GC Summit Japan 2023

Agenda

8.15am – 8.50am Breakfast and Registration

8.50am – 9.00am Welcoming note from The Legal 500 editor and GC keynote speaker

• Dan Matsuda, partner, EY Law Co.
• Joe Boswell, global editor: GC Powerlist Series, The Legal 500

9.00am – 9.50am Placing the focus on Competition Law

Hosted by Ikeda & Someya, this event promises an insightful panel discussion tailored for in-house legal professionals who are seeking guidance in the realm of competition law, something that a high proportion of top GCs in Japan will be concerned with.  

Competition specialists including the JFTC’s official and the in-house legal community will form the panel, engaging in discussions and presenting real-world case studies and competition policies throughout. Attendees can expect to gain in-depth knowledge about the evolving challenges inherent to navigating competition regulations while driving business growth. 

Key areas of focus will include the latest developments in competition law, strategies for effective risk mitigation, and the delicate balance between competitive practices and antitrust prevention. Panelists will offer valuable insights into navigating complex scenarios such as mergers, business alliances, and superior bargaining position, underscored by proactive compliance strategies. 

Dedication of panelists to providing guidance underscores their commitment to cultivating a corporate environment that embraces compliance while fostering innovation.

• Tsuyoshi Ikeda, founding partner, Ikeda & Someya
• Aya Yasui, associate, Ikeda & Someya
• Kenta Suzuki, senior planning officer of the Coordination Division, Japan Fair Trade Commission
• Naokuni Kuwagata, corporate officer, country legal head and head of legal innovative medicine international, Japan, Novartis Pharma K.K.
• Naoko Matsuzaki, managing director, Advisory Services, Fraud Risk Management Group, KPMG AZSA LLC

9.50am – 10.50am Ignite session – The Legal 500 lightning talks

Three presentations on key hot topics facing in-house counsel in Japan

9.50am – 10.10am International Investigations and Whistleblowing

10.50am – 11.00am Coffee Break

11.00am – 11.50am  Best practice for managing cross-border and overseas disputes

Managing cross-border disputes can be a daunting task even for the most seasoned in-house counsel. Navigating legal complexities across different jurisdictions while effectively safeguarding a company’s interests requires a well-defined strategy and a deep understanding of best practices. This panel discussion aims to provide valuable insights and guidance to in-house counsel on how to effectively manage these highly complex matters. Among other things, our expert panel – led by seasoned disputes partner Yoshiaki Muto – will discuss building a skilled and diverse legal team capable of handling cross-border disputes, while also making the most of external counsel by handling and instructing them correctly, building strong relationships with law firms and attorneys both at home and abroad. As well as this, strategies for controlling legal costs and maintaining effective communication with internal stakeholders will be analysed.

•  Yoshiaki Muto, partner, Baker McKenzie
• Takeshi Yoshida, partner, Baker & McKenzie
• John P H Vigman, general counsel Japan, Veolia
• Anthony Luna, general counsel, law, intellectual property & compliance, IBM

11.50am – 12.40pm Age of Economic Security – Export Controls, Economic Sanctions and Investment Regulations

• Kazuho Nakajima, partner, Nishimura & Asahi
• Noriko Yodogawa, partner, Nishimura & Asahi
• Yuki Sakurada, counsel, Nishimura & Asahi
• Kojiro Fujii, partner, Nishimura & Asahi
• Atsushi Oshima, associate, Akin

12.40pm – 1.40pm Lunch

1.40pm – 2.30pm Responsible use of generative AI for corporate legal teams 

This thought-provoking panel discussion will examine how in-house lawyers must navigate the ethical and practical considerations surrounding AI in an era of rapid technological change. Our expert panel will delve into the ethical implications, regulatory compliance, and best practices for integrating generative AI into legal workflows, while harnessing the great benefits that generative AI can bring. Enhancing efficiency, streamlining document review, the mitigation of risks: all of these are areas in which AI can prove revelatory. 

This discussion will give in-house lawyers valuable insights and actionable strategies from legal and tech experts, empowering your corporate legal team to benefit from the power of AI responsibly and effectively, while ensuring ethical standards are upheld and data privacy is ensured.  

