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On-site class and roundtable discussion on the legal profession at Ochanomizu University Senior High School

On October 16, 2023, Nishimura & Asahi (GKJ)’s Legal Education Team visited 2nd-year students at Ochanomizu University Senior High School to deliver a presentation and hold a roundtable discussion on the legal profession.
Mikiko Soga and Marie Tanaka, both alumni of the school, and Takeshi Nemoto and Yoko Kasai participated.
In the first part of the presentation, our team gave an overview of the law and legal profession, explaining the different types of corporate legal work.
In the second part, the team shared their experiences on topics such as how they became lawyers, the work they do, and how they balance their personal life with professional demands.
In the subsequent round-table discussion, the students enthusiastically asked a wide range of questions about law, legal studies, and the work of lawyers.
We hope such initiatives will help students in considering their future careers and increase the number of women entering the legal professional.
 

People

曽我 美紀子

Mikiko has extensive expertise in project finance for various power projects and other infrastructure projects, including PPP/PFI projects. She has advised on award-winning projects, including the Tokyo International (Haneda) Airport expansion project, awarded “Asia Pacific Airports” at IJGlobal 2017, and the Osaka and New Kansai International Airports privatization project, awarded “Asia Pacific Airports” at IJGlobal 2016. Mikiko also has advised on numerous renewable energy projects in Japan since the early 2000s, and has served as an expert member of several government committees established by the Japanese Government’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Ministry of the Environment, and Agency for Natural Resources with respect to the electricity market in Japan. Mikiko was commended as an “Innovative Practitioner” at the FT Innovative Lawyers Asia-Pacific Awards 2022 for her sustainability efforts, including in relation to diversity and inclusion, pro bono, and renewable energy.

根本 剛史

Takeshi has handled many complex M&A transactions and provides sincere advice to his clients. He has extensive experience in M&A-related disputes, and is well versed in the various issues facing companies with founding family shareholders. In recent years, he has been involved in many cases involving business and human rights, impact investing, and advises companies from the perspective of sustainability. He is also actively involved in pro bono work and is one of the most experienced in Japan.

Yoko KASAI

  • Partner
  • Tokyo

Yoko’s practice focuses on representation of life sciences and technology companies that develop and market pharmaceuticals, biologics, vaccines, diagnostics, medical devices, and digital health products. She specializes in corporate transactions involving complex intellectual property and pharmaceutical regulatory issues, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic alliances and asset transfers. In addition, she counsels clients on matters involving research and development collaborations, clinical trials, technology licensing, supply and distribution agreements, and co-promotion arrangements. She also advises clients in connection with privacy and personal data protection matters.

田中 麻理恵

Marie TANAKA

  • Counsel
  • Tokyo

She mainly practices in insolvency and restructuring, as well as M&A and a wide range of general corporate matters. She has extensive experience in both cross-border (especially, the United States, Europe and Asia) and domestic cases. She has had a distinguished career advising a variety of clients such as debtors, creditors, sponsors, parent companies, and subsidiaries with regard to complex cross-border M&A cases and restructuring cases (including cases where Japanese companies were involved in US Chapter 11 cases). Even in complex or unprecedented cases, she has sought to achieve client objectives by establishing a creative structure or coordinating complex interests between parties. She has also advised clients concerning company dissolutions or liquidations, and dissolving cross-border JV businesses.