English-Speaking Business Lawyers in Japan in 2024

Looking for an English-speaking business lawyer to help you incorporate your business in Japan? Perhaps you’re looking to establish an office in Japan and need advice on your options and next steps? 

The bilingual corporate lawyers and law firms we list in this article can provide consultations in English and Japanese. Additionally, they specialize in international corporate law and legal affairs in Japan and can provide counsel and support on company formation in Japan, M&As, business succession, intellectual property, patents, bankruptcy, human resources and labor issues, and much more. 

Akasaka International Law, Patent & Accounting Office, Minato City, Tokyo

The team at Akasaka International Law, Patent & Accounting Office

Akasaka International Law, Patent & Accounting Office is an international law firm in Nihombashi, Tokyo, specializing in corporate law and provides legal counsel in Japanese, English, French, and Chinese. They specialize in intellectual property, helping governments and stakeholders resolve disputes, manage trademark applications, and handle famous painters’ works.

Main clients include listed companies, SMEs, Universities, government agencies, and startups both in Japan and overseas. 

Address: TM Bldg 7F, 1-19-2 Nihombashi Ningyocho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0031

Contact email: ailaw-info(a)ailaw.co.jp

Nagawa Okamura Law Firm, Minato City, Tokyo

Nagawa Okamura Law Firm, reception area

Nagawa-Okamura Law Firm is a bilingual law firm in Minato City, founded in 1917, and focuses on corporate law, school and administrative law, and other general practice cases. Their website lists the areas in which they focus, which include labor management, civil preservation procedures, risk management, corporate restructuring, intellectual property rights, disputes on real estate and construction, etc. 

Fees differ depending on the type of case. For example, contract preparation is 35,000 yen per hour. To enlist their services, you would start with a phone consult and a visit to their offices to discuss the case, after which a proposal and fees will be estimated before engagement begins. Learn more here.

Address: 〒105-0001, 5-13-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan Toranomon 40MT Building 5th Floor

Tel: 03-5405-7560

Tokyo Flex Law Office, Shinjuku City, Tokyo

Tokyo Flex Law Office, website

Tokyo Flex Law Office is a bilingual law firm first founded in 1978 in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The firm’s lawyers specialize in corporate law, IT law, M&As, regulatory compliance, commercial succession, intellectual property disputes, entertainment law, sports law, dispute settlements, etc. 

Address: Tamagawa Bldg, 1-20, Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

Tel: 03-3353-3521

Shusaku Yamamoto, Kita City, Osaka

Shusaku Yamamoto wins IP law firm award

Shusaku Yamamoto is a bilingual firm that offers comprehensive legal services related to intellectual property, regulation, technology, and dispute resolution. The firm provides integrated services for intellectual property prosecution, customs, licensing, and criminal enforcement, and regulatory matters in healthcare, cleantech, energy, food, and consumer industries. Additionally, the firm offers services in antitrust and anti-monopoly, media and tech, commercial, corporate reorganization, general corporate governance, etc.  

Shusaku Yamamoto's law firm won the Japan Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year award at the 2023 ALB Japan Law Awards.

Address: 17th FLOOR GRAND FRONT OSAKA TOWER C, 3-1 Ofuka-cho, Kita-ku, Osaka, 530-0011 Japan

Tel: +81-6-6372-3910

Sapporo International Law, Sapporo, Hokkaido

Sapporo International Law is a law office located in Hokkaido, Japan. They provide English-language support to businesses that are expanding their operations in Hokkaido. The law firm specializes in assisting with contract negotiations and finalization with local businesses or public-sector organizations. They also offer services in handling civil issues, labor disputes, immigration issues, divorce, and other related legal matters.

For example, if a foreign company wants to enter Japan’s market, Sapporo International Law can advise them on relevant regulations to their specific industry and help them with company setup, etc. 

Address: 3rd Floor, Agile Minami 1-jo Building, Nishi 11-chome, Minami 1-jo, Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-0061, Hokkaido

Tel: +81-11-211-1615

Higuchi & Partners, Chiyoda City, Tokyo

Assisted by a network of international legal professionals, Higuchi & Partners helps both overseas-based companies and entrepreneurs with their Japan-related business issues, as well as Japanese clients doing business internationally.

Their range of practice areas covers most of the issues that you may encounter when starting a business in Japan or doing business in Japan.

Higuchi & Partners supports business operations by, for example, explaining how the Japanese legal system works, preparing meeting minutes, agreements, and other legal documentation.

Address: 7th Floor, Carrefour Kanda Bldg 1-2-1 Kanda-sudacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0041

Tel: +81 (3) 5207.3337

Yoichi Sasaki, Kasumigaseki International Law Office, Kasumigaseki, Tokyo

Kasumigaseki International Law Office website

Yoichi Sasaki, an English-speaking attorney with Kasumigaseki International Law Office in Kasumigaseki City, Tokyo, has had experience at an IT startup firm where he guided/advised M&A transactions and gained experience in strategies for acquisition. Mr. Sasaki has now led successful M&A deals, both domestic and international, from startups to listed firms. 

Address: Kasumigaseki Bldg. 23F, 3-2-5 Kasumigaseki Chiyoda-ku Tokyo 100-6023

Tel: +81-3-5157-1218

Yuki Maruyama, ALT Law Firm, Shinjuku, Tokyo

Yuki Maruyama is an attorney with ALT Law Firm, a multilingual legal firm that provides legal counsel and services in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Japanese. The firm focuses on providing services to expats and non-Japanese. Areas of expertise include a wide range of legal issues and needs, such as company incorporation, real estate, labor issues, immigration, civil matters, litigation and dispute resolution, etc. 

Consultation fees are 5500 yen per 30 minutes. 

Address: 〒160-0008 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Yotsuyasaneichō, 12−7

Tel: +81-(0)3-5360-7860

MailMate's bilingual lawyer service directory

Looking for a bilingual lawyer with a certain specialty? Try MailMate's bilingual lawyer directory. You can find English-speaking divorce lawyers, English-speaking corporate lawyers, English-speaking immigration lawyers, and bilingual lawyers with many other practice areas.