• JP Biard, head of global strategy, LegalOn Technologies
• Yuichiro Watanabe, lead counsel, head of legal, Airbnb Japan
• Kyoko Mizuguchi, Corporate Executive Officer, EVP and General Counsel of Fujitsu
• Gabor Melli, VP of Artificial Intelligence, LegalOn Technologies
• Daniel Lewis, CEO of LegalOn USA, LegalOn Technologies

2.30pm – 3.20pm Practical guidance on international arbitration in Japan

At a time when the use of arbitration is growing in Japan, and when arbitration is being actively promoted by the Ministry of Justice, this timely panel discussion will give attendees practical guidance on navigating the complex world of arbitration within the Japanese legal landscape. Our panelists, including general counsel and expert commentary from the JCAA, will delve into the intricacies of international arbitration procedures, highlight key considerations for in-house counsel, and share real-world case studies. This session promises to equip attendees with the tools and strategies needed to successfully address international disputes in Japan, whether they are new to arbitration or looking to expand or consolidate their knowledge.  

3.20pm – 3.35pm Coffee Break

3.35pm – 4.25pm The importance of supply chain and human rights due diligence

The German Supply Chain Act came into force at the start of 2023, imposing extensive new obligations on companies with regard to human rights in the supply chain and creating a potential headache for general counsel across Europe’s industrial powerhouse. Japan, leading the way at in promoting human rights due diligence in Asia, looks set to follow suit in coming months or years despite only releasing Guidelines on Respecting Human Rights in Responsible Supply Chains so far. In this session, an expert panel will discuss this burning issue, and explain how to get ahead of the legislation that is on its way.

• Daniel Jarrett, partner, Atsumi & Sakai
• Takafumi Ochiai, senior partner, Atsumi & Sakai
• Yoshinori Mochida, general counsel, Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
• Kazunari Fukuda, group legal and compliance director, LVMH Moët Hennessy-Louis Vuitton Japan
• Takayuki Kitajima, general counsel, business integrity officer and data protection advisor, Unilever Japan Holdings

4.25pm – 4.45pm Technology Enabled Fraud Investigations: Data Trends and Best Practices

With internal communications expanding from face-to-face to online and chat tools, especially due to COVID19, and with more collaboration tools and applications being used to conduct business, understanding the volume of data and where it resides is more complex. eDiscovery, such as regulatory responses, international litigation, and international arbitration, also require the production of conversations that took place in chat rooms, so there are more opportunities to deal with these types of new categories of data.

Digital forensics is also being used in many cases in response to fraud investigations, and organizations need to identify relevant data early and take steps to preserve it so that it does not disappear. In this session, we will discuss how to identify and preserve data by effectively leveraging existing IT infrastructures within the corporates, as well as the key points for efficient eDiscovery and fraud investigation response.

• William Hutcheson, solution architect, Legal Solution, Epiq
• Daisuke Nakajima, director, certified fraud examiner(CEF), eDiscovery executive certificate, Epiq

4.45pm – 5.35pm The Changing Face of M&A

This session focuses on how the patterns of completing mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are beginning to change around the world. The topics to be discussed include the challenges of inflation and increasing interest rates as well as the added difficulties in obtaining external financing. The impact of megatrends such as international tensions, the global energy crisis, supply related challenges and increased focus on ESG will also be covered.

• Natsuko Sugihara, partner, Clifford Chance (Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo)
• Brent Bell, leader, private equity and M&A services division, Marsh Japan
• James Nepaulsingh, senior legal counsel, Mitsui & Co
• Joe Boswell, global editor: GC Powerlist Series, The Legal 500

Speakers

Yoko Maeda, partner - dispute resolution, City-Yuwa Partners

Yoko Maeda is a partner of the Dispute Resolution Practice of City-Yuwa Partners in Tokyo, Japan.

She has an active practice as counsel in both arbitration and litigation across a wide spectrum of matters such as automotive, construction, energy, life sciences, pharmaceuticals, electric parts and equipment, and IT. She regularly represents parties in major arbitration institutional rules, including AAA/ICDR, ICC, KCAB, JCAA, SIAC, and VIAC.

Besides being an alternate court member of ICC Court of Arbitration from Japan since 2018, she is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators since 2019.

She is regularly selected as a leading lawyer by publications such as Chambers Global, Who’s Who Legal, and Legal 500.

Ms. Maeda is qualified both in Japan and New York. She received an LL.M. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and an LL.B. from Tokyo University. She speaks and practices in both Japanese and English.

