ABOUT US

Throughout our long history, Iwata Godo has been one of Japan’s pioneering law firms serving businesses. Our firm was established in 1902 by the late Chuzo Iwata, who was to serve later as Minister of Justice, Member of Parliament, President of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations and President of Gakushikai (Association of Imperial University Graduates). Ever since, Iwata Godo has been providing legal services to numerous leading Japanese corporations and other entities, constantly developing its practice alongside the Japanese economy and coming through the rough periods of pre- and post- World War II.

We have been actively expanding our practice in response to the widening range of corporate activities which have become ever more specialized and complex. In addition to representing companies in litigation and alternative dispute resolution, we of course provide legal advice on corporate legal matters in general (e.g., drafting contracts, guidance in conducting shareholder meetings, corporate actions such as M&A, changes in capital, amendments of articles of association and corporate reorganizations, and governance issues) as well as compliance, and above all, we have an excellent track record in various fields of practice, including financial transactions, competition law, intellectual property, IT-related law, environmental law, taxation, labor law and international transactions.

A number of our attorneys have experience of studies abroad and of training and secondment at law firms in Europe and the United States. We have a firm grasp of state-of-the-art business practices through their experience in secondments at government agencies as well as major financial institutions and trading companies,

and through this experience, we can better understand our clients’ history, business, internal organizations, company culture, and industry trends.. In order to find the optimal solution accurately and quickly in response to the complex legal issues our clients face by utilizing the specialized knowledge and experience of various attorneys, we are constantly strengthening our practice structure. In the field of intellectual property, we provide specialized services in cooperation with IGIP Iwata Godo Patent Attorneys Inc., in addition to partnering with Tsujimaru International Patent Office.
Furthermore, we have opened an office in Sapporo (Iwata Godo branch office) as a starter with the aim of working more closely with local communities.
Regarding our overseas operations, we have established strong relationships with leading law firms in key jurisdictions. In particular, for the rapidly expanding markets of Southeast and South Asia, we deliver efficient one-stop legal services through our ASEAN Desk and India Desk, supported by the presence of our attorneys in countries such as Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia. Our global reach is further strengthened through our membership in TerraLex, a worldwide network of law firms, and Privacy Rules, an international organization focused on data privacy, as well as through our partnership with Jin Mao Law Firm in Shanghai.
Our firm brings together Japanese and international attorneys who are qualified to practice law in jurisdictions including New York and California (U.S.), China, and France. With a multilingual support structure, we provide comprehensive one-stop legal services across a broad range of matters, from day-to-day legal issues to cross-border business expansion. These services are designed to meet the diverse needs of clients in Japan and around the world.