Hakuhodo DY Group legal work is diverse in its scope. M&A and alliances; intellectual property rights; foreign investment regulations; advertising and the media regulations in various markets; negotiating agreements with talent, celebrities and influencers; rights clearance and resolving issues with campaigns and the display of ads; dealing with complaints from viewers; resolving legal actions and labor issues; and these days, even developing a pop idol group and contracts for ships.  It is really varied, I think.

And no matter how many preventive systems you put in place, unexpected issues always crop up somewhere in the world. Legal work for the Hakuhodo DY Group is a constant stream of “what the hecks.”

I am a counsel who handles the law, but I always pay close attention as well to the legal consulting function that freely uses the law. As a closer, I also attach importance to the speed with which we conclude contracts. The ability to conduct legal consulting that’s close to the negotiation coalface and to provide lightning-quick output tailored to frontline needs is essential and has value. It gives the Group a massive advantage.

The rules of the law are difficult. We are also a communication company. My motto is “Make the difficult easy. Take the easy deeper. Convey the deeper in a fun way.”

Roles and titles current when this article was published in May 2018.