History
| March 1989 | Graduated from The University of Tokyo, Faculty of Law (LL.B.) |
| April 1989 - April 1991 | The Legal Training and Research Institute of the Supreme Court of Japan |
| April 1991 | Admitted to Japanese Bar (The Dai-ichi Tokyo Bar Association) |
| April 1991 | Momo-o, Matsuo & Namba |
| May 1995 | Master of Laws (LL.M.) at Columbia University, Law School (Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar) |
| September 1995 - July 1997 | Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP in New York |
| March 1996 | Admitted to New York Bar |
| September 1997 | Momo-o, Matsuo & Namba |
| January 1999 | Became Partner of Momo-o, Matsuo & Namba |
| April 2008 - March 2009 | Lecturer, Seikei University (Corporate Law) |
| April 2009 - April 2012 | Professor for Civil Advocacy, The Legal Training and Research Institute of the Supreme Court of Japan |
| October 2012 - October 2015 | Examiner for the National Bar Examination of Japan (in charge of Commercial Law) |
| October 2012 - November 2015 | Examiner for the National Preliminary Bar Examination of Japan (in charge of Commercial Law) |
| August 2017 - July 2021 | Member of the Tokyo District Court Committee |
| September 2021 - | Lecturer, University of Tsukuba Law School (commercial law) |
Awards and Recognitions
Chambers Global, “Dispute Resolution: Domestic Japan” (2011-2023) [currently, Band 1]
Chambers Asia Pacific, “Dispute Resolution: Domestic Japan” (2011-2024) [currently, Band 1]
Best Lawyers, Tokyo Arbitration and Mediation “Lawyer of the Year” in 2013, 2018 and 2020, and Tokyo Litigation “Lawyer of the Year” in 2021
Best Lawyers in Japan in the areas of “Arbitration and Mediation”, “Corporate and M&A Law” and “Litigation” (2009-2024), “Insolvency and Reorganization Law” (2021-2024) and “International Arbitration” (2023-2024)
Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific, “Litigation Star” (2018-2023) in the areas of “Commercial and Transactions” and “International Arbitration” (currently)
Who’s Who Legal in the areas of “Arbitration” (2015-2023) and “Mediation” (2020-2023)
Legal Media 360 in the practice area of “Dispute Resolution – General” (2023) [currently, Band 1]
asialaw 2023, “Notable Practitioner” in the area of “Dispute Resolution - Japan”
Activities and others
Executive Vice President, the Dai-Ichi Tokyo Bar Association (current)
Chair, Special Committee Regarding Issues on Civil Litigation of the Dai-Ichi Tokyo Bar Association (2021-2024)
Chair, Committee Regarding International Arbitration of the Dai-Ichi Tokyo Bar Association (2021-2024)
Member, Working Group Regarding International Commercial and Investment Arbitration ADR of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations (current)
Vice Chair, Advisory Board, Japan International Dispute Resolution Center (current)
Member, Conference Regarding Operation of Civil Litigation (consisting of judges of the Tokyo District Court and attorneys of the three Bar Associations in Tokyo) (2015-2020)
Outside Director (Audit and Supervisory Committee Member), Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation (current)
Auditor, Nomura Real Estate Private REIT, Inc. (current)
Outside Auditor, LINCREA Corp. (current)
Auditor, Japan Satellite Broadcasting Association (current)
Member, Governance Review Committee, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (2021-2022)
Advisory Board, Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation (2020-2022)
Users Council, Singapore International Arbitration Center (current)
JCAJ (Japan Commercial Arbitration Journal) Editorial Committee (current)
Publications
《English Translation of Title Only. Language of Publication is Japanese》
- Lecture: What is desired from judges in Japan – from the perspective of one Attorney and its Client
The Research and Training Institute of the Supreme Court of Japan (June 30, 2021) - Third-party Funding in Japan—Possible Application of the Attorney Act and the Basic Rules on the Duties of Practicing Attorneys
Co-author, 68-5 JCA Journal 9 (2021) - Report on the 52nd Meeting of the Tokyo District Court Committee－Protection of Crime Victims
