Agenda

8.15am – 9.00am Registration 

9.00am – 9.15am Opening Remarks

• • Joe Boswell, global editor, GC Powerlist Series, Legal 500
  • Sayo Takizawa, managing director, Legal and compliance group, Blackstone

9.15am – 10.05am Managing International Arbitration Cost Effectively

Japanese corporations are increasingly active in cross-border trade and investment, making efficient dispute resolution an essential consideration. This panel will explore practical strategies for cost-effective arbitration, from early case assessment and innovative fee structures to the use of technology, legal process outsourcing, and effective tribunal selection. Speakers will share insights tailored to Japanese in-house counsel, highlighting how global best practices can be adapted to Japan’s corporate environment and how businesses can balance cost, risk, and quality in international disputes.

• • Mihoko Kawamizu, head of legal & compliance, Philips Japan
  • Kengo Nishigaki, representative partner, GI&T Law Office
  • Joel Greer, counsel, GI&T Law Office
  • Patrick Forman, counsel, GI&T Law Office
  • Yuji Yamamoto, senior associate, GI&T Law Office

10.05am – 10.55am International Law in Practice: Why Global Companies Can’t Afford to Ignore It

As international law becomes a more mature and powerful discipline, it increasingly shapes business strategy. For example, global companies face new risks and obligations arising from treaties including international conventions on trade, environment, and territorial boundaries. They also benefit from multiple rights and remedies such as those provided by international investment treaties. This panel explores how these developments affect cross-border projects, investment decisions, and compliance, equipping GCs with insights to anticipate and manage emerging challenges as well as to take advantage of opportunities that only those with some knowledge of international law can identify.

• • Peter Harris, partner, Clifford Chance
  • Masako Takahata, general counsel, Exponential Design
  • Joe Boswell, global editor, GC Powerlist series, Legal 500

10.55am – 11.10am Coffee Break

11.10am – 12.00pm Corporate social responsibility and the legal team

12.00pm – 12.50pm Antitrust Law and the JFTC/ Navigating the Economic Security Act/ Export Regulations/ Cross-border Transactions/ Cyber Security

12.50pm – 1.50pm Lunch Break

1.50pm – 2.20pm Talent Strategy for Legal Departments

Speakers will share first-hand experiences of inheriting departments, reshaping them to meet new business demands, and overcoming challenges in recruitment and retention. The discussion will highlight lessons learned, key accomplishments, and evolving approaches to securing and nurturing top legal talent in Japan’s competitive market. Attendees will gain practical insights into building resilient, high-performing teams and developing long-term talent strategies for a changing corporate environment.

• • Hiroshi Kurosaka, managing director, Just Legal
  • Hiroaki Inuyama, chief legal officer, Proterial
  • Nat Ishida, managing director legal and IP division & group privacy officer,  Sega Sammy Holdings

2.20pm – 3.10pm Beyond the Hype: Practical Adoption of AI and Legal Technology in Japan

Generative AI has quickly become one of the most discussed topics in legal and business circles, yet many conversations remain high-level. This session will shift the focus to practical realities—how AI and legal technology are transforming workflows, reshaping client expectations, and enabling new business models. Panelists will explore regulatory hurdles, highlight lessons from Japanese startups and legaltech ventures, and examine how GCs can move beyond surface-level discussions to unlock real business value. Attendees will gain insights into how AI can be applied strategically within Japan’s unique corporate and legal environment.

3.10pm – 4.00pm M&A Under Pressure: Strategies for Hostile Takeovers and Tender Battles

4.15pm – 5.05pm The Economic Security Promotion Act: Practical Implications

Japan’s Economic Security Promotion Act is reshaping how companies—both domestic and overseas—operate in critical sectors such as energy, transport, telecoms, and finance. For in-house counsel, the challenge lies not in the technical details of the legislation, but in managing its real-world impact: new compliance obligations, supplier due diligence, and restrictions on facility introduction and maintenance. This session will explore the knock-on effects for multinational businesses providing services to Japanese clients, how to navigate government reviews, and what legal leaders should prioritize to ensure continuity, security, and compliance in a highly regulated environment.

5.05pm – 5.35pm Transforming Japan’s Legal Market: Perspectives from Corporate Counsel

Japan’s legal market is undergoing significant change. Traditional hourly billing models are giving way to demands for greater transparency, while generative AI and legaltech are reshaping service delivery. Independent lawyers and alternative providers are challenging the dominance of large firms, which in turn are launching their own innovation ventures. In this session, leading corporate counsel in Japan will share their perspectives on these shifts—how they are adapting their engagement with external advisors, what they expect from law firms in a changing market, and what the future of legal services in Japan might look like.