Lawyer on Air

Catherine O'Connell

Lawyer on Air - where I pour you a glass of wine at my favorite virtual wine bar in Tokyo while you listen to inspirational inside stories from my guests, as we relax and talk about what it’s like in life, and in the law, for women lawyers in Japan.

  • 1 hour 7 minutes
    A blue ocean journey as in-house counsel and legal pioneer in Japan with Akiko Kawaguchi

    Dive into the inspiring journey of Akiko Kawaguchi, a true pioneer in the Japanese legal world. Akiko shares her groundbreaking path of becoming the first Japanese qualified lawyer at Mitsubishi Corporation. In this episode, Akiko reflects on the historical events that shaped her pursuit of justice and logic, her courageous leap into the blue ocean of in-house counsel, and her belief in the transformative power of young minds. Tune in to discover how Akiko's passion for curiosity, continuous learning and embracing new challenges is shaping the future of law.

    If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Head over to Apple Podcasts to leave a review and we’d love it if you would leave us a message here!

    In this episode you’ll hear:

    • How Akiko became the first ever Japanese lawyer at a Japanese trading company

    • The way Akiko took charge of her career for the benefit of Mitsubishi by leaving for another position

    • Bringing about change in Chiyoda Corporation 

    • Starting the organisations and networks she needed, many of which you may have heard of! 

    • Her favourite book and other fun facts 

    About Akiko

    Akiko Kawaguchi is Assistant Division Director, Legal & Corporate Affairs Division for Chiyoda Corporation, a global engineering company headquartered in Yokohama, Japan.

    Akiko holds an LL.B. from Hitotsubashi University (1996) and an LL.M. from Columbia Law School (2005), with Harlan Fiske Stone Scholars. She is a licensed attorney admitted to practice in Japan (since 1999) and in New York, USA (since 2006).

    Akiko began her professional career in 1999 as the first Japanese qualified in-house counsel at Mitsubishi Corporation, so-called sogo shosha, unique corporate model in Japan to cover broader business “from ramen to rocket,” where she supported local and international business transactions and disputes. In 2019 while working at Mitsubishi Corporation, Akiko was heavily involved in negotiation and implementation of Chiyoda Corporation’s revival plan and then she was seconded to Chiyoda Corporation to directly support them. While the work is tough, she enjoys new challenge covering legal, compliance, corporate governance, IR, PR and sustainability, among others.

    Akiko has been actively involved in the Japan Legal community and has engaged in numerous activities to develop the capabilities of those who have legal background for them to break the silo to fly to higher sky. As one of the first penguins as Japanese in-house counsel, she was the founding member of the Japan In-house Lawyers Association (JILA). In 2021, she co-launched the Japanese Legal Operations Study Group to release legal operations framework “CORE8.” She is also the founding member of CLOC Japan Shared Interest Group. In 2023, she co-launched the Strategic Legal Governance Study Group with reputable Japanese companies’ GCs and chairs its subcommittee to explore the corporate function necessary to operate the company in the view of the management and to take necessary action. 

    Outside of work, Akiko enjoys visiting various libraries and bookstores, strolling around the neighborhood (“wonder wander” according to Stanford school) and listening to rock music. 

    Connect with Akiko

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akiko-kawaguchi-b24b8b100/ 


    Links

    Bar Jiro: https://r.gnavi.co.jp/7fa704yu0000/ 

    JILA: https://jila.jp/eng/ 

    CLOC Japan interest group https://cloc.org/ 

    Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/Cho-Nam-Joo/dp/1471184285 


    Connect with Catherine 

    Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/oconnellcatherine/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyeronair

    YouTube: https://youtube.com/@lawyeronair 

    28 April 2024, 8:00 pm
  • 59 minutes 1 second
    Small Seasons, Big Impact: Building a legal practice that you love in Japan with Saki Nakahara

    Saki Nakahara joins us to share her story of finding her way to starting her own practice in the perfect area for her. We hear about how she spent a lot of time on the qualification she thought she should achieve because it was more difficult. However that experience then went on to become part of a strong foundation for her true calling.  If you are wondering how starting your own firm could be a chance to do the work you want as well as incorporate some of your passions, this is a fantastic episode showing a different way to work in the law in Japan.

