What are the most significant cases, transactions or projects that your legal team has recently been involved in?

We provided strategic legal support for the launch of GSK’s innovative pharmaceutical products in Japan, which included therapeutics for Covid-19 and vaccines for herpes zoster.  Furthermore, we played a vital role in the successful completion of the spin-off of GSK’s Consumer Healthcare Division in Japan.  In addition, we facilitated significant business development deals with other prominent pharmaceutical companies. 

Could you share an example of a time when your team came up with an innovation that improved how your legal team works and did not come at a large expense?

We implemented numerous small yet innovative ideas. For instance, we developed a user-friendly legal website that serves as a comprehensive one-stop resource for contract templates, legal information, company rules, and training materials. Additionally, we promoted company-wide use of e-signatures to minimize reliance on company seals and reduce time-consuming mail exchanges. We boldly eliminated mandatory legal review in specific areas, employing a risk-based approach to simplify processes and reduce unnecessary complexity. Furthermore, we fostered collaboration and knowledge sharing within and across teams by organizing customized training sessions for targeted groups and conducting GEMBA visits. Through these efforts, we have achieved substantial improvements in our ways of working without incurring significant cost increases.

How do you suggest in-house lawyers build strong relationships with business partners and external counsel? 

Creating trust is key to building strong relationships with business partners and external counsels. In-house lawyers should proactively cultivate and sustain a strong network, establishing regular communication with them. Ongoing dialogues are vital for effectively sharing values, expectations, and strategies. Seeking and providing honest feedback is also crucial to foster enhanced engagement and collaboration in the future. Furthermore, in-house lawyers can sometimes create opportunities for external counsels to directly interact with business leaders of the company. This enables smooth discussions, expedites decision-making, enhances mutual understanding, and promotes increased transparency.