Masafumi Kodama
Attorney at Law Admitted in Japan and New York, U.S.A.  
Education & Professional Careers
 
@
2007 - Present Kitahama Partners, Representative Partner.
2002 Kitahama Partners L.P.C., Partner.
2001 Kitahama Law Office, Partner.
1998-1999 Foreign Associate with Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP(formerly Winthrop Stimson, Putnam & Roberts), at its New York Office and Singapore Office.
1999 Admitted to practice in the State of New York.
1998 Cornell Law School, LL.M.
1993 Graduated from the Legal Training and Research Institute of the Supreme Court of Japan, Kitahama Law Office, Associate, Admitted to practice in Japan.
1990 The University of Tokyo, Faculty of Law, LL.B.
Other Activities
 
Outside Auditor, ELK Corporation and The Nihon Seima Co., LTD, 2008-
Professor, Kobe Gakuin University Law School, 2004-2008.
Adjunct Lecturer, Konan University, 2001-2003.
Major Practice Areas
 
M&A(domestic and international), Insolvency Proceedings, Dispute Settlement(including Arbitration), Business Transactions
Recent M & A Cases Handled
Transfer of Business (Bank, Mass Retailer, Carrier, Textile Manufacturer, Machine Manufacturer, Golf Course)
Assignment of Stocks (Construction Company, Mass Retailer)
Merger (Bank, Food Manufacturer)
Spin-off (Machine Manufacturer, Golf Course, Information Providing Service Sector)
Merger with Holding Company (Mass Retailer)
TOB (Retailer)
Recent Insolvency Cases Handled
Civil Rehabilitation (Construction Company, Machine Manufacturer, Apparel Company, Mass Retailer)
Corporate Rehabilitation (Third-Sector Leisure Company, Carrier, Golf Course, Landlord which also went through US Chapter 11)
Bankruptcy (Large Real Estate Company)
Particular Arbitration (Information Providing Service Business)
Publications
 
"Attachment of Assets, Japan Chapter", Juris Publishing, 2011.
"Enforcement of Money Judgments, Japan Chapter", Juris Publishing, 2011.
"US Bankruptcy Law", (translation of "Understanding Bankruptcy (2nd Ed)"), joint translator, LexisNexis, 2011.
Newly-Revised Loan Management and Collection Procedural Library: "Disposition to Order Provisional Seizure, Provisional Disposition, and Provisional Registration", co-author, KINZAI, 2011.
"World Arbitration Reporter(2nd Ed)"Japan Chapter, Juris Publishing, 2010.
"First Enforcement Order Granted Under Japan's Arbitration Act", co-author, JCAA Newsletter, November 2008.
"Measures for Enterprises Facing Legal Disputes in the Cross-border Business Transaction", JCA Journal, November 2008.
"Administration of the Estate" in "Theory and Practice of the New Bankruptcy Code", Hanrei Times, 2008.
"Employment in Insolvency Settings - A Japanese Perspective", IPBA Journal, June 2006.
"A Case in which Execution was Ordered Under Revised Arbitration Law", JCA Journal, December 2004.
"Revised Japanese Corporate Reorganization Law", English Ed.
"Introduction to Japanese Civil Rehabilitation Law", ABI Journal, English Ed, October 2001.
"Aspects of International Insolvency Cases Under the Universality Concept|Harmonization of Nationwide Procedures and Usage of Protocol", co-author, The Japan Commercial Arbitration Association, March 2001.
"International Commercial Litigation in Japan", co-author, English Ed.
"Features of Our New Code of Civil Procedure and Prospects Thereof", Staff Advisor, September 1997.
Outside Lectures
 
"Basic Knowledge and the Key Points in Contracts in English", sponsored by the Japan Commercial Arbitration Association, July 2011.
"Basic Knowledge and the Key Points in Contracts in English", sponsored by the Japan Commercial Arbitration Association, June 2010.
"Basic Knowledge and the Key Points in Contracts in English - Drafting Based on Trouble Cases", sponsored by the Japan Commercial Arbitration Association, July 2009.
"The Latest Practice of Corporate Valuation and Pricing in M&A ", July 2009.
"US Contract Law", sponsored by Japan Pharmaceutical Industry Legal Affairs Association, February 18, 2009.
"Importance and Utilization of Due Diligence in M&A-Expected Roles of the Personnel in the Legal Section", sponsored by The Association of Japanese Corporate Legal Departments and held at Hotel Monterey Grasmere House, January 14, 2009.
"Basic Knowledge and the Key Points in Contracts in English-Focus on Sales Contracts", sponsored by the Japan Commercial Arbitration Association, Osaka Office, held at Business Innovation Center Osaka, July 2008.
"International Legal Strategy-Risk Management and Dispute Settlement", sponsored by Osaka Prefecture University, Feburary 2008.
"Measures for Enterprises Facing Legal Disputes in the Cross-border Business Transaction", sponsored by the Japan Commercial Arbitration Association (Osaka Office), Japan Association of Arbitrators, Kansai Chapter, and Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, September 2007.
"Succession of Cooperative Research and Development Agreements by Corporate Division", sponsored by Japan Pharmaceutical Industry Legal Affairs Association, August 2007.
"Basic Knowledge and the Key Points in International Contracts", sponsored by the Japan Commercial Arbitration Association, June 2007.
"Basic Knowledge about Tax Lawsuit", sponsored by Osaka University of Economics alumni tax accountantfs association, January 2007.
"Introduction to English Sales Contract", sponsored by the Japan Commercial Arbitration Association, July 2006.
"Doing Business in Japan - Recent Developments in Japanese Laws", Asian Pacific Regional Meeting held by Nexia International, April 7, 2006.
"Basics of International M & A Contract", jointly hosted by Osaka Bar Association and The Japanese Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Kinki Chapter, March 2006.
"The ABC of International Contracts for Working People in the Legal Department", sponsored by Japan Pharmaceutical Industry Legal Affairs Association, July 2005.
"Arbitration in Japan|Finding 'Wa' in Business Disputes?", Panel Discussion to ACCJ Kansai and the Osaka Foreign Lawyers Association, December 2003.
"Problems in Recent International Insolvency Cases", Preparatory Seminar for LAWASIA Tokyo Conference, 2003.
"Lawyer Systems in Japan", at "the 18th Vietnam Law Development and Support Seminar" sponsored by Research and Training Institute in the Ministry of Justice, 2002.
"The Pitfalls of Joint Venture and Alliance Agreements" at Strategic Pharmaceutical Management Seminar: sponsored by marcus evans, 2000.
Membership
Osaka Bar Association, Japan Federation of Bar Associations, Inter-Pacific Bar Association(Council-at-Large), Japan Association of Arbitrators(Secretary General to the Kansai Chapter)
Language(s)
Japanese and English
Top of Page