    In this episode you’ll hear:

    • How Saki became interested in the law at an early age

    • Finding her way to the work she really wanted to do after receiving the right information

    • The importance of emotions and how you want to “feel” in your practice

    • How Saki built a practice that incorporates how she wants her clients to feel

    • Her favourite podcasts, books and other fun facts 

    About Saki

    Saki Nakahara is the founder and an immigration lawyer at Small Seasons & Co., where she provides clients with assistance for their business set-up, visa applications, and other legal services. Through her legal office, in particular where capacity allows, she loves providing specialized services to artists, creators, and anyone interested in exploring Japan's rich arts and culture scene. 

    Born in the UK, Saki spent her formative years immersed in diverse environments across the globe. Growing up amidst an international community, she developed a profound appreciation for cultural diversity and the interconnectedness of the world.

    She was educated at the Canadian International School in Singapore from 2004-2005, Shanghai Community International School from 2006-2010 and undertook a summer program at SGH Warsaw School of Economics. She graduated from Keio University obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology in 2015.

    Saki started out her working career at Teach For Japan, and after that had a variety of experience in different industries and roles. She was a hospitality intern at Kagaya Ryokan a well-known Japanese Style Hotel established in 1906 and ranked 1st for hospitality for 33 years. After that she had an internship at Wahl & Case, Tech specialist recruiters and joined Rakuten as a Sales Associate in 2015. Her love for the law found her studying for the Shihoshoshi (judicial scrivener) exam while working as a legal assistant at June Advisors Group from 2019 to 2020 and at the same time working for Lumina Learning a visionary learning and development consultancy. 

    Saki shifted from studying for the Shihoshoshi qualification to Gyoseishoshi (Administrative scrivener) and having passed the Gyoseishoshi exam successfully in 2022, she established her own immigration law firm in July 2023.

    In her spare time, Saki is devoted to shedding light on the Way of Tea and promoting creative ways to bring fulfillment to people's lives through Japanese cultures and heritage. She juggles a full-time digital marketing role at a marketing agency while also dedicating every morning to work for an immigration lawyer's office, in addition to managing her own legal practice.

    By combining her passion for tea with her expertise in law and marketing, Saki is dedicated to fostering a deeper appreciation for Japanese culture and heritage on her entrepreneurial journey while striving to see the dots connect. 

    Connect with Saki

    LinkedIn

    Website

    Links

    Favorite restaurant: KAKIDEN in Shinjuku 

    Book recommendation: The Comfort Zone: Create a Life You Really Love With Less Stress and More Flow by Kristen Butler

    Japanese perfume company KITOWA

    Templates from the Ministry of Cultural Affairs

    Connect with Catherine 

    Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/oconnellcatherine/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyeronair

    YouTube: https://youtube.com/@lawyeronair 

    14 April 2024, 8:00 pm
  • 1 hour 19 minutes
    Embracing change in law: Olga V. Mack's insights on technology, personal branding & thought leadership

    I am thrilled to welcome Olga V. Mack, a renowned contributor to thought leadership on law and tech to the Lawyer on Air podcast. Olga takes us on a captivating journey, sharing her experiences from integrating art, science, and law to her impactful presence on LinkedIn and the evolution of her own podcast, "Notes to My Legal Self." Join us as we delve into her alternative to mentorship, AI innovation, and the power of individual excellence in the legal landscape. If like Olga, you do not like to wait in line, learn how you can be at the forefront of the exciting changes happening in the legal industry today.


    If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Head over to Apple Podcasts to leave a review and we’d love it if you would leave us a message here!


    In this episode you’ll hear:

    • Building your brand as a lawyer and how you can utilize LinkedIn to do that.

    • What it takes to find your niche as a lawyer through thought leadership 

    • Olga’s take on ChatGPT and other software for Lawyers

    • Other Olga fun facts 

    About Olga

    Olga V. Mack is an accomplished entrepreneur, executive, and attorney dedicated to harnessing transformative technologies for positive change. Serving as a Lecturer at Berkeley Law, Fellow at CodeX, The Stanford Center for Legal Informatics, and a Generative AI Editor at law.MIT Computational Law Report, Olga is a strong advocate for the integration of innovative technologies that enhance functionality and accessibility across various domains. With a proven track record as an award-winning general counsel, operations specialist, and tech startup advisor, Olga encourages the adoption of cutting-edge technologies to drive progress and efficiency. 

