業務内容

Dispute Resolution and
Crisis Management

Resolution of Controversies and Disputes

Services related to resolution of controversies and disputes through litigation, mediation, arbitration and conciliation constitute one of the most important practice areas of Iwata Godo in which we have been traditionally offering our services.

We have a strong tradition of representing listed companies including financial institutions, manufacturing companies, electric power companies and other industrial companies. We have represented our clients in air pollution and other types of pollution litigation, a fire in an industrial complex, an airplane crash, various large-scale actions for damages caused by defects in products, a lawsuit seeking an injunction against the operation of a nuclear power plant, and various large-scale environmental lawsuits. We also regularly represent insurance companies and other financial institutions in civil cases.

We have represented corporate defendants in large-scale lawsuits where the number of plaintiffs reached several thousand, successfully resolving these cases. We also have experience in dealing with such new types of litigation as class actions and citizens’ lawsuits against municipal authorities alleging bid-rigging. Further, the attorneys of Iwata Godo regularly represent clients in complex cases that require highly specialized knowledge and expertise, such as shareholders’ litigation, litigation concerning management and employment, product liability litigation, administrative litigation (including administrative appellate procedures), litigation concerning the Antitrust Laws and litigation related to intellectual property.

In addition to our work in litigation, we also offer alternative dispute resolution services such as mediation and arbitration that are increasingly utilized these days since the establishment of financial ADR systems.

Also in the area of international dispute resolution, Iwata Godo has been involved in an international commercial arbitration and has experience in dealing with many cases in litigation and arbitration filed abroad, including collaboration with foreign law firms and our member attorneys practicing foreign law. Through these cases we have accumulated experience and know-how to settle international disputes as swiftly as possible by such means as filing litigation in parallel in Japan if the case so requires.

Crisis Management

Iwata Godo offers, in addition to the services described in the section regarding compliance, legal advice to handle corporate scandals and disputes with issues of management responsibility.

In such cases, we conducted factual investigations on behalf of corporate clients and provided comprehensive advice and representation on numerous matters that required careful consideration, including cooperation with the investigating authorities, reporting to supervisory authorities and the stock exchange, responding to the media, judgements on the necessity and timing of disclosure, and corrective measures to prevent recurrence. We assist our clients to resolve such matters effectively and appropriately.

Iwata Godo is also able to advise clients on the establishment and management of third party committees. For example, we have recently conducted investigations and proposed corrective actions to prevent recurrence in cases of false reports, fraudulent transactions, and other fraud involving large sums of money, as well as false labelling of food products. Also in areas related to the Antimonopoly Act, we have conducted due diligence in order to determine whether cartel activities had taken place. Through such services, the attorneys of Iwata Godo have assisted corporate clients to manage through crisis situations.

Practice Areas