Asia-Pacific Guide 2026 : Japan
Provided by Ushijima & Partners
At Ushijima & Partners, our Employment and Labor Law Practice Group provides comprehensive and forward-thinking legal solutions to both international clients operating in Japan, and domestic clients. We understand the unique challenges of navigating Japanese employment laws, and our experienced team provides tailored advice for both immediate concerns and long-term strategy.
Our practice focuses on supporting global companies across diverse industries, offering practical guidance on employment matters unique to the Japanese legal landscape. We routinely work with multinational corporations, in-house counsel, and HR professionals to deliver seamless support on a wide range of employment issues.
Key areas of our expertise include:
Our team is well positioned to assist international clients, leveraging deep expertise in cross-border matters. Ushijima & Partners is the only firm in Japan that is a member of the Employment Law Alliance, a global network of top-tier labor and employment lawyers in over 100 countries. We routinely leverage these relationships to provide optimal results in multi-jurisdictional matters.
Provided by Chambers
Ushijima & Partners assists both Japanese and international businesses in Japan with labour and employment matters including dismissal and termination, reorganisation and industrial injury claims. The team is also adept at harassment investigations and supporting companies in the establishment of whistle-blowing systems.
Rikisuke Yamanaka is a key point of contact for prospective clients.
Provided by Chambers
The follow-up system of the entire office was very impressive. For cases that required certain expertise, they immediately formed a team to deal with them.
They have an overall knowledge of the Japanese market and are able to give advice that ensures compliance, but that is also practical and specific for the type of our organisation.
Their strengths are good domain knowledge, strong English proficiency and high responsiveness.
Provided by Ushijima & Partners
Rikisuke Yamanaka
Head of Department
Shinobu Yanagita
Makiko Yageta
Hiroshi Watanabe
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