terms of service and general contract work
• Corporate governance
• Shareholders’ meetings and board meetings
• Legal review of new businesses and services
• Corporate reorganizations and restructuring

▶ On-site Support Service: a lawyer works on site at your company, handling contract review and coordination with business units, and supports the running of your legal function.

▶ Legal Retainer Service: ongoing support on the regulatory, advertising and data issues that arise from new services and day-to-day operations, through to your contracts and internal rules.

▶ In-house Training Service: training for executives and employees to build department skills and keep up with the latest laws and regulations.

M&A / Business Succession

• Structuring M&A transactions
• Legal due diligence
• Drafting and negotiating agreements
• Closing support
• PMI and post-acquisition governance
• Business succession

▶ M&A in Japan for Foreign Acquirers and Investors: Japanese-law guidance on deal structures, FEFTA and merger-control filings, due diligence, transaction documents and post-closing integration.

Intellectual Property, IT & Data

• Patents, trademarks, copyright and trade secrets
• Licensing and joint development agreements
• System development and IT service agreements
• Use of personal data and data assets
• IP and IT disputes
• Generative AI and other emerging technologies

▶ Disputes and Issues under System Development Agreements — explains how development agreements are organized and how disputes are handled.

Banking & Finance

• Lending and fundraising
• Investment agreements and shareholders’ agreements
• Financial regulation
• Project finance
• Securities and financial products

▶ Financial services: overview — guides on lending and investment agreement disputes, purchased receivables, and registration for payment and remittance services.

International Practice

• Cross-border commercial agreements
• Outbound and inbound market entry
• Cross-border M&A
• Foreign investment regulation and export control
• Coordination with overseas authorities and foreign counsel
• International disputes and arbitration

▶ International practice: overview — guides on cross-border contracts, overseas expansion and M&A, export controls and sanctions, transfers of personal data, and dispute resolution.