Based on your experiences in the past year, are there any trends in the legal or business world that you are keeping an eye on that you think other in-house lawyers should be mindful of?

One of the most significant trends is the rapid rise of Generative AI. It has quickly become an essential tool for enhancing efficiency. The effectiveness with which a company—and its legal department—adopts and integrates Gen AI will likely be a key factor in its success. This involves identifying the tasks that Gen AI can handle well, delegating accordingly, and maintaining a clear understanding of its limitations.

Looking forward, what trends do you foresee in the legal landscape over the next five to ten years that companies should prepare for?

Looking ahead, the ability to master Generative AI will become even more important. Should quantum computing advance as anticipated, it could dramatically enhance Gen AI’s capabilities. This will make it even more crucial for in-house lawyers to draw clear boundaries between tasks suited to automation and those requiring human insight.
To stay competitive, in-house counsel must excel in areas where human judgment is indispensable. These include applying specialised knowledge in data-scarce fields, handling crisis situations and regulatory engagement that require physical presence, offering advice tailored to the personalities of business stakeholders, exercising strategic judgment in complex decisions, and navigating legal gray areas in alignment with the company’s risk appetite.

What is a cause, business or otherwise, that you are passionate about? Why is this?

I am most passionate about contributing to Japanese society. I am uncomfortable with work that causes genuine harm or functions as a zero-sum struggle. It is important to me, both logically and emotionally, that my company creates real value and increases overall societal well-being, and that I play a meaningful role in supporting that through my legal work. My hope is to help make Japan a better, more livable place through positive contributions in the private sector.