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Our firm handles a wide range of legal issues arising from corporate activities. We represent clients across a broad range of industries, including financial institutions (such as banks, trust banks, securities companies, life and non-life insurance companies), trading companies, manufacturers (such as automobile, food, pharmaceutical, computer and apparel), construction companies, real estate companies, broadcasters, telecommunications, distributors and public agencies. Our firm is dedicated to providing efficient and high quality legal services meeting the expectations and requests of our clients.
Clients seeking our advice and representation with respect to corporate matters include Japanese entities doing business inside and outside of Japan, foreign corporations and foreign financial institutions making investments and conducting other related economic activities in Japan.
Our firm provides a wide range of services, ranging from preventative legal practices to dispute resolution after the fact, including assisting our clients with creating new business plans or rolling out new products; establishing companies and associations; managing corporate meetings (shareholders' meetings, board of directors' meetings, etc.); assisting in the execution of corporate combinations or reorganizations (such as M&A and business transfers); litigation and ADR (including commercial arbitration); and criminal cases involving corporate activities.
The relevant areas of law in these fields include contract law, security and collateral law, tort law, company law, commercial transactions law, bankruptcy law, intellectual property law, finance law, securities law, insurance law, capital markets law, antimonopoly law, real estate transactions law, tax law, tariff and trade law, labor law, criminal law and special criminal law.
The term "corporate governance" is generally used to describe "administration and management of a company" or "governance of a company." When considering this issue, we face two significant questions: (i) whose interests must a company prioritize, and (ii) what is the appropriate administrative structure for a company, particularly, how should the company supervise and monitor management? In Japan, these days, corporate governance is discussed mainly in terms of how to structure the management monitoring system as a means to promote shareholders' interests. Management must be monitored to determine whether its actions are not only legal and sound but also efficient and reasonable.
Recently, there has been significant discussion concerning how institutional investors, which can play a key role in monitoring management, should exercise their voting rights. The contributing factors for this recent phenomenon, among others, are as follows: (1) decline of the main bank system due to changes in fund raising methods, etc., (2) increase in size and institutionalization of corporate pension funds in an aging society, (3) decrease in investors' investment income due to the issuers' poor performance (the term investors here includes trust banks, insurance companies, investment advisers and other institutional investors, and pension funds investing their pension assets through institutional investors) and (4) difficulty for institutional investors to sell shares in accordance with the "Wall Street Rule." Therefore, lawyers are frequently asked to provide advice about institutional investors and the exercise of their voting rights as well as other corporate governance activities because such matters involve legal issues such as the question of fiduciary responsibility.
On the other hand, the term "compliance" is generally understood to mean "compliance with laws." Specifically, this term is used in connection with the structuring of legal compliance and risk management systems (so-called internal control system) to prevent the company, including its employees, from conducting illegal acts. In recent years, there have been frequent discussions concerning the need to establish a risk management system in every company and such discussions have raised public awareness of the importance of "compliance." A court precedent affirmed that directors have the duty to structure internal control systems depending on the business size, nature, etc., of the company and to monitor whether such internal control systems have been established. Also, the corporation law stipulates that the structuring of internal control systems is an indispensable item to be resolved at the meetings of the board of directors of large companies.
Our firm has been advocating the need to establish management monitoring systems and internal control systems. Particularly, for financial institutions where such systems are strongly demanded, we have provided lectures for managers, proposed structuring of such systems including introduction of the outside director or executive officer systems, prepared compliance manuals and various internal rules, and advised on possible internal as well as external responses in case a scandal occurs. Thus, we have been actively involved in structuring a more effective management monitoring system and internal control system. We have also advised on corporate governance activities of institutional investors in light of their fiduciary responsibility.
Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and strategic alliances are among the major practice areas of Ushijima & Partners. We have provided legal services in many domestic and international M&A transactions and have experience in representing acquirers as well as target companies. The target companies are in widely varied industries, including banking, insurance, securities, computers, e-business, electric, chemical, pharmaceutical, trading, human resources, entertainment, retailing, lodging, selling and leasing of real estate, cable broadcasting, etc.
