Yasumasa Sakamoto’s practice focuses on general corporate matters (especially with respect to Japanese enterprises with foreign capital) and corporate compliance (harassment investigations, violations of industry regulations, etc.), as well as overseas advancement/withdrawal, cross-border M&A, and dispute resolution. In recent years, Mr. Sakamoto has had an increasing number of opportunities to assist Japanese companies in drafting contracts in English and other foreign languages as they expand overseas, as well as provide assistance with respect to litigation and international arbitration in foreign countries arising out of disputes with foreign companies.  Mr. Sakamoto also has experience handling inheritance and family law matters, as well as criminal cases, involving foreign nationals. 

Work Highlights

• Compliance investigations (a number of cases involving quality fraud, harassment, violation of industry regulations)
• Cross-border M&A involving Japanese manufacturing companies in India and Indonesia
• Establishing a joint venture company and assisting in overseas advancement of leading Japanese enterprises in Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, etc.
• Legal affairs involving withdrawal of business of leading Japanese enterprises from China and Indonesia
• Inheritance case of an American citizen living in Japan
• Criminal case of a foreign national (acquitted)

Education & Professional Career

Jan 2017 – Present	Kitahama Partners, Partner
Jul 2015 – Aug 2015	Visiting attorney at Assegaf Hamzah & Partners (Jakarta, Indonesia)
Mar 2015	Admitted to practice in the State of New York
Jan 2015 – Jun 2015	Visiting attorney at Rajah & Tann LCT Lawyers (Ho Chi Minh City Office, Vietnam)
Dec 2014	Visiting attorney at Anek & Associates International Legal Consultants (Bangkok, Thailand)
Sep 2014 – Nov 2014	Intern at Baker & Mckenzie Ltd. (Bangkok Office, Thailand)
May 2014	Northwestern University School of Law (LL.M.)
Sep 2011 – Oct 2011	Intern at Masuda, Funai, Eifert & Mitchell, Ltd. (Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.)
Jan 2008	Joined Kitahama Partners
Dec 2007	Graduated from the Legal Training and Research Institute of the Supreme Court of Japan; Admitted to practice in Japan
Mar 2006	Kyoto University Law School (J.D.)
Mar 2004	Kyoto University (LL.B.)

Other Activities

Apr 2018	Vice Chairperson, International Committee, Osaka Bar Association
Apr 2017	Representative Attorney, Employment Consultation Center
Jun 2016	Support attorney for pilot projects on small and medium-sized enterprises doing business overseas
Apr 2016 – Mar 2017	Adjunct Lecturer, Kyoto University (Preparation for Civil Law-related Documents / Basic Law Exercise A)

Memberships

• Member of the International Committee (Osaka Bar Association)
• Member of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan
• Support attorney for small and medium-sized enterprises doing business overseas (Japan Federation of Bar Associations)