    As a seasoned TEDx presenter, Olga leverages her unique blend of expertise in technology and business to inspire and educate audiences. Recognized as a top speaker and thought leader, she shares her insights through various platforms, including Forbes, Bloomberg Law, law.MIT Computational Law Report, Newsweek, Venture Beat, Above the Law, ACC Docket, and many other popular and industry publications. Olga's work revolves around exploring the transformative potential of emerging technologies across industries. Her accomplishments include being honored with prestigious awards such as Silicon Valley Women of Influence, ABA Women in Legal Tech, Make Your Mark, Corporate Counsel of the Year, and Women Leaders in Technology Law. 

    Join Olga in her mission to embrace technology for positive change and explore its impact on society, business, and innovation. 


    Connect with Olga

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olgamack/


    Links

    Notes to my Legal Self: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/notes-to-my-legal-self/id1531421449 

    ACC: https://docket.acc.com/author/olga-v-mack


    Connect with Catherine 

    Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/oconnellcatherine/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyeronair

    YouTube: https://youtube.com/@lawyeronair 

    31 March 2024, 8:00 pm
  • 51 minutes 11 seconds
    Making Partner in a Big Four Japanese Law Firm with Madoka Shimada

    Madoka Shimada is Partner at Nishimura and Asahi, one of the “Big Four” law firms in Japan. You might have heard some things about what it’s like to work there but Madoka shares some of the innovations and how she has carved out a unique career for herself with her interesting combination of qualifications. 

    If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Head over to Apple Podcasts to leave a review and we’d love it if you would leave us a message here!

    In this episode you’ll hear:

    • What inspired Madoka to look into the law as a career

    • How she took on an unusual study path in the US 

    • What it’s like to be a partner in Nishimura and Asahi today

    • Her favourite book and other fun facts 

    About Madoka

    Madoka is a Partner in the Tokyo office of Nishimura & Asahi. 

    She focuses on the antitrust and competition law area, providing a broad range of advice in the field of competition law, with a wealth of experience in, among other things, cross-border transactions. Madoka also has strength in trade secret cases.

    Madoka advises clients on various matters of competition law, including domestic and international cartels, bid-rigging, M&A transactions, investigations by the JFTC, leniency applications and general antitrust law compliance. She is especially active in cross-border transactions. 

    Prior to N&A, from 1999 – 2004 Madoka was with Mitsui, Yasuda, Wani & Maeda. Madoka graduated in 2005 from Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University (M.P.A.)

    2003, Harvard Law School (LL.M.), in 1997, and  The University of Tokyo (LL.B.)

    Madoka serves as a member of one of the committees in the firm which has the role of planning various measures of training associates, coordinating their working environment, etc.  D&I perspective, such as the introduction of paid childcare leave, is included in this function. She also serves as the head of the Editorial Board of N&A “Thought Leadership,” which is a new style of newsletters of the firm.   Outside of the firm she serves on the Children’s’ Rights Committee at Daini Bar Association, as a consultee for kids at SNS consultation (once a month, using LINE).

    Madoka is a mom of two teenage boys, joining a PTA activity for younger son, as an editor of the newsletter of the school. In her spare time, she goes to the theatre regularly and is a fan of musicals following from her passion at junior and senior high school where she was a member of the music club. 


    Connect with Madoka

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madoka-shimada-8151382/ 

    Website: https://www.nishimura.com/en/people/madoka-shimada 


    Links

    Toraya: https://www.toraya-group.co.jp/shops/shop-5 

    Seven Women Lawyers 7人の女弁護士:Amazon Prime

    Invisible Women: https://amzn.asia/d/eaOxoyl  


    Connect with Catherine 

    Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/oconnellcatherine/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyeronair

    YouTube: https://youtube.com/@lawyeronair 


    17 March 2024, 8:00 pm
  • 1 hour 21 seconds
    Bridging Borders: The Diplomatic Lawyer in Japan with Kaori Oka

    From her early days of wanting to be a diplomat and instead becoming a lawyer, Kaori Oka is now the diplomatic founder of Oka Fortuna Law, a law firm based in Tokyo. We follow Kaori’s exciting career path and see how time and time again she created and asked for opportunities to have the experiences she wanted not only in her career but also in her life. Kaori will surprise you with some fantastic insights into starting your own firm and being recommended for board positions.

