Hideaki Umetsu

Practice Areas

Hideaki Umetsu specializes in cross-border M&A and investment, governance and compliance by Japanese companies overseas, international trade law, and matters related to business activities and human rights, among other areas. He also has extensive experience in contract negotiations with overseas companies. In addition to offering advice on crisis management, including bribery and accounting fraud in overseas businesses, he also offers advice on management of overseas group companies and overseas governance to prevent such crises. Moreover, he also gives advice on trade-related matters focused on import and export regulations and economic sanctions, as well as matters related to business activities and human rights.

Career

Background

The University of Tokyo (LL.B., 2003); assigned to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry as a fixed-term government employee (Deputy Director) (in charge of the Trust Law, the Corporate Law, M&A, etc.) (2006-2007); The University of Chicago Law School (LL.M., 2009); Davis Polk & Wardwell (New York and Tokyo) (2009-2010)

Major Activities

Member of the Task Force for Overseas Expansion Strategy under the Long-term Global Warming Countermeasures Platform, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (2016-); Member of Expert Group for Drafting Guidebook for Introduction to Climate Change Adaptation Businesses (a project for visualization of climate change adaptation effects in 2017) issued by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (2017-); Co-chair of "6th Asia Pacific Regional Forum Biennial Conference: Unified Asia" organized by International Bar Association (2019-); Member of International Activities and Strategy, Japan Federation of Bar Associations (2021-); Member of Working Group on Bribery of Foreign Public Officials, Unfair Competition Prevention Subcommittee, Intellectual Property Committee, Industrial Structure Council, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (2022-); Commissioner of Future of Legal Services Commission, International Bar Association (IBA) (2022-); Member of the Expert Committee on Security Clearance Systems, Etc. in the Economic Safety Field, Cabinet Secretariat (2023-); Member of the Public-Private Council on Food Donations, Etc. (2024-); Co-Vice Chair of Future of Legal Services Commission⁠⁠, International Bar Association (⁠IBA⁠) (⁠2024-⁠); Director of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of New York (⁠2025-⁠)

Professional Memberships

admitted in Japan, 2004; New York, 2010