Event Report

Legal 500 returned to Tokyo for the GC Summit Japan 2025, held at the Grand Ballroom of the Peninsula Hotel. The event brought together senior in-house counsel, legal leaders, and industry experts from across Japan for a day of engaging discussion, insight, and networking.

Opening remarks were delivered by Joe Boswell, Global Editor of Legal 500’s GC Powerlist Series, who welcomed attendees and reflected on the evolving role of general counsel in Japan’s increasingly international business environment. Boswell emphasised how Japanese in-house teams are shaping the future of global corporate strategy, navigating complex cross-border challenges, and embracing innovation across governance, technology, and ESG. He then introduced Sayo Takizawa, Managing Director of the Legal and Compliance Group at Blackstone, who officially opened the proceedings and set the tone for a day of practical and forward-looking discussion.

The first panel, Managing International Arbitration Cost Effectively, explored how Japanese companies can balance cost, risk, and quality in managing cross-border disputes. The session featured Mihoko Kawamizu, Head of Legal & Compliance at Philips Japan; Kengo Nishigaki, Representative Partner at GI&T Law Office; Joel Greer, Counsel at GI&T Law Office; Patrick Forman, Counsel at GI&T Law Office; and Yuji Yamamoto, Senior Associate at GI&T Law Office. Together, they discussed innovative fee models, tribunal selection, and the use of technology to drive more efficient arbitration outcomes.

The second session, International Law in Practice: Why Global Companies Can’t Afford to Ignore It, examined how international legal frameworks increasingly shape global business strategy. Panellists Peter Harris, Partner at Clifford Chance; Masako Takahata, General Counsel at Exponential Design; John Ribeiro, International Arbitration Lawyer at Inpex; and Joe Boswell of The Legal 500 explored how treaties, human rights standards, and cross-border regulations are influencing decision-making and corporate risk management.

After a networking break, Transforming Japan’s Legal Market: Perspectives from Corporate Counsel looked at how Japan’s legal services landscape is changing in response to technology, client expectations, and new working models. Fumika Ito, Senior Counsel at Broadcom; Wise Wang, Legal Lead for Japan & Korea at X (formerly Twitter); Satomi Tanaka, Counsel at IBM; and Nobumasa Hiroi, Global Chief Legal Officer at Mujin, shared their perspectives on how in-house teams are driving transformation in collaboration with external advisers.

The final panel, Talent Strategy for Legal Departments, addressed how legal leaders are building resilient and high-performing teams amid changing business demands. Hiroshi Kurosaka, Managing Director at Just Legal; Hiroaki Inuyama, Chief Legal Officer at Proterial; Nat Ishida, Managing Director, Legal & IP Division and Group Privacy Officer at Sega Sammy Holdings; Hideyuki Sakamoto, Chief Legal Officer and Executive Officer at Prudential Life Insurance; and Yutaka Nakamura, Vice President and Chief Legal Officer at Asurion Japan Holdings shared insights on attracting, developing, and empowering top legal talent.

The event concluded with closing remarks from Joe Boswell, who thanked the panellists, speakers, and attendees for their contributions before inviting guests to a networking reception. GC Summit Japan 2025 once again reaffirmed Legal 500’s commitment to providing a platform for Japan’s in-house counsel to share expertise, exchange ideas, and shape the future of the legal profession.