Our firm has the know-how and resources to provide diversified and practical legal services on all phases of M&A transactions, including planning and structuring legal strategies of the deal, legal due diligence investigations (legal audit) of the target companies, negotiation and preparation of contracts, and negotiations with the relevant authorities. Also, depending on the size and nature of the projects, we are able to provide a sufficient number of attorneys, including lawyers with expertise in various areas such as business law, corporate law, securities law, including the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law, labor and employment law, tax law, industrial property rights law and other intellectual property-related laws, antitrust law, etc. For instance, for a large project, we will usually form a team consisting of more than 10 lawyers.
Along with the fierce competitions between companies increasing on a global scale, more and more cases are developing into hostile takeovers in Japan. The hostile takeover in 2006 by Oji paper Co., Ltd., a leading company in the paper industry, for Hokuetsu Paper Mills, Ltd., the 5th biggest company in the industry, is known as the symbol of the genuine start of a hostile takeover era in Japan.
Our firm represented Hokuetsu, the target company with lesser advantages in the hostile takeover by Oji, which bid eventually was thwarted. We also provided legal advice to Origin Toshu Co., Ltd., the target company in the hostile takeover by Don Quijote Co., Ltd., and to TOC Co., Ltd., the target company in the hostile takeover by K.K. daVinci Advisors, showing overwhelming strength in defense against takeovers. Our firm comprehensively reviews the legal issues that may arise in each phase of the hostile takeover and actively gets involved in the designing of defensive measures against the takeover based on our expertise.
The workplace in Japan has changed dramatically in less than a decade, such as restructurings, acquisitions, introduction of IT to business and communications, adoption of pay-per-performance systems, chronic conditions of working long hours, liquidation of employment, increase of temporary-employment, rise in the labor turnover rate of new graduates, etc. In addition, almost all companies now have headaches in treating employees who have developed stress-related "mental health" disorders. There seems to be no end to executives and regular employees who transfer to competitors even if they promised not to compete after resignation. However, it should be said that these are only a small part of the problems that prevail in the workplace. It is said that human resources that support companies are increasingly isolated and exhausted, mentally and physically, and as a result, lose morale, a sense of ethics, and feelings of loyalty to their companies. For companies, it is important for risk management strategies to come to grips with labor issues, consequently, leading to maintaining and bolstering their competitive strengths.
On the other hand, due to the progress of individuals' awareness of rights and heightened feelings of compliance in society, people do not hesitate to make accusations, and increasingly people are running to unions associated by individuals. The industrial tribunal system has further lowered the barriers of entry to court. As to the labor administration, it tends to willingly authorize workmen's compensation and it enforces supervision and retraining through detecting unpaid overtime work and sham contract work. People finally have become aware of labor laws and the need to implement them. As well as updating employment rules and other company regulations according to frequent legislative amendments, we must revise them from a strategic viewpoint.
In such situation, every person in charge of personnel, legal and compliance, etc., should closely coordinate under the leadership of top executives, get assistance from external experts (lawyers, doctors, etc.), and work aggressively on improvement and adjustment of the working environment, as well as prevention and resolution of labor disputes.
Our firm has, from early on, worked on these relevant labor issues utilizing our abundant experience of overall support of personnel and labor affairs for both Japanese and foreign company clients whether their scale is large or small. We provide comprehensive and strategic legal services on "labor" from routine empathetic consulting to effective solution of disputes.
Tax considerations are crucial in every business transaction. Our firm assists clients with various tax issues, such as tax analysis in M&A transactions, corporate restructurings, joint ventures, business integrations, etc. We provide counseling on various tax issues that arise with new financial products, finance, insurance, real estate, securitization and other matters, and advise clients on taxation relating to non-Japanese residents or foreign corporations, transfer pricing, anti-tax haven rules, foreign tax credit, tax treaties and other tax issues. We also represent clients in negotiations, tax investigations and tax litigation, including claims before the National Tax Tribunal as well as other matters.