Kojiro Fujii, partner, Nishimura & Asahi

Kazuho Nakajima, partner, Nishimura & Asahi

Yuki Sakurada, counsel, Nishimura & Asahi

Noriko Yodogawa, partner, Nishimura & Asahi

Kengo Nishigaki, founder, GI&T Law Office

Kengo Nishigaki is a Japanese lawyer licensed in Japan and New York. He is the representative partner of GI&T Law Office LC in Tokyo, which he founded in 2020. Before then, he worked for Baker & McKenzie from 2000 to 2020, being a partner of the dispute resolution group for longer than 10 years. Kengo’s practice focuses on fraud investigations for Japanese and foreign listed companies, as well as matters related to compliance with anti-corruption laws including the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, UK Bribery Act and the Unfair Competition Prevention Act of Japan. Kengo also assists major Japanese and foreign-listed companies in litigations and other types of dispute resolutions such as arbitration and mediation for the healthcare and IT industry. He is one of the founding members of Anti-Bribery Committee of Japan. He graduated from Tokyo University (LLB) in 1998 and received LLM from New York University in 2004.

Atsushi Oshima, associate, Akin

Atsushi Oshima advises clients on compliance with international trade controls in corporate transactions, including due diligence and negotiations of trade-related provisions in underlying agreements. He also counsels clients navigating international trade issues at the intersection of U.S. and Japanese law. Oshima is a member of the Daini Tokyo Bar Association and New York Bar, and received education from The University of Tokyo and Stanford Law School. 

Kenta Suzuki, senior planning officer of the Coordination Division, Japan Fair Trade Commission

Mr. Kenta Suzuki, graduated University of Tokyo and joined Japan Fair Trade Commission in 2003.

After experienced various posts such as Deputy Director of the Planning Office in the Investigation Bureau, Attaché of the Mission of Japan to the European Union in Brussels, Deputy Director of the International Affairs Division, Deputy Director of the M&A Division, Coordination Officer in the Economic Affairs Bureau, and Senior Officer for M&A, he has been assigned to Senior Planning Officer of the Coordination Division since April, 2023.

From 2006 to 2008, he obtained a master’s degree (LL.M.) from Georgetown University Law Center in the United States.

Naokuni Kuwagata, corporate officer, country legal head and head of legal innovative medicine international, Japan, Novartis Pharma K.K.

Naokuni Kuwagata leads the Japan legal team of Novartis and is a member of both the global legal leadership team of Innovative Medicine International and the Japan leadership team. Before joining Novartis, he worked for Panasonic Corporation as a compliance investigation manager, leading the operation of the integrated global hotline and internal investigation from a global HQ perspective. He also used to work for a leading law firm in Japan for 15 years, including working in the US and India. He is admitted both in Japan and New York and holds an LLM degree from the Duke University School of Law in the US.

Naoko Matsuzaki, managing director, Advisory Services, Fraud Risk Management Group, KPMG AZSA LLC

Naoko Matsuzaki is a Managing Director at KPMG AZSA LLC. As a core member of the leadership of a new team, she assists clients on mitigating corporate misconduct, namely prevention, detection, incident response and enhancement of compliance programs for her clients. In the near future, the team is envisioning ESG/sustainability to come into play, where she will assist clients on bringing corporate governance, risk management and compliance to the next level.

Prior to joining KPMG, Naoko was a Director in PwC’s Forensic Services Group. She focused her practice in transnational regulatory matters including anti-corruption investigations under the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), anti-corruption regimes of Multilateral Development Banks (e.g. World Bank), antitrust investigations, and other corporate misconduct/white collar crime-related investigations.

Naoko joined PwC from Hitachi Ltd.’s Legal Department where she handled complex foreign regulatory matters in multiple jurisdictions, international litigation, and contract negotiations associated with cross-border strategic alliance projects as in-house counsel. During her tenure, she obtained an LL.M. degree from Stanford Law School and worked at Kirkland & Ellis LLP in Chicago as a visiting client.

Tsuyoshi Ikeda, founding partner, Ikeda & Someya

Yoshi served as an investigator of the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) where he participated in around 20 dawn raids; prepared the implementation of the leniency system; and investigated a case involving standard essential patents. With his success in the most cutting-edge cases of cartel, merger review, and other types of antitrust/competition cases, Yoshi has been recognized as one of the most prominent antitrust/competition law practitioners in Japan by lawyer ranking institutes such as Who’s Who Legal. In the Nikkei Corporate Legal Tax Affairs and Lawyer Survey in 2022, he was selected as “second overall” as the “Most Successful Lawyer” in 2022 in the competition/antitrust category (“third overall” chosen by companies).

