What are the most significant cases, transactions or projects that your legal team has recently been involved in?

As an innovator in the genetics field, we keep driving new developments and introducing new services in Japan. This is a great challenge for our in-house legal team, as we need to keep developing new legal frameworks with diverse stakeholders and policymakers as an integral element of our mission.

For instance, we introduced for the first time in Japan, a direct-to-consumer whole genome testing service, which came with a healthcare consultation. There was no legal framework for such a service. Through consultations with our Ethics Committee and all relevant stakeholders, we were able to introduce this new service in August 2022, including all relevant considerations for privacy and data protection, with genetic data being the ultimate private information about one individual.

Our company is at the intersection of genomic science, big data, and generative AI, implementing complex algorithms and health prediction models. Our team played a significant role in developing strategies and managing the intellectual property portfolio of our company, resulting in filing more than 70 patents – the highest count of patents in the genetic field in Japan.

Could you share an example of a time when your team came up with an innovation that improved how your legal team works and did not come at a large expense?  

A recent example is the trial use of OpenAI for our recent compliance seminar. Before the seminar, we ran a comprehension test with an open AI platform, which scored very high. In the session, we told our employees that their performance would be marked against it. This had a positive effect, and none of our employees scored lower than the AI platform. We are very excited to see how the AI platform will perform in the next compliance training session.

From the early stage of the pandemic in 2020, we were challenged to develop an at-home COVID PCR test. This required strict safety considerations for transportation and testing. Back then, there was no legal framework to enable such service. However, after working closely with our scientists and all relevant external stakeholders, we were able to implement a safe COVID test including remote medical consultation. Thus, we were able to support government entities, medical facilities, corporations, and individuals.

How important is choosing to work with external lawyers who align with your company’s values? 

Shared values can lead to better communication and collaboration, which leads to more innovation, as we will be able to think outside the box and come up with new ideas that we otherwise would not have. This is essential for a company like ours that wants to stay at the cutting edge of innovation, AI technology and science.

How do you suggest in-house lawyers build strong relationships with business partners? 

First, be a proactive communicator and trusted advisor. Actively seek opportunities to collaborate and provide legal guidance that aligns with the priorities of business partners. Understanding the business will enable you to provide legal advice that is not only legally sound, but also practical and in line with the company’s business goals. Develop a reputation as a trusted advisor who provides practical solutions and helps mitigate legal risks.

Learn continuously and adapt; stay updated on legal developments relevant to your company’s business. This will enable you to tailor your legal advice to the changing business landscape and evolving needs of your company – this is especially important in a company like ours, where you are at the forefront of innovation and technology. Always look for new and developing needs, and be involved in creating new guidelines and regulations.