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渡邉 純子 Junko WATANABE

渡邉 純子
渡邉 純子

Junko WATANABE

  • Counsel
  • Tokyo

Junko Watanabe advises companies in dealing with sustainability-related matters from a global perspective, including international human rights law, international labor law, EU laws and regulations on human rights, environment and other sustainability-related issues, and the laws of Asian countries

Based on her experience working on a wide range of domestic and international corporate matters including various matters in Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries for more than seven years and overseas study and business experience in the UK for three years, she has been engaged in supporting Japanese companies in dealing with sustainability issues, while collaborating in various legal fields and jurisdictions including M&A, labour issues, European law and Asian law. She also has a strong ability to work with various stakeholders based on her experience working as an external collaborator for the International Labor Organization (ILO). She also advises Japanese companies in the area of Business and Human Rights.
She was also the lead in the development of the "Guideline for Responsible Business Conduct for the Textile and Clothing Industry of Japan" for human rights due diligence in the textile and apparel industry, which was formulated by the Japan Textile Federation in July 2022, as an external collaborator for the International Labor Organization (ILO).
In addition to serving as a member of various government study groups on human rights and environmental issues and as a member of the sustainability advisory board of a Japanese listed company, she has accepted numerous requests to be an instructor for in-house training, including executive training, and participated as a presenter in various seminars.
- Managing member of the Business and Human Rights Lawyers Network in Japan
- A member of the Advisory Mediation Committee of the Japan Center for Engagement and Remedies on Business and Human Rights (JaCER)
- Senior Advisor at the General Incorporated Association Chubu SDGs Promotion Center
- Business Human Rights (BHR) Committee/Human Rights Law Committee Member at the International Bar Association

Education

2020
The London School of Economics and Political Science (LL.M. specialized in international human rights law)
2010
Keio University Law School (J.D.)
2008
Keio University (LL.B.)

Professional Experience

Expert Member, Roundtable on Promoting Response to Environmental Due Diligence Response of Japanese Companies, Ministry of the Environment
Observer, Study Group on Strategies for Formulating Rules for Responsible Corporate Behavior in the Japanese Audit Standard for Textile Industry (JASTI) Formulation Study Working Group, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
Advisor, Sustainability Due Diligence Working Group of CSR Committee at Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA)
Advisor, the Sustainability Subcommittee of the Strategic Law and Governance Study Group
Member of the Subcommittee on Textiles of the Industrial Structure Council, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
Committee Member of the Study Group on Strategies for Formation of Rules for Responsible Corporate Behavior in the Textile Industry, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
Advisor, Sustainability Advisory Board of Sumitomo Corporation
Committee Member, the Circular Economy for Textile Products Study Group jointly hosted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan and the Ministry of Environment of Japan
Senior Advisor, General Incorporated Association Chubu SDGs Promotion Center
Member of the Advisory Mediation Committee, the Japan Center for Engagement and Remedies for Business and Human Rights
Member of the Business and Human Rights Lawyers Network Steering Committee
External Collaborator at International Labour Organization
Ashurst LLP, London (on secondment)

Awards & Rankings

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