In addition, we also advise on estate planning and business succession measures for domestic and foreign high net worth individuals.
The need to utilize real properties in corporate activities has remained constant. However, the environment surrounding the real estate market has been changing drastically. Especially in recent years, the issues involving real estate transactions have become extremely diverse, so it is necessary to ascertain the salient variables of each issue while selecting the optimal scheme and contract terms.
In addition, it is not rare in recent years for issues involving real estate transactions to develop into disputes. In order to have a favorable resolution of the dispute, it is necessary to work out strategies considering resolution by legal proceedings, from the early stage to the final stage of the dispute.
Our firm provides a variety of services on behalf of domestic and foreign clients involved in various real estate transactions and disputes arising therefrom, including the following:
- Advice on real estate transactions, including planning the structure and other strategies, drafting of sales agreements and dispute resolution;
- Advice on the lease of real properties, including drafting of leases for office buildings, land and other lease agreements, drafting of agreements for opening stores in large commercial facilities, as well as negotiations on the increase or decrease of rent, forced removal and surrender;
- Advice on land readjustment projects, urban redevelopment projects and other large-scale development projects;
- Advice on the urban planning law and the building standards law;
- Advice and dispute resolution concerning land contamination, asbestos remediation measures and other issues under environmental laws; and
- Advice and dispute resolution concerning construction-related issues.
Today, the circumstances surrounding the global environment are rapidly deteriorating, evidenced by such phenomena as global warming, extreme weather and depletion of natural resources. In terms of business practices, various efforts have been made at reducing pressures on the environment, and environmental issues are achieving great interest as is typical under the prevalent CSR (corporate social responsibility) management. The Land Contamination Countermeasures Law has been enacted and landowners may be required to take measures to remove contamination regardless of whether or not they were responsible for the contamination. Thus, environmental problems have come to be recognized as risks that may materially affect business management and transactions. Meanwhile, new environmental business opportunities have been developing, such as emissions trading.
Our firm has been actively handling matters of environmental risk in M&A and real estate transactions, as well as various environmental law compliance issues in business transactions. It is expected that the environmental law practice will gain even greater importance, under the current circumstances where environmental regulations are ever tightening.
In this area, our main clients are domestic and foreign banks, trust banks, securities companies and insurance companies (including those that will newly enter the Japanese market). In addition, ordinary companies need legal assistance when their activities are subject to financial regulations.
In the financial industry, as in other industries, deregulation is a surging trend. With the breakup of the prior so-called "convoy system," a regulatory authority-led supervising method, financial institutions are now required to construct their internal controls and external auditing systems, by themselves. In concert with this need, frequent revisions have been made to financial regulatory laws (such as the Banking Law, the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law, the Insurance Business Law, the Investment Adviser Law, the Law Concerning Investment Trusts and Investment Corporations) and their incidental regulations, guidelines, examination manuals, etc. On the other hand, complex and technical regulations still exist.
In this area, not only are we required to have knowledge of the latest laws (and in certain cases, to provide advice in light of the past history and/or future trend of revisions), but also it is essential to know practical trends and regulatory authorities' policies, since there are few precedent cases in this field (it was extremely rare for cases where financial regulations were in question to be brought before courts). When we consider the deregulation trend in this area, we are now required, in addition to diligent research activities, to seek for possible creative interpretations of laws that may meet a changing society and needs. Thus, the lawyer's role in this area is becoming ever more important.
Our firm handles various financial matters, such as structured finance, commitment line agreements, non-recourse loans, derivative transactions (e.g., swap transactions), project finance, etc. We also provide assistance to financial institutions (including banks, trust banks, life and non-life insurance companies, securities companies, etc.) in their daily compliance, product development and other activities. In addition, our involvement has increased in the areas of finance, such as senior lending, mezzanine lending, subordinated debt and preferred equity relating to corporate acquisitions, and equity finance, such as IPOs.
