Crisis Management
Crisis management and incident response: overview
We assist companies with the response to the various incidents they face, from the initial response through to the matter being brought to a close. This page points to individual guides according to the situation.
Contents
1. What is the situation?
A leak of information or a system that has stopped, misconduct found inside the company or a report received through internal whistleblowing, a departing employee suspected of taking information, contact from an authority or a visit by an investigator, a warning alleging infringement of a right, and excessive demands or conduct from customers: this page points to the guides that relate to the situation. It is not a complete list of the incidents a company may face.
2. Guides by type of incident
- Information has been leaked, or a system has stopped — see Responding to cyberattacks and information leaks.
- Misconduct has been found inside the company, or a report has been received through internal whistleblowing — see Internal investigations into suspected misconduct. Internal whistleblowing here means a report made through the company's own internal reporting arrangements. Where the report comes within Japan's Whistleblower Protection Act, that Act restricts disadvantageous treatment of the person who reports and requires those handling the report to keep confidential information that identifies that person.
- A departing employee is suspected of taking information — see Where a departing employee is suspected of taking information.
- An authority has been in contact, or an investigator has visited — see Responding to Regulatory Investigations and Dawn Raids. What is required differs according to whether the matter is an administrative investigation under the legislation the authority relies on, or a compulsory investigation carried out in a criminal procedure under a warrant issued by a judge.
- A written warning alleging infringement of a right has been received — see Responding to a warning alleging infringement of intellectual property rights.
- Excessive demands or conduct are being directed at the company by customers or others — see Responding to harassment of employees by customers.
3. What our work covers in these matters
Our work in these matters includes misconduct by officers or employees and the disciplinary action that follows; a warning received from a third party alleging infringement of intellectual property rights; leaks of trade secrets or of personal information, and cyberattacks; hearings and on-site inspections by regulatory authorities such as the Japan Fair Trade Commission and the Consumer Affairs Agency; reporting to the competent supervisory authority where a breach of legislation comes to light, and responding to that authority's investigation; and an initial investigation prompted by internal whistleblowing. We work on these matters from the initial response onwards.
Depending on the matter and the scope of the instructions, our work can extend across the stages that follow: preserving evidence, checking the facts, preventing further harm, reporting to the authorities, considering whether a public announcement is required and what it should say, dealing with business partners, customers and others concerned, analyzing the cause, pursuing the responsibility of those involved, and drawing up measures to prevent recurrence.
4. Where the matter becomes a dispute
For claims and defenses, and for how negotiations and litigation are conducted — including claims for damages and termination of a contract — see also the overview of litigation and dispute resolution.
5. Making an inquiry
You are welcome to contact us about a specific situation. Depending on the matter and the scope of the instructions, our work runs from the initial response through to the matter being brought to a close.
Key legislation and official sources
English translations of legislation are provided for reference. The Japanese texts are authoritative.
| Where it appears | Legislation | Source type |
|---|---|---|
| Whistleblowing, and the treatment of the person who reports (section 2) | Whistleblower Protection Act（公益通報者保護法） | Japanese legislation / English translation |
| Compulsory investigation in a criminal procedure (section 2) | Code of Criminal Procedure（刑事訴訟法） | Japanese legislation / English translation |
| Leaks of personal information and reporting to the authority (section 3) | Act on the Protection of Personal Information（個人情報の保護に関する法律） | Japanese legislation / English translation |
| Leaks and misuse of trade secrets (section 3) | Unfair Competition Prevention Act（不正競争防止法） | Japanese legislation / English translation |
| Hearings and on-site inspections by the Japan Fair Trade Commission (section 3) | Act on Prohibition of Private Monopolization and Maintenance of Fair Trade（私的独占の禁止及び公正取引の確保に関する法律） | Japanese legislation / English translation |
| Claims for damages and termination of a contract (section 4) | Civil Code（民法） | Japanese legislation / English translation |
Legal information reviewed: 2026-09-18
Contact
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Please tell us the outline of the situation, any notice you have received and its date, and any deadline you are working to.
Contact FormThis article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice on any specific matter. Please consult us regarding your specific situation. The content is based on the laws and regulations in effect as of the date of the last update.