What are the key projects that you have been involved in over the past twelve months?

Société Générale was established to promote the development of trade and industry in France and has since grown into one of Europe’s leading financial services groups. Based on a diversified and integrated banking model, the Group combines financial strength with proven expertise in innovation, pursuing a strategy of sustainable growth and a strong commitment to the positive transformation of society and the economy.

In Japan, Société Générale plays a leading role in supporting greener and more inclusive development models and in enabling the emergence of new drivers of sustainable growth. Over the past twelve months, our legal team has been closely involved in supporting the successful execution of Société Générale’s innovative ESG‑related initiatives in Japan.

Our role has been to navigate an evolving and complex legal and regulatory environment, while allowing the business to advance sustainable finance projects efficiently and responsibly. Through proactive legal structuring, regulatory engagement and close collaboration with internal stakeholders, we have helped deliver transactions that contribute meaningfully to Société Générale’s ESG strategy and to Japan’s broader sustainability objectives.

Please describe a situation where your advice had a significant impact on business outcomes or objectives.

More recently, we have faced increasing challenges in achieving decarbonisation goals amid political uncertainty, market volatility and rising interest rates. These conditions have made the financing and execution of sustainable projects more complex and risk‑sensitive.

Against this backdrop, Societe Generale has continued to support both the business and society by demonstrating how coordinated, long‑term efforts to green the economy can continue to attract significant investment into low‑carbon technologies. By providing clear, pragmatic legal advice and helping structure transactions that balance regulatory compliance with commercial viability, our legal team has enabled the business to proceed with confidence despite a challenging environment.

We are particularly proud of our role in connecting clients, policymakers and industry experts, and in contributing legal insights that support Japan’s ambition to accelerate its green transition and unlock the next phase of sustainable growth.

Are there any upcoming challenges that in-house teams should be preparing for over the next twelve months?

The deployment of digital transformation across the legal function, including the use of legal technology and AI tools at scale, is one of the key challenges and trends that in‑house counsel should be closely monitoring over the next twelve months.

New technological solutions have the potential to optimise legal workflows, enhance consistency and risk management, and significantly improve the efficiency of day‑to‑day operations. At the same time, in‑house teams must carefully manage governance, data security and appropriate human oversight to ensure these tools are used responsibly. This trend is not short‑term and is expected to continue and intensify over the coming years.

Have you had any experiences during your career as a lawyer that stand out as particularly unique or interesting?

Working at the forefront of highly advanced financial businesses has been an exceptional and defining experience in my legal career. The financial industry continues to evolve rapidly, expanding into areas such as digital assets, crypto‑related products and new financial technologies alongside traditional banking activities.

Advising on these innovative and often novel business models requires not only a strong legal foundation, but also a deep understanding of market dynamics, technology and regulatory expectations. Being closely involved in these developments, and helping the business navigate new territory responsibly, has been both intellectually challenging and professionally rewarding.