Our firm's major involvement is in real estate securitization, liquidation matters (including real estate development projects and J-REITs), etc. We handle these matters using anonymous association structures, as well as other structures under the trust law, trust business law, asset liquidation law (SPC law); we represent clients such as arrangers, originators, trustees (trust banks), lenders, special purpose companies (SPCs), liquidity providers (financial institutions, etc.), ratings institutions and investors; and our services include structuring, risk analysis (including conflict of interest risk analysis), incorporation of SPCs, drafting of relevant agreements, relevant negotiations, research of relevant laws, providing opinion letters, and other various activities. In the fields of real estate securitization and liquidation, we are also involved in legislation of relevant laws, improvement of legal systems and related activities.
Within the past several years, the Japanese insurance industry has experienced rapid and significant changes due to considerable deregulation, which is based on the principle of self-regulation, including integration and reorganization among major insurance companies, entry of foreign capital, shifting to a consumer oriented focus, and the revisions of relevant laws. Under such circumstances, the lawyer's role has increased and become even more vital.
Our firm provides the following services to clients (i.e., life and non-life insurance companies (both foreign and domestic) including those considering and planning entry into the Japanese market):
(1) Insurance contract law:
As attorneys for insurance companies, we represent companies in lawsuits regarding insurance claims and assist in resolving disputes in relation to insurance policies. Recently, the environment surrounding insurance contract law has greatly changed, including the enactment of the insurance law and other relevant laws and the new judgments handed down in sequence by the supreme court, and we are required to take such latest trends into consideration in providing our services. In addition, using our well-established knowledge base concerning dispute resolution, we provide clients with advice for preventive legal practice concerning the development of new products, improvement of solicitation systems and other activities. We are also working actively in areas, such as group insurance contracts, group annuity contracts, and reinsurance contracts, which could be groundbreaking areas, since there has been relatively little legal doctrine developed to date.
(2) Problems concerning organization and management of insurance companies:
We provide advice and legal opinions on various issues regarding the organization and management of insurance companies, based on the relevant laws, notifications and precedent cases. Our services cover various legal problems held by insurance companies, including: 1) structuring of the organizational system; 2) development of new products; 3) restructuring of subsidiaries and affiliated companies; 4) risk assessment of representative suits; 5) preparation of compliance manuals and other company rules; 6) risk management and crisis management; 7) labor problems; and 8) responses to supervising authorities. This area requires specific expertise in the insurance business law and practices of insurance companies. In recent years, with increased social interest in insurance companies, the response from the consumers' viewpoint is also necessary.
(3) Asset management:
One of the main businesses of insurance companies is to manage insurance premiums received from policyholders. With their huge funds, insurance companies are significant players in the financial markets. In addition to traditional investment vehicles such as loans and real estate investment portfolios, insurance companies have recently focused their efforts on using alternative investment vehicles. For such asset management, our firm provides services such as preparation and review of contracts, negotiation of contract terms, analysis of various regulations, and other support services.
(4) Integration, reorganization, new entry, etc., of insurance companies:
We provide total support for all legal aspects, beginning from the planning stage, takeovers of failing insurance companies, integration and reorganization of domestic insurance companies, and entry (or withdrawal) of foreign insurance companies into (or from) the Japanese market. These services include proposing and analyzing structures, due diligence, preparation and negotiation of contracts, and the relevant negotiations and obtaining the necessary approvals and permissions from the supervising authorities (among others, the Financial Services Agency).
In the past several years, the number of insolvencies of companies, including civil rehabilitations, has increased, again, and, as a result, our firm has been involved in many insolvency proceedings as well as the filing of applications for insolvency proceedings, on behalf of creditors and sponsors.