ICHIBEN Bulletin, April 2021; LIBRA, June 2021; NIBEN FRONTIER, June 2021 - Webinar: How Japanese Companies Can Monetize Their US Patents: Trends and Access to Third-Party Funding
Co-hosted by Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP and MMN (February 4, 2021) - On-line Lecture: Documentary Evidence in International Arbitration – Outline I
The Japan International Dispute Resolution Center (January 2021) - Practical Guidance for General Shareholders Meetings Based on Experiences at General Shareholders Meetings held in March 2020: Various Issues Related to the Holding of General Shareholders Meetings under the Declaration of a State of Emergency
Co-author, April 25, 2020 issue (No. 2229) of Junkan Shoji Homu - Report on the 48th Meeting of the Tokyo District Court Committee—IT Implementation in Civil Procedures
LIBRA, Jan. & Feb. 2020 combined issue; NIBEN FRONTIER, Jan. & Feb. 2020 combined issue - Report on the 45th Meeting of the Tokyo District Court Committee—Labor Cases Focusing on Labor Tribunal
ICHIBEN Bulletin, December 2018; LIBRA, January 2019; NIBEN FRONTIER, Jan. & Feb. 2019 combined issue - Report on the 42nd Meeting of the Tokyo District Court Committee—Measures Against Disasters at the Tokyo District Court
ICHIBEN Bulletin, February 2018; LIBRA, February 2018; NIBEN FRONTIER, March 2018 - Arbitrator's Non-Disclosure of Conflict of Interest and Setting Aside of the Arbitration Award – Decision of the Osaka High Court dated June 28, 2016
Co-author, NBL No. 1097 (2017.5.1) p. 39 - BOOK REVIEW, Law and Practice of International Commercial Arbitration
Liberty & Justice Vol. 68 No. 5 p. 72 (May 2017) - Testimony, Reminiscence－Just before the Collapse of the Bubble Economy
The Lawyers (December 2016) - Testimony, How to Promote Reputation of Arbitration in Japan
The Lawyers (October 2016) - Testimony, Increased Interest in International Arbitration among Japanese Companies
The Lawyers (July 2016) - Testimony, Introduction－To Revisit "Common Sense" of Lawyers
The Lawyers (May 2016) - International Parallel Litigation
Co-author, Selected International Business Precedents for Practice Jurist (August 2015) - Increased Attention to International Arbitration: Strategic Approaches You Should Know
Business Law Journal (September 2014) - Round-table discussion among those with experience in arbitration on "Qualities required of trusted international commercial arbitrators: focusing on skills and supervisory capabilities necessary for conducting arbitral proceedings"
60-1 JCA Journal 4 (2013) - Profile of an Arbitrator on the List
57-6 JCA Journal 15 (2010) - Evidentiary Proceedings at Court in Assistance of Arbitration Cases
Arbitration & ADR Forum, Vol. 2, Japan Association of Arbitrators (2009) - Corporate Actions Against Insider Trading by Officers and Employees
Co-author, The Lawyers (July 2008) - Examination of Witnesses in Court for the Assistance of an Arbitration Proceeding
Co-author, 53-12 JCA Journal 12 (2006) - Q & A Internet Commerce Handbook
Co-author, Kobundo (2002) - Internet Shopping Sites and International Litigation
Cases - Oriented Lawyering Practice Series, Vol. 5, Antitrust, Patent and International Transaction (2002) - Individual Rehabilitation Procedures
Cases - Oriented Lawyering Practice Series, Vol. 4, Reorganization and Bankruptcy (2002) - Practice of New International Bankruptcy Law
Co-author, Nihon Horei (2001) - Maintaining management rights after bankruptcy; the Newly Enacted Civil Reorganization Law
Business Jitsumu Houmu (December 1999) - Simple yet Dangerous Guarantor activities
Business Jitsumu Houmu (November 1999) - Network/Standard and Competition Law (1) - (3)
NBL No. 652 p. 31, No. 653 p.33, No. 655 p.46 - State Oil Co. v. Khan: Resale Price Maintenance and Per Se Illegality Revisited
IBL Vol. 25 No. 6 p. 569 (1997) - First Amendment on the Internet: Communications Decency Act Was Held Unconstitutional
IBL Vol. 24 No. 8 p. 797 (1996) - Liability of On-Line Service Providers in Information
Superhighway under American Law (1) - (2) IBL Vol. 24 No. 6 p. 573, Vol. 24 No.7 p.714 (1996) - Derivative Suites and D&O Liability Insurance
Co-author, Chuo Keizai-sha (July 1994) - Protection of Internationally Famous Trademark