    If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Head over to Apple Podcasts to leave a review and we’d love it if you would leave us a message here!

    In this episode you’ll hear:

    • What happened when Kaori attended the final interview for the Foreign Affairs department

    • How Kaori created her own opportunity for a secondment and international work experience 

    • Kaori's advice on maintaining connections along the way of your career path 

    • Her two favourite sayings that guide her, something that you don't know about her and what she's most looking forward to in 2024.

    About Kaori

    Kaori Oka is the founder of OKA FORTUNA LAW, a law firm based in Tokyo, Japan.

    Kaori graduated from Tokyo University with an LLB and started her career in 2006 at Bingham McCutchen LLP, Tokyo office, being in charge of global M&A and high-impact cartel cases. 

    She then moved to Iwata Godo in 2010, seeing her mission as pushing forward Iwata Godo’s international practice, which was still very small at that time. As part of that, Kaori was seconded to HKIAC, the Hong Kong International Arbitration Center, and also seconded to two US law firms, Steptoe & Johnson, and Baker & Miller PLLC, both based in Washington DC to develop relationships with firms and organizations overseas.

    Becoming a partner, and also satisfied to see the success of Iwata Godo in the international practice arena, she then moved to Deloitte Legal, Japan in 2016. There were only 5 lawyers at that time and Kaori fully enjoyed her role to develop Deloitte Legal Japan’s business and enhance the presence of Japan legal to Deloitte’s network.

    In July 2023, Kaori opened her solo practice in Tokyo to devote her passion to helping foreign clients succeed in their business in Japan. Her expertise is general corporate, cross-border M&A and reorganization schemes and commercial transactions. 

    She is also a Supervisory Board Member at Maruwn Corporation and is nominated in two other listed companies in 2024 for similar positions.

     

    Kaori enjoys her life by mountaineering, hiking, traveling, jogging, jazz, and 30 minute daily meditation. On top of that, she is a huge fan of dogs and is planning to get one this year, finally!


    Connect with Kaori 

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaorioka/ 


    Links

    ビストロヌガ Bistro Le Nougat https://www.lenougat.jp/     


    Connect with Catherine 

    Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/oconnellcatherine/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyeronair

    YouTube: https://youtube.com/@lawyeronair 

    3 March 2024, 8:00 pm
  • 58 minutes 18 seconds
    Exploring Legal Ops in Japan: An inspiring career path in law and tech with Vivien Clancy

    Vivien Clancy has a wealth of experience in the legal operations space which she brings to her current position in the Tokyo office of Herbert Smith Freehills. Vivien’s adventures and zest for life have all contributed to her fascinating career experiences. It goes to show that all experiences lead you to that next iteration of your career. If you are considering a legal operations role and wondering where to start, then this is the episode for you.

    If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Head over to Apple Podcasts to leave a review and we’d love it if you would leave us a message here!

    In this episode you’ll hear:

    • How a love of English led her to consider a career in law

    • The different experiences of working in an established law firm and a startup

    • Finding her niche in legal ops 

    • What is design thinking and how to prepare for more AI in the future

    • Her favourite podcast and other fun facts 

    About Vivien

    Vivien Clancy is a client relationship manager and legal operations specialist with a background in in-house and private practice. Vivien has a wealth of experience in the legal operations space, including supporting a mining major's legal transformation initiatives. Before moving to Tokyo, she was the Senior Legal Operations Manager in Singapore supporting the HSF Corporate teams across Asia on a variety of internal and client projects, including regional process improvement initiatives, embedding legal project management and developing the firm’s client advisory practice for legal operations. Prior to joining HSF, she was a senior in-house lawyer at a FTSE-listed MNC and a digital healthcare startup in Singapore, and a private practice M&A lawyer at Linklaters / Allens in Melbourne. 