Aya Yasui, associate, Ikeda & Someya

Aya Yasui has a long history of experience in general corporate matters, including international transactions, at both U.S. law firm and domestic general law firm, with a particular focus on counseling clients on antitrust, personal information protection, and privacy issues. Her experience also includes recent high-profile antitrust cases such as a commitment with the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC), cartel, merger control and big-tech related cases. She has been transferred to a major foreign company and has legal experience at an automobile manufacturer as General Manager.

Toshio Nakajima, partner, Miura & Partners

JP Biard, Head of Global Strategy, LegalOn Technologies

JP leads LegalOn’s global expansion as well as a number of strategic projects. He brings over 20 years of experience across strategy, business development, international business and technology and finance. JP holds an MBA from McGill University.

Daniel Jarrett, partner, Atsumi & Sakai

Daniel Jarrett is a Partner in the Energy, Renewables and Project Finance teams of Atsumi & Sakai. He regularly advises foreign companies on their investments in renewable projects (solar, wind, battery storage and biomass) in Japan, together with advising Japanese companies on projects in the energy (both oil and gas and renewables) and ship finance sectors. Having worked in Japan for seven years, including two years on secondment to one of the largest Japanese trading companies, he provides clear and commercial advice to assist companies in navigating the Japanese market.

Takafumi Ochiai, senior partner, Atsumi & Sakai

Yuichiro Watanabe, lead counsel, head of legal, Airbnb Japan

A legal powerhouse hailing from the smallest prefecture Tottori, Yuichiro Watanabe currently serves as Lead Counsel. An alumnus of the University of Tokyo’s Law School, Yu entered the legal profession in 2009, building an illustrious career with global law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Japanese tech leader DeNA Co., Ltd. 

Yu has set an unparalleled standard in his field, earning a coveted spot on Legal500’s “GC Powerlist: Japan” by Legal 500 as evidence of this.

Beyond his corporate achievements, Yu’s influence extends to public policy. He serves as a Board Member of the Japan In-House Lawyers Association and contributes to various governmental initiatives, including digital transformation and global competitiveness strategies. In 2022-23, he was invited as an expert on “Legal tech and AI” to the Regulatory Reform Council to clarify the Japanese Attorney Act. 

Yoshiaki Muto, partner, Baker McKenzie

Yoshiaki Muto has more than 30 years’ experience handling matters related to international disputes and corporate compliance, especially cross-border matters. He is currently head of the Dispute Resolution Group at the Firm’s Tokyo office and a member of the Firm’s Asia Pacific Dispute Resolution Group Regional Steering Committee. Yoshiaki is also chair of the International Legal Service Promotion Centre, vice chair of the International Relations and Strategy Council, and a member of the Registered Foreign Lawyers & International Legal Practice Committee and the SME Outbound Legal Support Working Group of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.

He regularly advises clients on crisis and risk management, corporate transactions and general corporate and commercial matters in high-risk areas. Yoshiaki has particular expertise and represents a number of clients in the information technology and commerce businesses, the health care, medical device and pharmaceutical industries and the defense sector.

He is a recommended dispute resolution practitioner in Japan by PLC Which Lawyer and Global Counsel 3000 and has been recognized as a leading individual in the dispute resolution and crisis management categories by Asia Pacific Legal 500 and Chambers Asia Pacific.

Bruno Savoie, foreign attorney, City-Yuwa Partners

Bruno Savoie is a foreign attorney practicing international arbitration at City-Yuwa Partners in Tokyo. His practice focuses on international arbitration proceedings arising out of construction projects and commercial contracts.  Bruno holds civil law and common law degrees from McGill University. Bruno is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb) and has experience acting as administrative tribunal secretary. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the ICC Canada Arbitration Committee and a board member of Young Canadian Arbitration Practitioners. Prior to joining City-Yuwa Partners in 2023, Bruno practiced international arbitration at an international law firm in Dubai and at a leading law firm in Canada.

Yoshinori Mochida, general counsel, Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation

Natsuko Sugihara, partner, Clifford Chance (Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo)

Natsuko Sugihara specialises in private M&A, cross-border transactions and joint ventures, acting for private equity clients as well as Japanese and foreign corporate clients on their domestic and cross-border transactions across a wide range of sectors.

