What are the most significant cases or transactions that you have been involved in over the past year?
First, we have restructured the legal affairs of the parent company, which is a listed company. We have actively recruited both new graduates and mid-career professionals, adding four members in the past year. Emphasising the theme of ‘simplicity’, we reviewed and streamlined all routine legal operations, improved efficiency, and revised workflows by actively using AI tools. Simultaneously, we established the legal department of the subsidiary. Specifically, we recruited legal members and created a small but elite team capable of handling global business, working closely with the parent company. The subsidiary, which aims to go public, successfully completed fundraising of over JPY 5 billion in the past year and a half. We also promoted the development of internal regulations and governance systems in preparation for the listing.

How do you motivate and manage the other members of your legal team well?
I strive to understand both the professional and personal aspects of each legal team member as much as possible, and make an effort to share insights about my own work and personal life. To achieve this, I hold weekly one-on-one meetings with each member, which has helped build mutual trust over time. Additionally, I emphasise the importance of flexibility and leeway in the working style of the legal team members. I believe that creative ideas and flexible thinking are essential for legal work, and to fully exhibit these qualities, it is crucial to enjoy the work. Therefore, I believe that flexible working styles and room for leisure are necessary. Whilst it is challenging to balance this with the team’s busy schedules, due to the busyness of each member, I strongly emphasise these points.

Are the effects of AI on the legal world overplayed, or underplayed?
I believe that AI will increasingly impact the legal field in the future. Understanding large volumes of documents quickly, organising key points, and conveying them clearly are essential skills for those engaged in legal work. With the support of AI, I feel that these tasks have become significantly more efficient. In my team, we actively promote the use of AI tools. For example, we developed a legal tool using ChatGPT, which is now used in other departments, contributing to overall efficiency and reducing the burden across the company. Specifically, we developed tools for determining subcontractors and assisting with the review of standard contracts, and we have implemented these internally.