Baker McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise) has an established reputation for providing employment advice on domestic and cross-border matters to multinationals with operations in Japan. Practice head Tomohisa Muranushi advises major international clients on employment contracts, reduction in force projects, and labour disputes, among other matters. Mihoko Ida has considerable experience handling the employment aspects of cross-border corporate reorganisations and restructurings. Kana Itabashi’s broad practice covers domestic and international employment law, including contentious and advisory matters. Daichi Kiriyama provides key employment law support in international transactions.

DLA Piper Tokyo Partnership Gaikokuho Kyodojigyo Horitsu Jimusho’s employment group in Tokyo offers a comprehensive service to a broad client roster that includes several household names, covering investigations, exits, contracts, and disputes, among other matters. Practice head Keiji Nasuda handles a wide range of contentious and transactional mandates, including union negotiations, harassment investigations, post-merger integration work, and reductions in workforce. Koji Ohtani is noted for advising international clients in relation to reductions in force, harassment claims, and investigations. Masaki Kurosawa’s practice encompasses unfair labour practice claims, severance negotiations, and harassment investigations, while Timothy Magarry primarily assists multinational tech companies with investigations.

Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP‘s Tokyo office works with international clients on a broad range of employment law matters. Office managing partner Carol Tsuchida is noted particularly for advising asset management firms and other financial institutions on terminations, collective bargaining negotiations, reductions in force, and harassment and discrimination investigations. She leads the team alongside Mitsuyoshi Saito, who is experienced in labour union, reduction in force, and termination matters, among others. Motonori Araki provides key support on the employment aspects of M&A deals.

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP’s labour and employment group collaborates with offices throughout the firm’s international network to advise major Japanese and international companies on a variety of matters, including misconduct and harassment investigations, collective bargaining negotiations, and workforce reductions. Practice head Yumiko Ohta  has broad experience that includes representing clients in litigation proceedings before the Tokyo District Court and Labour Tribunal in Japan. She is supported by senior associate Kane Huang.