John PH Vigman, general counsel, Japan Veolia

With over three decades of diverse and extensive transactional experience, John Vigman has established himself as a seasoned professional in the field of project financing and energy-related M&A. Now general counsel for Japan at Veolia, his career has spanned various continents and industries, showcasing a remarkable track record of accomplishments.

Vigman’s career includes a significant international dimension, with negotiations spanning EMEA, GCC, and Asia. He has led negotiations for over 150 mergers and acquisitions, divestitures in 25+ countries, and structured over 150 joint ventures in various sectors. His recent work in Japanese project finance and joint ventures for biomass renewables further underscores an adaptability and global reach. This is also evidenced by the fact that Vigman is fluent in several languages, including French, Dutch, and German.

Kazunari Fukuda, group legal and compliance director, Japan LVMH Moët Hennessy-Louis Vuitton

Kazunari Fukuda is a seasoned legal professional with a career spanning two decades, dedicated to ensuring corporate compliance and legal excellence. Currently serving as the group legal and compliance director Japan at LVMH Moët Hennessy-Louis Vuitton Japan since February 2022, he brings a wealth of experience to the role. Prior to this, he held the position of group legal director Japan at LVMH from January 2016 to January 2022.

His professional journey began at ITOCHU Corporation, where he served as a member of the legal division from November 2003 to December 2015. During his tenure at ITOCHU, he spearheaded the implementation of a global anti-bribery program for the ITOCHU Group in, significantly elevating the company’s compliance standards.

His commitment to legal excellence has been recognised, being featured in the inaugural GC Powerlist: Japan 2023 by Legal 500. As a New York Attorney, admitted to practice in 2003, Fukuda continues to make significant contributions to the legal and compliance landscape in Japan and beyond.

Takeshi Yoshida, partner, Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise)

Takeshi Yoshida is a partner in the Firm’s Dispute Resolution and Compliance & Investigations groups in Tokyo. He handles international dispute resolution, crisis management and corporate investigations as well as compliance and commercial contracts. He has been recognized as a “Next Generation Partner” in Japan’s dispute resolution field by The Legal 500 (2021-2023 editions). His experience includes working at the ICC International Court of Arbitration in Hong Kong and as a panel arbitrator at the Japan Commercial Arbitration Association (JCAA).

Since 2015, Takeshi has been teaching business negotiation strategy as a part-time lecturer at Chuo University’s Graduate School of Strategic Management (Chuo University Business School). In addition, he is a member of the Tokyo Bar Association, the New York Bar Association, the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) as an MCIArb, the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) as a CIA, and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) as a CFE. Takeshi is fluent in English and Japanese.

Dan Matsuda, partner, EY Law Co.

Dan Matsuda is the co-head of the Transaction Law practice at EY Law Japan. He has over 20 years of experience as a Japanese law qualified lawyer and he is also qualified in New York, USA. Dan focuses on advising Japanese entities in the renewable energy, medical devices, food products and petrochemical products sectors on their cross-border M&A/investment projects and disputes overseas. He also advises foreign businesses on Japanese compliance and regulatory matters.

Brent Bell, leader, private equity and M&A services division, Marsh Japan

Shinji Ogawa, arbitration and mediation case manager, Japan Commercial Arbitration Association (JCAA)

Shinji Ogawa possesses extensive experience in the administration and oversight of numerous international arbitration cases. His core responsibilities revolve around maintaining fairness and timeliness in proceedings, adept arbitrator selection, and dedicative review of draft awards. Mr. Ogawa played a key role in the 2021 JCAA arbitration rules revision by contributing to the drafting of rules aimed at improving arbitration efficiency. Mr. Ogawa also actively engages with potential JCAA users by sharing his valuable insights and experiences as a speaker at domestic and international seminars and workshops.

Takayuki Kitajima, general counsel, business integrity officer and data protection advisor, Unilever Japan Holdings

Anthony Luna, general counsel, law, intellectual property & compliance, IBM

Anthony Luna currently leads the Japan legal team at IBM Japan which works seamlessly with the broader IBM legal team. Through his experience at major law firms and in-house, Luna advises on a broad variety of international legal issues in and outside of Japan in either English or Japanese.

