Ayuko Nemento

Our attorneys, foreign law attorneys, and judicial scriveners are a multilingual team of legal professionals who have a deep understanding of doing business in Europe, the US, and Japan. We have a strong record of providing goal-oriented and practical solutions to our clients as we understand the business issues at hand.  We are recognized in the Japanese market as being the leading firm in representing German companies doing business in Japan and are proud to be the trusted law firm of the German and Austrian Embassies in Japan.  In the past few years, our law practice has tripled in size and has added attorneys with experience at top global firms including a US-based international firm, a UK magic circle firm, as well as the top five Japanese law firms.  We provide our clients with the personalized attention of a small firm coupled with our broad experience of dealing with international clients and transactions.

Foreign companies operating in Japan are constantly dealing with employment law issues as Japanese employment law can be difficult to understand and navigate for those used to more employer-friendly legal systems.  Employment regulations are also in a state of flux, as the Government of Japan moves forward with a package of labour-related reforms designed to address Japan’s social issues, such as their ageing and declining population.  Our team of labour and employment law attorneys help clients see the practical application of these regulations to their business, and work with companies to advise on the drafting of their employment contracts and internal work rules so that they are tailor-made to fit their business needs.

Our attorneys are also actively involved in advising on compliance with labour regulations and representing employers in employee and labour union dispute matters.  Some of our representative work in this area include:

• Advising companies on wrongful termination claims from former employees or labour unions;
• Advising companies and individuals on harassment claims, including power and sexual harassment;
• Representing companies on various employment law related disputes before the [Labor Tribunal and Labor Relations Commission,] and for civil litigation matters before the Tokyo District Court;
• Advising companies on how to appropriately draft their employment contracts, internal work rules, and other related documents; and
• Providing companies with training for their executives and other employees on compliance with labour regulations.

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Ayuko Nemoto’s practise focuses on domestic and international corporate alliances (M&A, JV), venture support businesses and other corporate issues. Ms. Nemoto also has broad experience in Japanese commercial, corporate, and employment law issues and litigation, as well as regulatory issues in the pharmaceutical, healthcare, regenerative medicine and medical devices industries.

Education

University of Tokyo (LLB), 2006

Georgetown University Law Center (LLM), 2013

Admitted to practice in Japan in 2007

Admitted to practice in New York in 2014

Qualifications/Other held positions

Japan, Dai-ni Tokyo Bar Association

New York State Bar Association

Advisor of the International Affairs Working Group of Japan Pharmaceutical Industry Legal Affairs Association (since April 2017)

Advisor of the MA & Clinical Trial Working Group of Japan Pharmaceutical Industry Legal Affairs Association (since April 2018)

A supporter of Medical Innovation Support Office of Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MEDISO) (since April 2018)

The ethics committee of the Council for Industrial use of Biological and Environmental Repositories (CIBER) (since July 2019)

Previous employment

K&L Gates Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise (2011–2017)

Clifford Chance Law Office (2007-2011)

Publications

“Workplace Harassment Comes in Many Forms: How Can You Help Your Company Prevent and Deal with Harassment in the Workplace” (Japan Lawyers Guide 2019-2020, Lexis Nexis)

“The Contractual Provisions Needed to Deal with Brexit – From the Perspective of Japanese Companies” (No. 1079 of NBL, August 1, 2016, Co-author: Naoki Watanabe)

 “Market Trend of M&A Provisions for US Non-Public Companies” (No. 1022-24, 1026-28 of NBL, April through July 2014, Co-Author: Naoki Watanabe)

“Case Studies for Financial Instruments and Exchange Law” (2009 published by Jiyu-Kokumin-Sha)

Presentations

“Artificial Intelligence and Intellectual Property in Japan: A Deep Dive into Applications, and Legal and Policy Issues” (Brand & New, Podcasts from the international trademark association）March 12, 2019

“From the Ground Up: The Latest IP Information Related to Pharmaceutical Patents such as the China/Taiwan Patent Linkage System” (Johokiko Co., Ltd) August 2018

“Workplace Harassment Comes in Many Forms: How Can You Help Your Company Prevent and Deal with Harassment in the Workplace?” (The Japan In-House Counsel Network, JICN) February 2018

“License Agreements with U.S. Companies: Provisions Which Japanese Companies Should Carefully Consider – With a Focus on Provisions Regarding Infringement and Intellectual Property under Japanese and U.S. Law.” (the Japan Pharmaceutical Industry Legal Affairs Association’s Study Group on International Issues) December 2017

“The Application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its IP Law Aspects in Japan” (EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation) September 2017

“A Comparison of Boilerplate Used in English Contracts – With a Focus on Japanese and New York Law” (Seminar for Japan Pharmaceutical Industry Legal Affairs Association) July 2017

“2015 Amendment to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure” (Seminar for Japan Pharmaceutical Industry Legal Affairs Association) January 2016

“Market Trend of Foreign M&A Contractual Provisions and Point of Compromise for Agreement – Especially on US Non-Public Companies’ Acquisition Cases” (Finance Facsimile News Seminar)  September 2014

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