What are the most significant cases or transactions you have been involved in over the past year?
After the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Japanese tourism industry, which saw a dramatic decrease in foreign visitors, the situation has improved dramatically. According to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), the number of foreign visitors in April 2024 surpassed the pre-pandemic level, reaching 3.04 million, an increase of 4.0% compared to 2019.
In the midst of this recovery, I have led various projects related to Airbnb’s domestic and international business, reflecting our commitment to using legal risk management to overcome challenges and seize opportunities. In addition, I was honoured to receive the Innovation Award in the individual category at the inaugural JILA In-House Legal Awards in January 2024, recognising my contributions to legal innovation and risk management. This recognition was made possible by the support of my supervisor in Singapore, my colleagues in the legal department, and the many wonderful teams and individuals inside and outside the company who have helped me to continually improve.

Apart from legal matters, has the team worked on other company initiatives you would like to highlight?
I have co-led the Law Firm Diversity initiative in the APAC region, which has been a transformative effort in promoting inclusivity and diversity within our legal team, as well as our commitment to various dimensions of diversity, including age, disability, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and social mobility.