William Hutcheson, solution architect, Legal Solution, Epiq

Experienced Solutions Architect with a proven track record of consulting with corporate, law firm, and government stakeholders to scope out technology and workflow requirements for regulatory, litigation, and investigation matters.  He has more than 10 years of experience supporting cross-border investigations and currently leads Epiq’s APAC solution architect group, advising numerous clients and engagements.

Daisuke Nakajima, director, certified fraud examiner(CEF), eDiscovery Executive Certificate, Epiq

For more than 15 years, he has designed and implemented efficient e-discovery workflows for Japanese companies in international litigation and regulatory compliance, using the latest technology and best practices to maintain legitimacy. As a Certified Fraud Examiner in internal fraud investigations, he also provides support and guidance in investigations involving digital data. He provides tailored advice on everything from efficient data preservation methods to digital evidence examination techniques.

Masako Takahata, general counsel, Exponential Design

Masako Takahata has earned a reputation among the Japanese in-house legal community for innovation after notable roles as general counsel for Exponential Design Inc. (EDI) and Eurus Energy Holdings (Eurus) in the energy sector.  A keen contributor to the legal community and network in Japan, she is vice president of the Japanese In-house Lawyer Association, and regularly speaks on seminars aimed at helping in-house counsel improve their service delivery. Prior to her roles with EDI and Eurus, Takahata worked as senior counsel for international finance giants Deutsche Bank and Morgan Stanley.

Cheng Kwee Chua, Asia director of sales & business development, iManage

Cheng Kwee is the Asia director of sales & business development at iManage. iManage helps corporate legal departments prosper by transforming their business content and communications into high-value knowledge. The organisation offers industry standard technology for Law Firms, In House Counsel and Financial Institution to enable knowledge workers globally to function effectively from anywhere.

Daniel Lewis, US CEO, LegalOn Technologies

Daniel is a recognized leader in advancing legal technology, with 10+ years at the industry’s cutting edge. He is the US CEO of LegalOn Technologies, a global AI contract review technology leader. Previously, as co-founder and CEO of Ravel Law, Daniel helped pioneer the use of data analytics and visualization to transform legal research. After LexisNexis acquired Ravel Law, Daniel oversaw several of LexisNexis’s business units, including as the VP of practical guidance and analytical content.

Gabor Melli, vice president of Artificial Intelligence, LegalOn Technologies

Gabor is LegalOn’s Vice President of Artficial Intelligence, steering the company’s multi-million investment in AI research and development to transform the contract review process for innovative legal teams. He has decades of experience leading teams of engineers and data scientists at Sony PlayStation, OpenGov, VigLink, and Microsoft in applying cutting-edge research to build practical AI systems and tools. With 19 peer-reviewed research publications, Gabor Melli brings a scientist’s mind to his work in Artificial Intelligence.

Joe Boswell, global editor, The Powerlist Series, The Legal 500

Joe Boswell has been a part of The Legal 500’s editorial team, specialising on the in-house legal community, for more than seven years. He now heads The Powerlist team, acting as chief editor for the over 40 separate editions of the GC Powerlist series which serve as The Legal 500’s flagship title celebrating the world’s top in-house counsel, as well as Global Editor for The Legal 500’s Private Practice Powerlist Series. 

Kyoko Mizuguchi, corporate executive officer, EVP and general counsel of Fujitsu

Kyoko Mizuguchi is the Group General Counsel (EVP, Corporate Executive Officer) of Fujitsu.  She leads the Legal, IP and Internal Control (corporate governance, compliance and internal audit) function of the Fujitsu Group with approximately 600 members worldwide.

In her 20+ years career with Fujitsu, she has built a vast array of international legal and compliance experience including more than 8 years of overseas assignments in the UK, US and Australia. In 2016, she became part of the senior leadership team of Fujitsu UK as its Head of Legal and Commercial, leading a team of more than 200 highly skilled professionals. In 2018, she became the Head of Legal, Compliance and IP Unit of the Fujitsu HQ. She has largely maintained her current role since 2020, when she was appointed as Corporate Executive Officer. Her experience includes M&A and reorganization projects, large IT commercial contracts, corporate governance, complex dispute resolution and multi-regional compliance issues.  

She is a NY-admitted attorney. She graduated from Tokyo University (LL.B.) and holds an LL.M degree from Northwestern University.

James Nepaulsingh, senior legal counsel, Mitsui & Co

James Nepaulsingh is a highly experienced foreign lawyer in Japan. He currently helps secure (mainly via M&A) global supplies of valuable metals that are necessary for providing solutions to sustain our planet.