When we are involved in insolvency proceedings on behalf of a creditor, our first step is to examine all possible means for collecting debts, including the possibility and methods of setting off receivables and payables, within a limited time, and then we provide specifically tailored advice to the client. Because the field of insolvency law does not have well established precedent cases and/or academic theories, we are often required to address novel questions requiring difficult judgment and decisions on complex legal issues, and we also are required to negotiate with trustees, etc., about such legal uncertainties.
When we are retained by a sponsor, we need to focus our efforts on a large volume of work, within a short period of time, including uncovering legal issues through due diligence (legal audit) of the insolvent company, and negotiating contract terms and drafting contracts, e.g., business transfer agreements, etc.
In filing applications for insolvency proceedings, we are required to coordinate among the interests of creditors and many other parties concerned in a fair and prompt manner under the pressure of insolvency.
In light of recent economic conditions, it is expected that these services incidental to insolvencies will be required more.
Times are not what they used to be. Nowadays, change has become more rapid and with greater amplitude than our forecasts and has unknown consequences more and more. In such a drastically transmutative business environment, risk management to prevent risk before it happens and, when it does happen, to minimize the damage, is absolutely necessary in order to maintain sustainability for companies of all sizes and types. Risk management is an important element of the internal control system under both the Corporation Law and the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law. This is not only a requirement for large companies and listed companies.
Some risks surrounding companies are external such as natural disasters, wars and terrorism, etc., and also, recently, some risks intrinsic in business come to the surface, and violation of law in managing business and corporate misdoings that could threaten public safety, people and property are appearing one after another. Many of them are discovered by whistle-blowers. The Whistleblower Protection Act in force already will increase such enthusiasm. The blowback of consumer and mass media against corporate misdoings has become more severe, and the equity markets have come to be responsive against it. Companies not only destroy their images and brands by their misdoings, but also are pushed into fateful crises instantly through mishandling and lapse into a downward spiral in many cases. Executive officers, not only become near the end of their rope in the company, sometimes are held criminally responsible or civilly liable for huge amounts of damages (the statute of limitation is 10 years). Judicial rulings and actions by supervisory authorities have become stricter and it is said that society has moved to an after-the-fact regulation society.
Our firm supports our clients in fact findings, causal analyses and formulation of preventative measures, etc., in a variety of corporate misdoings. Also we advise about how to cope with serious crises, such as conducting internal investigations, reporting to supervisory authorities, handling investigations by investigating authorities and responding to mass media, etc. On the other hand, always having our sights on corporate social responsibility (CSR), we support clients in enriching and enhancing their compliance systems and work actively on internal control systems, etc., and are sustaining our efforts to proactively deal with the changes of the times.
The representation of corporations involved in litigation and arbitration is among the major services which our firm provides with great emphasis.
Since its inception as a so-called "law firm handling external affairs", our firm has been handling many international litigations and arbitrations and has achieved remarkable results. We have abundant experience in this field, including (i) representation of foreign corporations or foreign-affiliated corporations involved in litigation before Japanese courts, (ii) advice, in close coordination with relevant overseas law firms, to Japanese corporations in case they are involved in legal proceedings arising out of global disputes before one or more overseas courts and (iii) representation in international arbitrations before the JCAA, ICC, etc.
Today, even in Japan, in line with its further evolution toward a "society based on laws," corporations are becoming more and more involved in diversified, wide-ranged and large-scale conflicts and other material litigations that would affect their fates, in relation not only to consumers but also with other corporations. In such litigations, our firm, as a so-called "law firm strong in litigation," fields a strong and full-fledged team of attorneys to be able to satisfy the needs of our clients. Such team will make concerted efforts to tackle such litigations with all their might in an organized, organic and intensive manner, with a view to bringing about the most satisfactory results for our clients, as our firm's mission. In fact, our firm, as a so-called "law firm strong in litigation," has achieved remarkable results in all sorts of litigations and arbitrations involving corporations.
