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▼Bar Association Activities　▼Public Sector Activities　▼Educational Activities　
▼Pro Bono Projects

 

Bar Association Activities

Many of our lawyers engage in pro bono activities in addition to their regular duties at the firm. Examples of activities in 2021 are provided below.

• Hideaki Umetsu became the Co-Chair of International Bar Association (IBA) Asia Pacific Regional Forum
• Aritsune Miyoda became the secretary of the Council for International Activities and Strategy, Japan Federation of Bar Associations
• Takashi Uchida became the President of Japan Law Foundation
• Hideaki Umetsu became a member of International Activities and Strategy, Japan Federation of Bar Associations
• Tony Grundy became a member of International Committee, The Law Society of England and Wales
• Hiroyuki Kurihara became a membership Officer of the LAWASIA Taxation & Customs Committee
• Satoshi Kawai became a member of the International Arbitration Committee, Dai-ichi Tokyo Bar Association

During 2021, a total of 56 of the firm’s lawyers served as duty attorneys in 26 cases and as court-appointed defense counsel in 71 cases, and provided free legal counsel in 29 cases.
 

Public Sector Activities

Many lawyers at the firm serve in internships at governmental offices or serve as members of various councils, research groups and advisory panels that participate in planning policies and drafting legislation.

Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)

• Takane Hori became the member of the Undertaking for Appropriate Commercial Transactions and Service Environment for Fiscal 2020, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
• Firm's lawyers involved in the Revision of the “Guidebook for Introducing Incentive Plans for Sustainable Corporate Growth as Board Members’ Compensation to Encourage Companies to Promote Proactive Business Management”
• Masakazu Masujima became a temporary member of the Industrial Structure Council and Member of the Intellectual Property Committee, the Japan Patent Office, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
• The firm’s lawyers contributed to a recently released research report (on recent trends in competition environment and competition policies, etc.) sponsored by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
• Jiro Kiyama became the member of the Examination Committee on the Energy Resource Aggregation Business
• Akiko Sueoka became a member of the Expert Committee for System Design under the Electricity and Gas Market Surveillance Commission, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
• Masakazu Masujima became a member of Study Group on Sound Startup Investment Contracts in Japan, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
• Jiro Kiyama became the member of Study Group on Wholesale Electricity Markets, Supply and Demand Adjustment Markets, and Supply and Demand Operations
• Masakazu Masujima became a member of Monitoring Meeting on Ensuring Transparency and Fairness of Digital Platforms, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

Three lawyers have been assigned to METI as a fixed-term government employee.

Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)

• Takashi Uchida became a chairman of the Government Panel Addressing Disputes over Compensation for Nuclear Accidents, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
• Shuya Nomura became a Member of the Expert Committee on the Governance of Incorporated Educational Institutions , Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW)​

• Mariko Morita became a member of the Council on Manufacturing Contract Business Improvement and Promotion (Project Commissioned by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
• Mariko Morita participated as an academic in working-level hearings for the "Criteria for Division of Worker Dispatching Undertakings and Business Conducted by Contract" of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
• Takamasa Horio contributed to Research for Identifying Issues Relating to Determinations on Whether Programs Constitute Medical Devices Based on International Consistency, a Special Scientific Research Project Sponsored by the MHLW
• Shuya Nomura became a temporary member of the Social Security Council, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

One lawyer has been assigned to MHLW as a fixed-term government employee.

Ministry of Justice (MOJ)

• Hiroto Dogauchi became a member of Committee on Collateral Legislation, the Legislative Council of the Ministry of Justice

One lawyer has been assigned to MOJ as a fixed-term government employee.

Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC)

• Masakazu Masujima became the member of Proposal Evaluation Committee on Selection of Candidate Organizations Participating in the "Municipalities' Point Rebate Model Program Using Individual Number Cards," Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
• Daisuke Tsuta became the Member of Task Force on IP Network Facilities, the Subcommittee on Information and Communications Technology, the Council for Information and Communications, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
• Masakazu Masujima became a member of Study Group on Utilization of Postal Service Data and Privacy Protection, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
• Masakazu Masujima became a member of Research Committee on Global Rules Regarding Cross-Border Data Transfer, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

One lawyer has been assigned to MIC as a fixed-term government employee.

