Hiroshi Takahashi, a Professor of Chuo University Law School, recently joined Mori Hamada & Matsumoto in the role of special counsel.

Mr. Takahashi was engaged in educational research on the Code of Civil Procedure at the University of Tokyo for a long time, and his research produced many successful results. During this period, he also devoted his time to the operations of the university, serving as Dean of the Faculty of Law and Dean of the Graduate Schools for Law and Politics at the University of Tokyo, and as Managing Director and Executive Vice President of the University of Tokyo. In addition, he has assumed various official positions related to the courts and the Ministry of Justice, contributing enormously to broadening and strengthening the judicial system of Japan.

By welcoming Mr. Takashi as a special counsel, Mori Hamada & Matsumoto will endeavor with renewed vigor to greatly expand its practice in the area of litigation and other areas of dispute resolution and to fulfill both the public function and social mission expected of a law firm.

On March 31, I retired from my position at the University of Tokyo before reaching the mandatory retirement age, ending 38 years of working there. I then became a professor of the Chuo Law School (the Graduate School of Law at Chuo University) on April 1. I continue to contribute to educational research on the Code of Civil Procedure. Around the time this took place, I was privileged to be invited by Mori Hamada & Matsumoto to join the firm, and after registering as an attorney-at-law, I decided to work there in the role of special counsel, the same role held by Mr. Koji Shindo, a former teacher of mine.

I still have much to learn and experience as an attorney, and my continued duties as a university professor and other official duties mean I will be required to balance my work schedule. However, I hope to offer my contribution to the realization of social justice, which is an attorney's duty, with support from my seniors and associates within and outside of the firm. I have gained much insight through my extensive experience as a scholar of the Code of Civil Procedure, and I am looking forward to the challenge of using that insight in the actual practice as an attorney.

Thank you for your continued support and guidance in pursuing my career as a scholar and an attorney.