Our firm handles legal work on a wide range of international transactions, including distribution arrangements, licenses, sales of aircraft and other movable assets, real estate sales and lease, intellectual-property-related transactions and various other cross-border transactions, as well as domestic business by foreign-affiliated corporations and overseas business by domestic corporations.
We provide a broad range of legal services to domestic and foreign clients, from legal advice to negotiations with trading partners and supervising authorities, preparation of agreements and other relevant documents and support in cooperation with local law firms using a global network of overseas law firms.
Our firm has abundant experience in these international transactions, as well.
The role of antimonopoly law is becoming more and more critical as being a fundamental rule in the free and vital market economy that is the goal of the current deregulation.
The amendments to the antimonopoly law, effective as of 2006, have increased the calculation rate of surcharges and introduced the surcharge exemption system (leniency system) as well as introduced the authority to examine violations. Other amendments will also be made to the laws concerning the broadening of the application of surcharges and the introduction of increased rates of surcharges for business entities which have performed leading roles in violations and the prior reporting system on stock acquisitions. It is expected that such amendments will have increased effects on enforcement of the antimonopoly law. In addition, the so-called "guideline for business combination" was revised in 2007. With the increase in M&A both inside and outside Japan, it is even more necessary to take measures to satisfy the requirements of the Fair Trade Commission.
Our firm has accumulated expertise in this area, and has assisted many clients in coping with the Fair Trade Commission in terms of business combinations including corporate acquisitions, company splits, alliances, business combinations by holding companies, and the like. In addition, our firm has provided advice on various matters including cooperative research and development projects, distribution, sales, subcontracts, etc., and has been actively addressing issues including those involving antimonopoly compliance training programs, preparing and reviewing compliance manuals and so on.
With the globalization and acceleration of economic activities, information technology, the Internet and other technologies are evolving every minute. Under these circumstances, the strategic use of intellectual property is now indispensable for every company striving to succeed in the increasingly competitive market.
Our firm is handling increasing numbers of intellectual property matters, the contents of which are becoming more sophisticated and complicated. In handling a broad range of activities, such as the enforcement of intellectual property rights, the conclusion of license agreements, preventive legal practices for intellectual property infringement, and intellectual property infringement litigation, it is now even more important for our lawyers to keep up with the state-of-the-art knowledge. With the experience and knowledge accumulated to date, and always upgrading our knowledge, our firm provides clients with proper services meeting their needs, including advice on future intellectual property strategy. Specifically, we have experience in handling various matters, including the following:
- Development, sales and maintenance agreements and license agreements concerning software systems;
- Website privacy policies;
- Internet advertising;
- E-commerce;
- Defamation on the Internet; and
- Trademark and patent infringement litigations.
Our firm provides advice to numerous clients in the entertainment industry (including music, film, professional sports, events, games, etc.) Specifically, we have substantial experience in handling various matters, including the following:
- Music business, including management contracts with artists, exclusive performance contracts with production companies, copyright contracts with writers and sales consignment contracts with sales companies;
- Movie business, including contracts for establishment of movie funds, film production committee contracts, film distribution contracts, television broadcasting contracts and videogram contracts;
- Sports business, including promotional contracts concerning sports events, sponsorship contracts, player contracts, commercial advertising contracts and television broadcasting contracts;
- Live entertainment business, including bookings and performance contracts;
- Merchandising, including the manufacturing contracts and license contracts for licensed goods;
- Setting up and operation of joint ventures by corporations related to music and film;
- M&A of corporations related to music and film;
- Organization and operation of corporations and groups related to music, film and professional sports; and
- Defamation of corporations related to music, film and professional sports.
Today's sophistication and complexity of information and communication services have provided major changes in the social structure and corporate activities, and have raised new legal issues that we have never before faced across all legal fields.