Previously, he successfully negotiated numerous groundbreaking deals while working in the London, Abu Dhabi, and Tokyo offices of a Magic Circle law firm.

He actively contributes as a critical friend on the boards of The British Chamber of Commerce in Japan and the British School in Tokyo.

James is also an accomplished artist, holding a Distinction in Art & Design from the Royal College of Art. He regularly exhibits in Tokyo and London, including a virtual exhibition at the National Gallery, London.

James is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales, an Associate Certified Coach accredited by the International Coaching Federation, and a Mediator certified by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution.

In association with...

Nishimura & Asahi is Japan’s largest law firm, covering all aspects of domestic and international business and corporate activity. The firm has over 800 Japanese and foreign professionals* — employing more than 900 support staff, including senior Japanese and foreign business support professionals, and paralegals.
With the continued expansion of its international presence and clientele, the firm has four domestic and 14 overseas offices. Through the firm’s domestic and global networks, we are ideally placed to provide clients with a borderless one-stop service, from Japan to the world.
* Including some Associate and Alliance offices

IKEDA & SOMEYA, as a law firm of a new era, can offer unparalleled skills and experience​ ​in the fields of antitrust/competition and consumer law. The firm’s attorneys have a wealth of experience, coming from diverse backgrounds which include ex-officials at enforcement agencies and former in-house counsel. In addition to general legal counselling and case work, the firm offer various packaged services to help companies implement practical solutions for real and complex problems.

With an integrated team of more than 166 Japan-qualified lawyers, foreign attorneys, judicial scriveners and immigration law specialists, and an equal number of staff, City-Yuwa is one of the leading law firms in Japan. Many lawyers City-Yuwa lawyers have joined the firm with years of experience working in other professions before joining, including former prosecutors, high-ranking governmental officials, in-house counsels for financial institutions, trading companies and other businesses. City-Yuwa’s practice areas include corporate and commercial, M&A, distribution, finance and banking, securities, insurance, real estate, insolvency and restructuring, litigation and arbitration, IP/IT, labour and employment, anti-trust and competition, energy, data protection, compliance and white-collar criminal defense. In addition to a large team of lawyers dealing with English-language transactions, City-Yuwa has a dedicated bilingual team for German and Korean Practices.

With respect to labour and employment law practice, City-Yuwa lawyers have extensive experience advising companies with practical and professional advice on labour issues and employment matters and always aim to deeply consider each companies’ characteristics and corporate culture and structure. Also worthy of note is that among the leading law firms in Japan, City-Yuwa is unique in having a strong and large team for resolving various types of disputes. In particular, City-Yuwa’s labour and employment team provides its international clients with practical and strategic measures to resolve delicate and complex labour disputes under the often employee-friendly laws in Japan.

Miura & Partners was founded in January 2019 by Mr Ryota Miura, together with a team of experienced lawyers, with the goal of establishing a professional law firm where client satisfaction is the starting point. M&P’s lawyers believe that the role of legal professionals is not just to advise on specific legal provisions, but to provide comprehensive legal advice and support to assist clients in achieving their business goals.

M&P covers virtually all legal issues for corporate clients, including M&A, joint venture, finance, corporate and financial regulation, competition law, intellectual property law, litigation, general corporate legal matters, international trade, and domestic and cross border disputes. M&P’s geographical coverage is expansive, assisting clients in their ventures across the globe. M&P’s lawyers also have in-depth knowledge of new technologies and legal practices in evolving fields such as blockchain, start-ups, fintech, big data, and medical and healthcare.

LegalOn is the leader in AI contract review software for legal teams. Innovative lawyers and legal professionals at over 3,000 leading companies and firms globally use LegalOn to review and negotiate contracts faster and more accurately. Founded in 2017 by two corporate lawyers, the company is backed by leading investors and has raised over $130M (JPY17.9Bn).

Atsumi & Sakai is a multi-award-winning independent full-service Tokyo law firm, and the first major independent Tokyo law firm with foreign lawyers as full partners*. In addition to lawyers admitted in Japan, our Firm includes foreign lawyers registered in Japan to advise on the laws of the US States of New York and California, India, the laws of England and Wales, and the State of Queensland, Australia. Operating as an integrated international team, Atsumi & Sakai advises a wide range of international and domestic companies and financial institutions on all aspects of finance and business law utilizing our Japanese expertise and the international know-how of our foreign partners.

