As a partner, Toru Watanabe practices mainly in the area of corporate law. He provides corporate support, from both the offensive and defensive perspective, in various M&A, squeeze-outs, shareholder meetings, response to activists, management disputes, corporate litigation, commercial non-litigation disputes, shareholder derivative actions, capital policy, risk management, corporate governance, and many other areas.  He has also been appointed by the Commercial Division of the Osaka District Court as an inspector for shareholder meetings, as well as an inspector of operations. general meetings and business execution by the Commercial Specialty Division of the Osaka District Court. Based on this experience, he has served as a Bar Examiner on the subject of corporate law and has lectured a Visiting Professor at the law school of his alma mater, Kyoto University, on corporate law practice. 

Recently, Mr. Watanabe has been certified as a Certified Fraud Examiner by the Japan Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and has been focusing on dealing with matters relating to corporate misconduct. 

Work Highlights

• HARIMA-KYOWA CO., LTD.: Investigation by the Special Investigation Committee
• The Privatization of I-PEX Inc. through an MBO
• Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.: Investigation by the Special Investigation Committee
• Investigation into a Car Manufacturing Company concerning Fraudulent Activities
• Investigation by the Third-party Committee into IR Japan Holdings, Ltd.　
• The Kansai Electric Power Company, Incorporated: Investigation by a Third-party Committee
• Response to an Unsolicited Bid Proposal
• Resona Holdings, Inc.’s Acquisition of 100% of the Ownership of Kansai Mirai Financial Group
• Internal Investigation regarding the Leak of Personal Information at a Major Real Estate Management Company
• DAIWA HOUSE INDUSTRY CO., LTD.: Investigation by an External Investigation Committee
• Investigation regarding a violation of the Building Standards Act by Daiwa House Industry (as an external investigative committee member)
• Sale by a major Japanese manufacturer of its local subsidiary in Germany
• Consolidation of the three regional banks in the Kansai area – Kansai Urban Bank, Kinki Osaka Bank, and Minato Bank
• Establishment of a joint venture company between the Research Foundation for Microbial Diseases of Osaka University and Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma
• Inspector of shareholders meetings of Diamond Electric MFG.
• Acquisition of 100% ownership of Daihatsu Motor by Toyota Motor
• Investigation of corporate misconduct of a Japanese textile manufacturer (as a third-party committee member)

Education & Professional Career

Apr 2025 – Present	Assumed the Position of the Representative Partner of Kitahama Partners
Jan 2020	Kitahama Partners, Representative
Jan 2018	Qualified as a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)
Jan 1998 – Present	Kitahama Partners, Partner
Apr 1993	Admitted to practice in Japan; Joined Kitahama Partners
Mar 1993	Graduated from the Legal Training and Research Institute of the Supreme Court of Japan
Mar 1991	Kyoto University (LL.B.)

Other Activities

2020 – 2022	Adjunct Professor, Kyoto University Law School (Corporate Law Practice)
2017 – 2019	Visiting Professor, Kyoto University Law School (Corporate Law Practice)
2009 – 2016	Adjunct Professor, Kyoto University Law School (Case Study for Corporate Law)
2011 – 2013	National Bar Examination Examiner (in charge of Commercial Code)

Memberships

• Compliance Committee Member of Japan Mint
• Former Vice-Chairperson, Committee on Procedures for Civil Cases, Japan Federation of Bar Associations
• Member, The Study Group on Legal Systems, etc. on the Collection of Evidence, The Japan Institute of Business Law