Under these circumstances, our firm deals with a broad range of legal issues on a daily basis in various fields such as IT, finance, broadcasting, distribution, communications, and education. Our services include, for example, negotiation and preparation of system development agreements, software license agreements and know-how license agreements, and handling of disputes concerning the ownership of intellectual property, etc.
Also, in recent years, legal needs in new fields are increasing such as dealing with rights violations on the Internet, negotiation and dispute resolution relating to provision and development of information systems, legal advice on formulation of content distribution business that goes beyond traditional legal issues about broadcasting and communications, etc.
Our firm deals with a large number of such cases with expertise and this trend is expected to increase.
Takashi Osawa and Kosuke Fujita have completed the legal training and joined our firm.
Hiroyasu Kageshima's article, "Future Internet services and authors' rights from the perspective of the decisions in the 'Maneki TV' and 'Rokuraku II' cases" was published in the article, "Special topic: Changing Supreme Court ruling ? The new trend" of the June 2011 issue of the monthly magazine "The Lawyers" (ILS Publications, Inc.).
[Contents]
Maneki TV case
(1) Outline of the case
(2) Points of the second instance judgment rendered by the intellectual property high court
(3) Points of the Supreme Court judgment
Rokuraku II case
(1) Outline of the case
(2) Points of the second instance judgment rendered by the intellectual property high court
(3) Points of the Supreme Court judgment
Future practices based on the Supreme Court judgment on the "Maneki TV" and "Rokuraku II" cases
[Contents]
I. Purposes and circumstances of the 2010 revision to Article 7 of the OECD Model Tax Convention (introduction of commentary)
II. Points of the 2010 revision to the commentary (on Article 7) of the OECD Model Tax Convention
III. Comparison between old commentaries on the perceptions of intercompany transactions and domestic laws
Kotaro Tamura provided commentaries on the points of arguments and report of the "Committee on Real Estate Investment Market Strategy" at the 115th practical workshop of The Association for Real Estate Securitization titled, "Grand design of real estate investment market (Exchange of views and briefing on the 'Committee on Real Estate Investment Market Strategy')".
Kotaro Tamura served as a lecturer at the real estate economic and hands-on seminar titled, "Projected real estate investment business and market for 2011! ?Utilize the effect of BOJ's purchase of J-REIT! Impact of the review of the Grand Design!!?" hosted by Real Estate Economic Institute Co., LTD.
[Lecturers]
- Mr. Yoji Otani, Managing Director and Senior Analyst, Global Markets Research Department
Deutsche Securities Inc.
- Kotaro Tamura, Attorney-at-Law
Ushijima & Partners
- Mr. Sadayuki Horie, Senior Researcher, Financial Technology and Market Research Department
Nomura Research Institute, Ltd.
- Mr. Noritaka Izumi, Partner
KPMG AZSA LLC
Tetsuya Ishida, Akihiro Hanoshima and Satoshi Yakushiji have completed the legal training and joined our firm.
Hirokazu Abe joined our firm and commenced work on January 7, 2011.
Shin Ushijima's article, "Special topic: Claims for unpaid overtime pay as post-overpayment claims; The scale of the unpaid overtime pay for the extinctive prescription of two years is a match for 'overpayment bubble'" was published in the article, "New trend of various issues posing a threat to business management and the legal measures therefor" of the January 2011 issue of the monthly magazine "The Lawyers."
(Contents)
In the wake of the banquet of "overpayment"
Roles played by the court
Present condition of the issue of unpaid overtime pay
Future of the issue of unpaid overtime pay
Prompt measures should be taken
Attorney, Yoshimoto Kawamura has become a Partner of our firm as of January 1, 2011.
Shin Ushijima's article, "We should increase the number of successful examinees in response to the social conditions, and aim for over 50 thousand lawyers; 2000 new lawyers a year is appropriate for the present, but we should aim at 3000 a year in the future" was published in the feature article, "What do we do about the population of lawyers in Japan?" of the December 2010 issue of the monthly magazine "The Lawyers."