Recommended in the Corporate and M&A practice area, the Dispute Resolution practice area, and the Labour and Employment practice area in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2022 (January 2022)

Selected in the Labor and Employment Law practice area in The Best Lawyers in Japan 2022 (April 2021)

Recommended in the Labour and Employment practice area in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2021 (January 2021)

Referred to as a team leader in the Labour and Employment practice area in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2020 (January 2020)

Selected in the Labor and Employment practice area in The Best Lawyers™ in Japan 2020 (April 2019)

Referred to as “notable” in the Corporate and M&A practice area, as “employment law specialist” in the Dispute Resolution practice area, and as “leader” of the team in the Labour and Employment practice area in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2019 (January 2019)

Introduced as “specialising in procurement mandates” in the Corporate and M&A practice area, as “recommended for his employment, transactional and technology-related litigation expertise” in the Dispute Resolution practice area, as “the key contact” in the Labour and Employment practice area, and as “names to note” in the TMT practice area, in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2018 (November 2017)

Introduced as “recommended” by clients in the Corporate and M&A practice area in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2017 (November 2016)

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Major Practice Area

Labor and Employment

Represented a client in litigation relating to employee downsizing and related disputes

Represented clients in labor tribunal court cases

Served as an adviser on non-competition agreements

Served as an adviser on disciplinary actions, separation and harassment/discrimination issues

Dealt with various whistleblowing claims

Negotiated with labor unions

Crisis management/handling of internal investigations

Conducted independent internal investigations related to accounting fraud and accounting irregularities

Conducted independent internal investigations concerning embezzlement, breach of trust and work environmental issues such as harassment, etc.

Dealt with matters related to defective dangerous equipment, industrial accidents and government labor standards inspection offices

Litigation/Arbitration

Represented clients in litigation and arbitration related to M&A transactions (e.g., breakdown or cancellation of M&A transactions)

Represented clients in lawsuits related to the Product Liability Act, Unfair Competition Prevention Act, Trademark Law, etc.

Represented a client in litigation related to management’s responsibilities concerning corporate finance

Represented clients in litigation related to software development contracts/projects including fictitious transactions

M&A

Served as an advisor on merger, stock purchase, business transfer, company split, joint venture agreement, issuance of stock, etc., for domestic and international clients

General corporate

Consulted with Japanese and foreign tech companies, retail businesses, manufacturers, service businesses, etc.

Government contracts

Served as an advisor on procurement bids for Japanese government contracts, negotiated with procurement body on contracts, and represented a client challenging the result of procurement bids

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2019.12.25

Labor/Employment

Rikisuke Yamanaka

Scope of Confidential Information That Should Be Protected by Agreement on Non-Compete Obligations ~ Based on Recent Ruling of Intellectual Property High Court ~

2019.09.13

Labor/Employment

Rikisuke Yamanaka

Shinobu Yanagita

Legislation of employers’ obligation to prevent power harassment and measures that should be taken by employers to prevent power harassment

2018.08.07

Labor/Employment

Rikisuke Yamanaka

Points to Note When a Legal Adviser to a Company Acts as an External Point of Contact for Whistleblowing

2018.06.22

Labor/Employment

Rikisuke Yamanaka

Shinobu Yanagita

Legal Liability of a Foreign-Based Parent Company and Actions to Take with Respect to Whistleblower Claims Filed by an Employee of Its Japanese Subsidiary

2017.02.17

Labor/Employment

Rikisuke Yamanaka

Shinobu Yanagita

Important Matters to Note when Causing Directors (Including Representative Directors) to Resign

2017.01.06

Corporate Dispute

International Transactions

Rikisuke Yamanaka

A clause regarding international jurisdiction may be judged invalid in Japanese courts

2016.03.30

Labor/Employment

Rikisuke Yamanaka

Chihiro Tominaga

Legal issues for foreign employers when dismissing employees working in Japan

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Articles, etc.

“Due Diligence for Private Acquisitions in Japan” (Thomson Reuters, April 1, 2022)

“How to Address a Harassment Whistleblower Requesting Anonymity” (“BUSINESS LAWYERS,” January 12, 2022)

“How a Company Should Respond to a Harassment Report Filed by an Employee Who is a Target of Encouragement to Take Early Retirement” (“BUSINESS -LAWYERS,” September 15, 2021)

“How to Address a Harassment Whistleblower Requesting Anonymity” (“BUSINESS LAWYERS;” July 1, 2021 in Japanese, January 12, 2022 in English)

“APAC COVID-19 FAQ” (Japan Part, Employment Law Alliance)

Consultant editor for Guide to Employment Law in Japan of XpertHR (online)

“A Practical Guide to Japanese Civil Litigation — How to choose Japanese counsel – ” (The Japanese Lawyers (ILS Publications, Inc., September 2015))

“Employer’s Guide to Labor Tribunal Proceedings” (Japan Business Law Review 2012 -Labor) (ILS Publications, Inc.)

