Join a leading international law firm in Tokyo as an Antitrust & Competition Lawyer, advising major Japanese and multinational clients on sophisticated competition law, regulatory investigations, and contentious matters under Japanese law.
This position offers an opportunity to build or deepen a specialist practice in Japanese antitrust and competition law, including complex investigations and regulatory proceedings involving the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC).
You will work closely with experienced antitrust, litigation, and investigations lawyers in Tokyo while collaborating with international offices on cross-border competition matters. Your work will span legal research and strategy, JFTC investigations, regulatory submissions, contentious proceedings, and direct client advisory.
The firm is open both to established competition lawyers and strong litigators who want to specialise in antitrust. Candidates with relevant JFTC experience may also be considered, making this an attractive opportunity for Japanese-qualified lawyers seeking to develop a highly valuable specialism within a global legal platform.
Key Responsibilities
- Advise Japanese and multinational clients on Japanese antitrust and competition law matters.
- Support complex investigations and regulatory proceedings involving the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC).
- Analyse legal and regulatory issues arising during competition investigations and advise clients on appropriate strategies.
- Develop legal strategies for significant antitrust, regulatory, and contentious matters.
- Draft submissions, legal memoranda, correspondence, and other materials relating to competition law matters.
- Conduct detailed legal research and analysis covering Japanese competition law, regulatory requirements, and enforcement developments.
- Monitor relevant developments in Japanese antitrust regulation and enforcement practice.
- Work closely with experienced litigation and antitrust lawyers on complex investigations and contentious regulatory matters.
- Communicate practical Japanese law advice to clients throughout investigations and regulatory proceedings.
- Collaborate with lawyers across international offices and global legal teams on cross-border competition and antitrust issues.
- Coordinate effectively with partners, clients, and overseas colleagues on matters involving multiple jurisdictions.
- Contribute to the continued development of the firm's Japanese competition law and regulatory practice.
Required Skills and Qualifications
Experience:
- Japanese-qualified lawyer (弁護士); approximately 4-8 years of post-qualification experience is preferred.
- Private practice experience advising clients on Japanese law matters.
- Experience in antitrust, competition law, regulatory investigations, or litigation.
- Experience conducting sophisticated legal research and analysis on complex regulatory or contentious matters.
- Experience drafting legal memoranda, submissions, and other client or regulatory materials.
- Ability to provide Japanese law advice to clients on complex legal and regulatory matters.
- Candidates with relevant professional experience at the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) will also be considered.
- Junior litigators with relevant experience and a genuine interest in developing a specialist antitrust and competition practice may also be considered.
Soft Skills:
- Strong analytical ability and a genuine interest in complex regulatory and contentious matters.
- Excellent legal research and written communication skills.
- Ability to communicate complex legal issues clearly to clients, partners, and international colleagues.
- Strong attention to detail, particularly when handling sensitive investigation and regulatory matters.
- Collaborative approach suited to working across litigation, antitrust, and international legal teams.
- Intellectual curiosity and motivation to develop deeper expertise in Japanese competition law.
- Ability to work effectively with multiple stakeholders across domestic and international matters.
- Commercial judgement and the ability to translate legal analysis into practical client advice.
Language Requirements:
- Japanese: Native level
- English: Strong business level in reading and writing
Preferred Skills & Qualifications
- Substantial antitrust and competition law experience gained at a leading Japanese, mid-sized, or international law firm.
- Direct experience with JFTC investigations or Japanese competition law enforcement matters.
- Experience advising multinational companies on Japanese antitrust or regulatory matters.
- Litigation or investigations experience that can be applied to contentious competition matters.
- Cross-border antitrust or competition law experience involving international legal teams.
- Business-level spoken English for direct communication with international clients and stakeholders.
About the Company
Our client is a leading international law firm with a highly regarded Tokyo disputes practice and significant experience advising global companies on Japanese regulatory, investigations, and contentious matters.
Its integrated international platform brings together lawyers across Japan and major overseas markets, giving the Tokyo team exposure to sophisticated competition issues with both domestic and cross-border dimensions.
The firm's combination of litigation, investigations, antitrust, and regulatory strategy creates an attractive environment for established competition lawyers as well as talented litigators seeking to build a specialist Japanese antitrust practice.
Why You'll Love Working Here
- Develop a highly valuable specialisation in Japanese antitrust and competition law within a leading international legal platform.
- Work on sophisticated JFTC investigations and regulatory matters involving major Japanese and multinational clients.
- Join a practice that is open to both established antitrust lawyers and strong litigators looking to specialise in competition law.
- Gain direct exposure to Japanese competition law and enforcement while collaborating with international antitrust and disputes teams.
- Work alongside experienced lawyers across litigation, investigations, competition law, and regulatory strategy.
- Build substantial experience advising global clients on complex Japan-related competition matters.
- Strengthen your international legal profile through collaboration with overseas lawyers and global legal teams.
- Develop your international experience without requiring perfect spoken English from day one.
- Receive compensation of ¥30M+.
Don't Miss Out - Apply Now!