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT

One lawyer has been assigned to MLIT as a fixed-term government employee.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)

One lawyer has been assigned to MOFA as a fixed-term government employee.

Ministry of Finance (MOF)

• Firm's lawyers and licensed tax accountants submit a report for "Research on on Double Taxation Adjustment for Dividends and Taxation on Capital Gains and Losses from Transfer of Shares" commissioned by the Ministry of Finance

Financial Services Agency

• Yumi Kanamaru selected as an External Expert for Civil Service Review of the Financial Services Agency

Two lawyers have been assigned to FSA as a fixed-term government employee.

Consumer Affairs Agency

One lawyer has been assigned to CAA as a fixed-term government employee.

Patent Office

• Atsushi Okada became a member of Board of Examiners, Industrial Property Council of Japan Patent Office
• Masakazu Masujima became a member of the Committee on "Research on Contract Guidelines to Promote Open Innovation" for Research on Issues Concerning Industrial Property Rights Systems for FY 2021, Japan Patent Office

Cabinet Office

• Shuya Nomura became the member of Prior Case Study Committee on Investment and Loans Utilizing Dormant Deposits, Cabinet Office
• Tetsuji Odan became the mentor of "S-Booster 2021"
• Masakazu Masujima became a member of the Examination Committee on Implementation of Rules on Data Handling on Platforms, Cabinet Office
• Takane Hori became a expert member of the Working Group on Economic Revitalization, Council for Promotion of Regulatory Reform, Cabinet Office
• Masakazu Masujima became a member of the Committee for Evaluating the Effectiveness of New Technologies, Cabinet Office
• Takane Hori became an associate member of the Start-up and Innovation Working Group, Council for Promotion of Regulatory Reform, Cabinet Office

Other public organizations

• MHM advised on the innovative Islamic-ESG finance scheme
• Masafumi Masuda became the member of Study Group on Refinement of Regulations Utilizing Blockchain Technology, New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)
• Mugi Sekido became the member of the Japan Commercial Arbitration Journal Editorial Committee, Japan Commercial Arbitration Association
• MHM advised on financing for a biotech venture company utilizing a value securitization scheme
• Takane Hori became the member of the Study Group on Account Linkage Agreements for Fraud Prevention, Japanese Bankers Association
• Takamasa Horio became the member of the Advisory Committee (Advisory Committee on Manufacture and Quality Control of Pharmaceutical Products) for Toyama Pharmaceutical Affairs Council
• Takamasa Horio became the Adviser for The Japan Federation of Medical Devices Associations
• Takamasa Horio became the member of the Toyama Prefecture GMP Inspection Investigative Committee
• The "Guidelines for NFT Businesses," in which Masafumi Masuda was involved in the formulation as Legal Counsel of the NFT Subcommittee, is released by Japan Cryptoasset Business Association (JCBA)
• Hiroki Habuka became the member of the Research Presentation Executive Committee, Intellectual Property Association of Japan
• Yutaka Miyoshi became the member of the FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee
• Masakazu Masujima became a member of the Examination Committee for the Project Regarding Area-Wide Installation, Operation, and Verification of Smart Poles in the Nishi-Shinjuku Area in FY 2021, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government
• Takahiro Iijima became a member of "Study Group on Legal Issues Concerning Advanced Space Activities 2021," Keio Advanced Research Center for Space Law, Institute of Space Law and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) 
• Takahiro Iijima became the observer of "Study Group on International Legal Standards Governing Space Activities 2021," Keio Advanced Research Center for Space Law, Institute of Space Law and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) 
• Shigehiko Ishimoto became the Arbitrator for The Japan Commercial Arbitration Association
• Mugi Sekido became a co-chairperson of the Committee on International Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution, Japan Association of Arbitrators
• Katsumasa Suzuki became a member of the "Study Group on SPAC System, Etc."
• Masafumi Masuda became an adviser to Blockchain Collaborative Consortium (BCCC)
• Masakazu Masujima became a member of Study Group on Contract and Payment Architecture, Information-technology Promotion Agency, Japan (IPA DADC)
• Kunio Miyaoka became the 11th Term Director of The Japan Association of International Economic Law
• Akiko Sueoka became a member of Tokyo Metropolitan Pharmaceutical Affairs Council
• Yutaka Miyoshi became a member of the Conciliatory Committee, Japan Professional Football League (Women Empowerment League (WE LEAGUE))