    Connect with Vivien

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivien-c-3577602b/ 


    Links

    Bills: https://billsjapan.com/en 

    Legal Ops Podcast: https://www.legalops.fm/ 


    Connect with Catherine 

    Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/oconnellcatherine/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyeronair

    YouTube: https://youtube.com/@lawyeronair 

    18 February 2024, 8:00 pm
  • 58 minutes 8 seconds
    Working in-house and at a law firm concurrently in Japan with Yuka Yamada

    Yuka Yamada has taken on an exciting adjacent working path in addition to being General Counsel, Head of Legal and Compliance at Mercedez-Benz Finance Japan, she is also Counsel at GI&T Law Firm. This is really an unusual opportunity and yet another way to do law differently. We are thrilled to bring you this episode to hear more about how Yuka is able to do this and what has been her career path to date to enable such a fantastic way of working. 

    If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Head over to Apple Podcasts to leave a review and we’d love it if you would leave us a message here!

    In this episode you’ll hear:

    • The unfortunate incident that brought Yuka her interest in the law 

    • The career path she chose looking for challenges and new knowledge

    • Taking time out of her career for parenting at a precious time

    • Growing her career goals with her experience and confidence

    • Her favourite saying and other fun facts 

    About Yuka

    Yuka is a General Counsel, Head of Legal and Compliance of Mercedes-Benz Finance Japan, which is a group of the German automobile company. Also, from January 2024, Yuka started working at GI&T law firm as an attorney while maintaining her Mercedes position.

    Prior to joining Mercedes, Yuka worked at Baker Mckenzie, a US based global law firm and Mitsui & Co., Ltd (Mitsui- Bussan), a major Japanese trading company as well as another German automobile company.

    Yuka has significant experience in labor law, anti-trust law, personal data protection law and integrity topics which gives her diverse skills as both as an external attorney and in-house counsel.


    Connect with Yuka

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuka-yamada-a28776221/ 


    Links

    Restaurant Okada: https://restaurantokada.com/ 

    Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson https://amzn.asia/d/iW71lcx 


    Connect with Catherine 

    Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/oconnellcatherine/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyeronair

    YouTube: https://youtube.com/@lawyeronair

    4 February 2024, 8:00 pm
  • 42 minutes 8 seconds
    Using your law degree without being a lawyer at top companies in Japan with Tomoko Konishi

    If you have finished your law degree but are not sure if you want to work as a “lawyer”, you might consider going to an in-house role such as Tomoko Konishi has done. Tomoko has had a truly varied career so far and is now working in corporate governance. With a law degree you really are able to serve society from all kinds of angles, this time Tomoko is doing it her own way, listen to hear more!

    If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Head over to Apple Podcasts to leave a review and we’d love it if you would leave us a message here!

    In this episode you’ll hear:

    • Tomoko’s choice to join an organisation in crisis

    • The wide scope of experiences Tomoko was able to have as part of the corporate planning team

    • Her boss’s words of encouragement to her when she returned from maternity leave and how that helped her

    • Her favourite book and other fun facts 

    About Tomoko

    Tomoko is General Manager of Corporate Legal Unit in the legal group at JERA. She has worked her entire career inside companies, first with Bridgestone and now in the JERA team.

    Tomoko graduated from the Kyoto University, Faculty of Law and joined Bridgestone Corporation in 2003 and moved to JERA in 2021.

    Tomoko is the mother of two children and an American Cocker Spaniel

    Connect with Tomoko 

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomoko-konishi-a3b5a439/ 

    Links

    Yakitori “Isehiro”: https://www.newotani.co.jp/en/tokyo/restaurant/isehiro/ 

    Dopamine Nation by Anna Lembke: https://amzn.asia/d/gf3FXlN 

    Connect with Catherine 

    Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/oconnellcatherine/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyeronair

    YouTube: https://youtube.com/@lawyeronair 


    21 January 2024, 8:00 pm
  • 59 minutes 4 seconds
    Mari Hiraizumi: Redefining corporate legal leadership and board membership in global corporations

    Mari Hiraizumi is a trailblazer in Japan. Not only is she the General Counsel and Executive Director for her organisation, but has been able to take on another external board role at the same time. This is truly groundbreaking with this trio of roles! If you are an in-house legal counsel and you are aiming for a board role at another company and wondering how to do that, then this is the episode for you.