Co-author, Journal of the Japanese Institute of International Business Law (IBL) Vol. 21 No. 8 p. 991 (1993)
《English Publication》
- Potential for a New Arb-Med in Japan
Co-author, Japan Commercial Arbitration Journal (Vol.4 /2023) - Enforcement of Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters: Japan (The Legal 500 Country Comparative Guides)
Co-author, Legalease Ltd. (2023) - Civil Litigation in Japan: Too Long from Start to Finish? A Primer on Recent Timelines and Law Reforms
Co-author, Japan Commercial Arbitration Journal (Vol. 3/2022) - Utilizing Third-party Funding in Japan—Issues Regarding the Attorney Act and the Basic Rules on the Duties of Practicing Attorneys
Co-author, Japan Commercial Arbitration Journal (Vol.2 /2021) - Enforcement of Judgements 2021-2023 (Japan Chapter)
Co-author, Chambers and Partners (2021-2023) - The Act on Special Measures concerning the Handling of Legal Services by Foreign Lawyers—Recent Developments toward Internationalization
Co-author, Japan Commercial Arbitration Journal (Vol.1 /2020) - International Arbitration 2020 (Japan Chapter)
Co-author, Chambers and Partners (2020) - International Arbitration 2019 (Japan Chapter)
Co-author, Chambers and Partners (2018) - GLI - Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Fifth Edition
Co-author, Global Legal Group Ltd. (2016) - GLI - Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Fourth Edition
Co-author, Global Legal Group Ltd. (2015) - International Fraud & Asset Tracing, Third edition
Co-author, Thomson Reuters (2015) - Dispute Resolution: General Guide of Dispute Resolution in Japan.
Japan Business Law Review 2015. Japan: ILS Publications, Inc. (2014). - Round-Table Discussions among Lawyers with Experience Practicing as Arbitrators
as appeared on the website of the Japan Commercial Arbitration Association (August 2013) - The International Arbitration Review, Fourth Edition
Co-author, Law Business Research Ltd. (2013) - The Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption Review, First Edition
Co-author, Law Business Research Ltd. (2012) - GLI - Litigation & Dispute Resolution, First Edition
Co-author, Global Legal Group Ltd. (2012) - International Fraud & Asset Tracing, Second edition
Co-author, Thomson Reuters (2011) - Examination of Witnesses in Court for Arbitration Proceedings in Japan
JCAA Newsletter, Number 18 (2007)
Publications
Cases - Oriented Lawyering Practice Series, Vol. 5, Antitrust, Patent and International Transaction
News
The following Momo-o, Matsuo & Namba attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2025 Edition of The Best Lawyers in Japan, the highly regarded peer-review legal publication by Best Lawyers:
"Antitrust/Competition Law" Nobuaki Mukai
"Arbitration and Mediation" Junya Naito
"Corporate and Mergers and Acquisitions Law" Makoto Matsuo, Shuichi Namba and Junya Naito
"Corporate Governance and Compliance Practice" Yohei Yamada
"Insolvency and Reorganization Law" Shigeaki Momo-o and Junya Naito
"International Arbitration" Junya Naito and Tsuyoshi Suzuki
"Litigation" Junya Naito
"Private Equity, Private Funds and Venture Capital Law" Shuichi Namba
On April 1, 2024, Junya Naito assumed the role of Executive Vice President at the Dai-Ichi Tokyo Bar Association.
Momo-o, Matsuo & Namba has been ranked in Band 2, Junya Naito in Band 1, and Tsuyoshi Suzuki in Band 4, in the practice area of "Dispute Resolution: Domestic Japan" in "Chambers Global 2024" by Chambers and Partners.
Momo-o, Matsuo & Namba and the following attorneys have been ranked in "Chambers Asia-Pacific 2024" by Chambers & Partners:
Competition/Antitrust (Japan): Nobuaki Mukai
Dispute Resolution: Domestic (Japan): Junya Naito and Tsuyoshi Suzuki
Momo-o, Matsuo & Namba and its attorneys have been recognized in the following practice areas by "Who's Who Legal 2023" published by Lexology:
Arbitration
Junya Naito (Japan and Global: Recommended)
Tsuyoshi Suzuki (Japan: Recommended and Global Arbitration Future Leader)
Business Crime Defense & Investigations
Rin Moriguchi (Japan: Recommended)
Commercial Mediation
Junya Naito (Japan and Global: Recommended)
Competition
Nobuaki Mukai (Japan and Global: Recommended)
Government Contracts
Nobuaki Mukai (Japan: Recommended)