GI&T Law Office is a boutique compliance, investigations, dispute resolution and employment law firm committed to being your trusted legal advisor in establishing comprehensive programs to address your anti-bribery and other compliance needs, conducting internal investigations, and representing you in complex commercial arbitration and litigation matters in Tokyo and Asia. With a network across Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, and China, we are equipped to support your local and regional legal needs.

GI&T will provide commercial and practical legal solutions to help you comply with FCPA, UKBA, and other anti-bribery laws. We also support preparing international license agreements, promotion agreements, and development agreements. GI&T will provide legal advice and representation in dispute resolution matters including domestic and cross-border litigation, arbitration and mediation.

Baker McKenzie delivers integrated solutions to complex challenges.

Complex business challenges require an integrated response across different markets, sectors and areas of law. Baker McKenzie’s client solutions provide seamless advice, underpinned by deep practice and sector expertise as well as first-rate local market knowledge. Across more than 70 offices globally, Baker McKenzie works alongside our clients to deliver solutions for a connected world.

Clifford Chance is one of the world’s pre-eminent law firms, with significant depth and range of resources across five continents. As a single, fully integrated, global partnership, it prides itself on its approachable, collegial and team-based way of working. The firm always strives to exceed the expectations of its clients, which include corporates from all the commercial and industrial sectors, governments, regulators, trade bodies and not-for-profit organisations. It provides them with the highest quality advice and legal insight, which combines the firm’s global standards with in-depth local expertise.

Clifford Chance has worked for more than 40 years on Japan related matters. The firm understand Japanese business and have a strong track record of high-profile work for international clients investing in Japan, and for Japanese companies building their overseas business.

iManage is the company dedicated to Making Knowledge Work. Its intelligent, cloud-enabled, secure knowledge work platform enables organizations to uncover and activate the knowledge that exists inside their business content and communications. Advanced Artificial Intelligence and powerful document and email management create connections across data, systems, and people while leveraging the context of organizational content to fuel deep insights, informed business decisions, and collaboration. Underpinned by best of breed security, sophisticated workflows and governance approaches, iManage has earned its place as the industry standard through continually innovating to solve the most complex professional challenges and enabling better business outcomes for over one million professionals across 65+ countries.

Networking Partner

Epiq is a worldwide provider of legal services, serving law firms, corporations, financial institutions, and government agencies—helping them streamline the administration of business operations, class action and mass tort, court reporting, eDiscovery, regulatory, compliance, restructuring, and bankruptcy matters.

When you choose Epiq, you choose a strategic partner committed to easing your burden, navigating the complexity of your matter, and achieving success. We deliver significant benefits that you can measure: lower internal and external costs, faster lead times on critical processes, more effective allocation of resources, productivity increases, and effective case management—these are some of the benefits we help our clients realize every day.

You can choose from a comprehensive range of service solutions, all backed by deep expertise, global reach, and exceptional client service.

Supported by

The Japan Commercial Arbitration Association (JCAA) was established in 1953 and celebrates its 70th anniversary this year. It is one of the most time honored international commercial arbitration institutions in the region.

To accommodate the parties’ specific needs depending upon the characteristics of each dispute, JCAA offers a non-binding list of a diverse Arbitrator Panel. Two-thirds of more than 400 arbitrators are non-Japanese from more than 50 countries.

To enhance agility, JCAA revised its expedited arbitration procedures in 2021. Disputes valued at 300 million yen or less receive an arbitral award within six months, and those valued at 50 million yen or less within three months from the formation of the tribunal.

JCAA flexibly adapts to the tribunal and parties’ needs, including arranging online conferences, transcription and interpretation services, and accommodating unforeseen circumstances while alleviating the parties’ burden.

JCAA strongly supports international businesses in resolving their disputes fairly and efficiently.

The Lawyer on Air Podcast, hosted by award-winning Tokyo-based lawyer Catherine O’Connell, showcases the legal community in Japan. It focuses on the career paths of foreign and Japanese women lawyers in Japan, and covers topics concerning starting a business in Japan, legal challenges in Japan as an entrepreneur and becoming a successful external board member, and from time to time, there are also guest interviews with male lawyers and legal recruiters in the Tokyo law community. The Lawyer on Air Podcast is a Legal 500 supporting organisation.

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