“Analysis: Practical measures in securing independent directors” (“Business Homu” magazine of Chuo Keizai-sha, Inc., August 20, 2010)

Media Appearances

“Why are investigations on harassment reports sloppy? In the Background is Too Heavy a Burden’ on the Relevant Personnel” (Bengo4.com News, November 15, 2021)

Lectures Given

“It’s Not Too Late! The A to Z of Preparation for and Measures to Address the Forthcoming Freelance Protection Act” (BUSINESS LAWYERS, September 4, 2024)

“Points to Note for Managing Employment Contracts in the ‘Job-Based Employment’ Era ~ Based on Recent Legal Reforms and Supreme Court Decisions ~” (BUSINESS LAWYERS/Bengo4.com, Inc., July 11, 2024)

“The Freelance Protection Law in Japan” (Vlog, Eemployment Law Alliance, June 10, 2024- )

“‘Personal Information Protection Legislation in the Asia-Pacific Region and Points to Note,’ Presented by Local Lawyers” (U&P Legal Seminar, April 23, 2024)

“Navigating Unacceptable Behaviour at Work – Global Legal Insights” (panelist, Multilaw, April 18, 2024)

“Addressing Harassment Reports Based on the Latest Trends of Practical Measures ~ Approaches to Avoid Complaints ~” (BUSINESS LAWYERS/Bengo4.com, Inc., March 5, 2024)

“2024 Asia Pacific Year in Review: Hong Kong, China, Korea, Japan, India”(speaker, Employment Law Alliance, January 24, 2024)

“2023 Asia Pacific Employment Law Year in Review: China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Taiwan” (speaker, Employment Law Alliance, January 17, 2023)

“Handle Data Protection/Privacy in the Workplace Like a Boss: South Korea, Japan, China & Hong Kong” (speaker, Employment Law Alliance, June 16, 2022)

“Travel Tuesdays: Doing Business in Japan” (speaker, Employment Law Alliance, February 22, 2022)

“The Whistleblower Protection Act & the Power Harassment Prevention Act in Japan” (speaker, Employment Law Alliance, February 11, 2022)

“COVID-19@the Workplace – The Asia Experience – Part III Legal Updates as Asia Takes Steps Toward Recovery” (moderator, Employment Law Alliance, January 25, 2022)

“The Future of Work: Legal Updates from APAC, US and UK” (speaker, Employment Law Alliance, April 20, 2021)

“Employment Law in Asia Pacific: A Year in Review – Part I (China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Taiwan)” (speaker, Employment Law Alliance, January 12, 2021)

“The Reimagined Workplace” (speaker, Employment Law Alliance, June 30, 2020)

“COVID-19 @ the Workplace – The Asia Experience – Part III Legal Updates as Asia Takes Steps Toward Recovery” (speaker, Employment Law Alliance, April 29, 2020)

“Coronavirus and the Workplace: The Asia Experience (North America/Latin America/Asia Pacific)” (speaker, Employment Law Alliance, March 5, 2020)

“Employment Law in Asia: A Year in Review – Part 1” (speaker, Employment Law Alliance, February 12, 2020)

“How to Protect Companies and Employees from ‘Harassment’ Such as Power Harassment and Sexual Harassment” (Zeimu Kenkyukai, July 23, 2018)

“Top Five Current Labor and Employment Law Issues in Japan” (Employment Law Alliance, June 15, 2018)

“Gender Sensitivity in the Workplace: An Overview of Existing Laws, Regulations and Legislation” (panelist, Employment Law Alliance, March 13, 2018)

Global Employment Law Forum (panelist, Mulilaw, October 22, 2017)

“Practical response to the amendment of the Labor Contract Act (in respect of fixed-term employment contracts); grant of option to shift to non-fixed-term employment contract, etc.” (hosted by Corporate Management Forums, Inc. and backed by Financial Management Forums, Inc., September 10, 2012)

“Legal Points for Japanese Companies to Note in Thailand” (“Symposium on Making Inroads into Thailand” hosted by SOGO UNICOM CO., Ltd., November 8, 2011)

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News

2024.06.10

Rikisuke Yamanaka’s Vlog featuring the Freelance Protection Law was released.

2024.05.01

Rikisuke Yamanaka served as a panelist in a webinar regarding unacceptable behaviour at work.

2024.04.17

Our attorneys received a high evaluation in The Best Lawyers™ in Japan 2025.

2024.01.23

Our firm and lawyers received high evaluations in the Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2024 Guide.

2023.04.20

Our attorneys received a high evaluation in The Best Lawyers™ in Japan 2024.

2023.01.12

Our firm and lawyers received high evaluations in the Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2023 Guide.

2022.06.16

Rikisuke Yamanaka gave a speech in a webinar held by the Employment Law Alliance.

2022.04.14

Our firm and lawyers received high evaluations in The Best Lawyers™ in Japan 2023.

2022.04.01

An English article on due diligence written by Hiroshi Watanabe, Rikisuke Yamanaka, Naoki Hieda, Takashi Osawa and Chihiro Tominaga was published in Thomson Reuters’ Practical Law.

2022.02.22

An Employment Law Alliance podcast, in which Rikisuke Yamanaka is the guest speaker, has become available.

2022.02.11

An Employment Law Alliance podcast on the Whistleblower Protection Act and the Power Harassment Prevention Act, in which Rikisuke Yamanaka is the guest speaker, has become available.

2022.01.25

Rikisuke Yamanaka served as the moderator of a webinar held by the Employment Law Alliance.

2022.01.13

Our firm and lawyers received high evaluations in the Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2022 Guide.

2022.01.12

An English article on how to address harassment whistleblowing when the whistleblower requests anonymity, written by Rikisuke Yamanaka and Kazuya Sato, was posted on “BUSINESS LAWYERS.”

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