 

Educational Activities

A number of lawyers from the firm teach at law schools, universities and legal organizations. In 2021, four lawyers were newly appointed to an educational institution to help foster the next generation of legal professionals.

The firm has also been offering the opportunity to experience the work of a lawyer and actively strives to train future legal professionals by accepting legal apprentices for practical training and training at a large-scale firm, as well as through other programs such as externships for students.

In 2021, 35 lawyers taught in 20 educational institutions (listed below) throughout Japan. These institutions vary from public universities and law schools to legal organizations.

　　　

Tohoku Region
The Center for Cooperative Research and Development, Iwate University	Takuya Iizuka
Tohoku University Law School	Ko Fujita and Akira Marumo
Hokuriku Region
Kanazawa University Law School	Hiromasa Arai
Kanto Region
Graduate Schools of Aoyama Gakuin University	Atsushi Okada
Keio University Law School	Hideki Utsunomiya, Taro Omoto and Yuko Kanamaru
Keio University	Yuriko Yamazaki
Chuo University Graduate School of Law	Shuya Nomura
The University of Tokyo	Atsushi Okada, Yoshinori Tatsuno
The University of Tokyo Graduate Schools for Law and Politics	Masanori Sato and Gaku Ishiwata
The University of Tokyo School of Law	Shigehiko Ishimoto, Takashi Ugajin, Takahiro Iijima, Hiroyuki Tachiiri, Ryotaro Tanaka
The University of Tokyo Graduate Schools of Public Policy	Hiroki Habuka
Graduate Schools of Hitotsubashi University	Seiichi Okazaki
Hitotsubashi University Law School	Yusuke Ishii, Hiromasa Arai, Aritsune Miyoda, Yusuke Ueda and Ryo Kikuchi
Waseda University	Takashi Uchida
Waseda Law School	Hajime Tanahashi, Tetsushi Kamimura and Mitsuhiro Tateishi
Chubu Region
Nagoya University Law School	Yoshihiro Kojima and Toshimitsu Nemoto
Kansai Region
Kyoto University Law School	Shuhei Uchida
Kyoto University of Art and Design	Takao Kitano
Kinki Region
Kobe University Law School	Takuya Eguchi and Yoshinori Usui
Overseas
Cornell University Law School	Takayuki Kihira

Pro Bono Projects

The firm actively participates in pro bono projects, including legal education projects and refugee assistance activities, mainly through team-based endeavors undertaken by our younger lawyers.

Further, lawyers of the firm participate in various activities that encourage respect for diversity among individuals. As an example, one of our lawyers is a director of Lawyers for LGBT and Allies Network (LLAN).

• Firm Appeared on Chambers D&I Asia Pacific Awards 2021’s shortlists
• MHM endorses “Business for Marriage Equality,” a campaign for marriage equality (same-sex marriage legislation)
• The firm’s lawyers contributed to a booklet (published by NPO Kidsdoor; sponsored by J.P. Morgan) for high school students providing easy-to-understand explanations about familiar issues related to social networking services and other topics.
• Hiromasa Yamauchi, Kota Yamaoka, Karin Kobayashi, Kotaro Motoshima, and Masumi Sato provide law-related education to junior and senior high school students in a children’s home
• MHM sponsored the Sixth Equality Gala hosted by Lawyers for LGBT & Allies Network (LLAN) and assisted with translation for the event