    In this episode you’ll hear:

    • How Mari was able to get her university degree when her family wanted her to be a housewife

    • Noticing the opportunity for studying abroad and working at MOFA

    • How Mari was able to get an additional board role as an in-house lawyer 

    • Her favourite phrase and other fun facts 

    About Mari

    Mari Hiraizumi is the General Counsel, Head of Legal, and Executive Director ("Torishimariyaku") for GSK, a UK-based global pharmaceutical company, in Japan. Mari holds an LL.B. from Kyoto University (1997) and an LL.M. from New York University (2003). She is a licensed attorney admitted to practice in Japan (since 1999) and also in New York, USA (since 2004).

    Mari began her professional career in 1999 as an associate attorney at Osaka International Law Offices. In 2002, she moved to the U.S. to study at NYU Law School. After obtaining her LL.M. from NYU, she worked for Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur, an Ohio-based law firm, as a foreign attorney for one year, providing support to Japanese car manufacturers and suppliers in the U.S. Midwest area.

    Upon returning to Japan, Mari became a Deputy Director at the Social and Economic Treaties Division, International Legal Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where she supported free trade agreements with countries including Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Chile. This experience sparked her interest in working as an in-house lawyer rather than at a law firm.

    In 2007, Mari transitioned to an in-house attorney role at Bayer in Japan, where she made significant contributions to developing the company's legal function. In 2019, she joined GSK, and in 2020, she became an Executive Director ("Torishimariyaku").

    Since March 2022, Mari has also taken on the role as an external board member (“Torishimariyaku”) of a Japanese manufacturing corporation, Showa Aircraft Industry Co., Ltd. By doing so, she aims to be a role model for Japanese in-house counsels and contribute to multiple companies concurrently, highlighting the benefits for both companies and in-house lawyers themselves.

    Mari is deeply committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I). During her time at Bayer and Boehringer Ingelheim, she led D&I projects. Currently at GSK, she sponsors the Employee Resource Group called "SPECTRUM Japan" and supports the group in engaging in joint activities with other companies in the industry to drive change in the medical industry.

    In 2021, Mari was recognized for her achievements, winning the ALB Japan Law Awards as the Woman Lawyer of the Year (In-House category). This year, she received two awards at the ALB Japan Law Awards, namely, In-house Lawyer of the Year and Woman Lawyer of the Year (In-House category). Additionally, she was listed in the GC Powerlist Japan chapter in July, a Legal 500 publication that highlights the most influential in-house lawyers and legal teams in the local legal industry.

    Outside of work, Mari enjoys traveling, running, hiking, and visiting hot springs (onsen). To date, she has traveled to more than 50 countries. In 2021, she obtained certification as an "Onsen Sommelier" from the Onsen Sommelier Association, a private organization. She also has a fondness for ramen noodles and other affordable yet delicious local foods.

    Connect with Mari 

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mari-hiraizumi-7557345/ 

    Links

    Momotenashiya Shinbashi: https://www.torioka.com/eat/ 

    Funao Winery, Okayama https://www.funaowinery.com/ 

    Die with Zero, https://amzn.asia/d/5clkY1E 

    7 January 2024, 8:00 pm
  • 1 hour 6 minutes
    Thriving in law in the Japanese eDiscovery industry with Anitha Henderson

    Anitha Henderson is an eDiscovery attorney in Japan. Anitha shares her journey from studying law to navigating a fulfilling career that intertwines with her passion for Japanese language and culture. From her experiences in the JET program to her love for communication in Japanese, Anitha's story is one of perseverance, adaptability, and embracing imperfection in the legal profession. Join us as we delve into Anitha's insights on eDiscovery work, the impact of AI in the legal industry, and her appreciation for small moments that give meaning to life. 


    If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Head over to Apple Podcasts to leave a review and we’d love it if you would leave us a message here!


