Team size: Four

What are the most significant cases or transactions that you have been involved in over the past year?
Fukuoka SoftBank HAWKS is a Japanese professional baseball team. Considering the recent social situation, and to maintain and improve the company’s brand value, our team has systematically organised and strengthened compliance education for our players in the past year. Specifically, we communicated our top management’s approach to compliance and developed a new code of conduct related to player compliance. For training, we also created an original in-house video incorporating familiar examples that players would find interesting.

Apart from legal matters, has the team worked on other company initiatives you would like to highlight?

Our team actively comments on matters beyond legal issues. The legal department and the corporate planning department, both of which I oversee, belong to the same division, and are managed together. Therefore, even when we provide non-legal comments, we are accepted by other divisions without any sense of discomfort. The legal department deeply understands the company’s direction and conducts research from a broad perspective. In addition to legal issues, we offer comments from various perspectives, including revenue, cost, and brand aspects. By taking such a multifaceted approach, we aim to create an environment where the legal department can be consulted from the early stages. This contributes to the overall strengthening of the company and its long-term success.

How do you effectively motivate and manage the other members of your legal team?

To effectively motivate and manage the legal team, it is crucial to foster a supportive and collaborative work environment. We strive to appropriately recognise individual and team achievements and provide opportunities for professional growth. Every morning, we hold a team meeting where all members gather to share and discuss their thoughts and progress on their respective cases. This meeting serves as an important platform for building strong relationships among team members and supporting each other. By celebrating team milestones and achievements together, we cultivate a sense of companionship and a shared sense of purpose. This approach enhances overall team morale and promotes sustainable growth.