Nishimura & Asahi

With one of the larger data protection practices in the Japanese legal market, Nishimura & Asahi has developed an impressive slate of public and private-sector clients. As one of the largest law firms in Japan, the data protection team can call upon a roster of experienced lawyers in areas such as litigation and M&A, making the firm versatile in its approach and capabilities.

The market for data and privacy based legal services in Japan has recently seen big changes, with a new amendment to Japan’s data protection framework in April 2022. During this tumultuous time, Nishimura & Asahi has proved a reliable and consistent choice for Japanese and international companies looking to update their compliance protocols in light of the changes.

Team

Yuko Kawai, Hitomi Iwase and Yujin Suga co-lead the firm’s data privacy practice group. Kawai brings extensive experience across multiple areas of law, including M&A. Iwase specialises in IT and data privacy, advising clients on complex legal and ethical issues regarding use of customer data and AI. Suga rounds out the Tokyo team with extensive international experience, having advised clients across Asia, the US and Europe in his time working in London, Brussels and Paris. He is qualified in Japan, France and New York.

Further bolstering the firm’s international presence is Noriya Ishikawa, who also serves as co-representative at the firm’s Frankfurt and Düsseldorf offices. He is frequently tapped to lead government research projects in Japan.

Work highlights

Though much of its work is confidential, the firm has represented some of the most high-profile companies in Japan and undertaken extensive projects in the public sector. Iwase, Ishikawa and Kawai produced a comprehensive survey and report on the legal systems for data protection in 31 jurisdictions for Japan’s Personal Information Protection Commission. The 380-page report ultimately informed the execution of the new amendments to Japan’s data privacy laws.

Iwase helped a US-based software company in its online data collection practices. The firm advised the company on Japanese market standards and enforcement risk assessments for cookie-related banners and consent policies. She is also guiding a major trading company in its plans to launch an AI-based platform that collects various trade data.

This year, partner Ishikawa joined the privacy and governance advisory board at Toyota, counselling the company in the data and privacy aspects of new projects and company-wide internal policies. Ishikawa took on further work throughout the Japanese automotive industry, advising on licensing concerns regarding data generated by dashboard cameras.

Client references

“Agile and reliable.”

“We have used firms across the world for international data protection matters, but Nishimura & Asahi’s quality is the best.”

“They provide us with reasonable and flexible solutions based on their wide practice experience.”