    In this episode you’ll hear:

    • The benefits of an extensive first career before going into law 

    • Why building trust with your colleagues is key to being a successful part of a workplace

    • How Anitha created a trust ecosystem in her company in Japan and some great tips to working successfully here

    • Anitha’s views on the future of AI, such as chat GPT and its use in the work of lawyers 

    • Her favourite books and other fun facts 

    About Anitha

    Anitha is an eDiscovery attorney who focuses on managing Japanese language projects for cross-border litigation and for internal investigations. Her work includes starting from consulting clients and law firms, designing the most efficient workflows, managing reviewers, running AI analysis, and doing everything needed to make sure the project gets done defensibly, on time, in budget, and at a high quality. 

    She finds joy in providing first class service directly to Japanese firms that might not otherwise have access to it in their native language so close to home. She is fluent in Japanese and does 99% of her work in Japanese; this podcast will probably be the most English she has spoken in weeks. 

    She is also very easily bribed with Coca-Cola. 

    Originally from Florida, Anitha graduated from the University of Florida JD/MBA joint degree program and is a member of the Florida and Washington DC bars. She sends her love to her law school study group, Ashley, Nikki and Rob, for all their unconditional support over the years. 

    In her free time, Anitha loves watching way too much TV, playing casual video games, keeping up with her favorite idol groups (KAT-TUN and BTS), collecting anime trading cards, spending time with her host family in Kyoto, and traveling. 


    Connect with Anitha 

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitha-henderson-488a467 


    Links

    Al Cepo https://www.al-ceppo.jp/ 

    Terry Pratchett, Disc World Series https://amzn.asia/d/08BBvbV 


    Connect with Catherine 

    Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/oconnellcatherine/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyeronair

    YouTube: https://youtube.com/@lawyeronair 

    10 December 2023, 8:00 pm
  • 52 minutes 42 seconds
    Behind the scenes of mergers and acquisitions: Perspectives of an M&A Lawyer in Japan with Kotoe Oshima

    Kotoe Oshima is an M&A associate at Shearman and Sterling's Tokyo office. Kotoe shares her international background and passion for advising Japanese companies on complex global transactions. Join us as Kotoe discusses the positive nature of Japanese companies, the importance of women in business, and her own journey of finding purpose in her work. Kotoe also turns the microphone on Catherine to find out more about what it’s like to go through a law firm merger on the other side of the table. 


    If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Head over to Apple Podcasts to leave a review and we’d love it if you would leave us a message here!


    In this episode you’ll hear:

    • How Kotoe experimented with various ideas for her career to then choose corporate law

    • Some of the different things in working with Japanese organisations on M&A deals

    • What it’s like experiencing an M&A situation between two law firms and Catherine’s advice for going through it with ease 

    • The importance of purpose both inside and outside of work and how Kotoe is using her interest in aesthetics in an innovative way

    • Her favourite podcasts, books and other fun facts 

    About Kotoe

    As a senior M&A Associate in Shearman & Sterling LLP’s Tokyo office, Kotoe specializes in cross-border M&A and particularly enjoys advising Japanese companies to achieve complex global transactions. As a Japanese citizen, she was born in Singapore, raised in Hong Kong and the U.K, before moving to the U.S. to pursue her undergraduate degree at Duke University and J.D. at Cornell Law School. Having started her career at Shearman’s New York office for 4 years, she relocated to Singapore to advise clients in SE Asia and India for 4 years before joining the firm’s Tokyo office where she is also experiencing living in Japan for her first time.

    Kotoe is passionate about promoting the benefits of international experiences and collaborates with various institutions in Japan and the U.S. to organize events influencing cross-cultural diversity both at the student and professional levels. In her spare time, she loves to play tennis and the piano, ski, wake surf, cook and hike. Inspired by her grandparents, she also designs luxury elderly wear in her free time and hopes to dress the elderly population in beautiful clothes one day!


    Connect with Kotoe 

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kotoe-oshima/ 


    Links

    Mixology Heritage: https://www.jrtk.jp/hibiya-okuroji/shop/detail_00013/ 

    Sapiens: https://www.amazon.co.jp/Sapiens-Humankind-Yuval-Noah-Harari/dp/0062316095 

    Esther Perel, Where should we begin podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/where-should-we-begin-with-esther-perel/id1237931798 


    Connect with Catherine 

    Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/oconnellcatherine/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyeronair

    YouTube: https://youtube.com/@lawyeronair 

    28 November 2023, 8:08 am
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