TMI Associates

We are pleased to share the January 2025 issue of Japan Corporate & Finance Insights. This newsletter is designed to keep you current on what we consider to be important recent legal developments involving Japanese corporate and finance matters. ＜TOPIC＞ Transparency of Beneficial Shareholders in Japan’s Legal Framework (By Issei Shinohara and Zonzon Cho) On December 25, 2023¸ the Working Group on Tender Offer Regulations and Large Shareholding Reporting Systems organized by the Financial Services Agency (“FSA”) released a report including the direction of the rules concerning transparency of beneficial shareholders. Subsequently, it is currently being discussed by the Expert Council on the Stewardship Code in the FSA that the introduction of the principle of institutional investors’ conduct would be initially encouraged under the Stewardship Code. Discussions regarding legal obligations are expected to take place at a later stage. This article explores beneficial shareholder transparency in Japan under relevant laws, ongoing discussions on possible reforms, and their potential impact on corporate practices. #TMInewsletter #JapanCorporateandFinanceInsights

Explore our recent article featured in BFL (Business Finance Law): "A Comparative Analysis of Key Issues in Electronic Financial Transactions Act and Insights from Japan’s Payment Services Act," written by our attorneys Kaori Noguchi and Jun Hee Lee. This article conducts a comparative legal review of Korea's Electronic Financial Transactions Act with Japan's Payment Services Act on various issues that have recently attracted attention due to the “MergePoint” and “TMON-WeMakePrice” scandal, and draws insights for the interpretation, application, and legislative debate in both countries. You can find relevant information at https://lnkd.in/gP36Akfx TMI Associates provides specialized legal advisory services based on our expertise in fintech-related laws and practices in both countries.   서울대학교 법학전문대학원 금융법센터가 발간하는 BFL(Business Finance Law) 2025년 1월호에 저희 사무소의 이준희 변호사와 노구치 카오리 변호사가 “전자금융거래법의 주요 쟁점에 관한 일본 자금결제법과의 비교분석과 시사점” 논문을 게재하였습니다. 동 논문에서는 최근 머지포인트 사태, 티메프 사태 등으로 주목을 받고 있는 한국의 전자금융거래법상 여러 쟁점에 관하여 일본의 자금결제법과의 비교법적 검토를 해보고, 이에 따라 양국의 법령해석과 적용, 입법론적 논의에 관한 시사점을 도출하고자 하였습니다. BFL에 관한 최신 정보는 서울대학교 금융법센터 웹사이트(https://lnkd.in/g34cxRdS 찾아보실 수 있습니다. 저희 TMI법률사무소는 양국의 핀테크 관련 법령과 실무에 관한 전문성을 기반으로 전문적인 법률자문 서비스를 제공하고 있습니다. 

Explore our Cross-Border Labor and Employment Team's newsletter "Japanese Employment Law Update December 2024" By Motoi Fujii and Yoshihiko Annaka. In April 2024, the Supreme Court issued two employment-related judgments, one about the transfer of position of an employee, and the other about the working hour system called the deemed working hour system outside the workplace. In this newsletter, we provide summaries of the judgments and share insights for employers to consider in light of these rulings. #TMINewsletter #JapaneseEmploymentLawUpdate

We are pleased to announce that the following lawyers and patent attorneys were promoted to partner and counsel as of January 1, 2025: [Partners] Attorneys: Masao Dan, Kota Fujii, Kenji Marusumi, Tatsuki Matsumura, Takuya Mori, Yugo Nagata, Yuto Noro, Eisuke Saito, Issei Shinohara, Mitsune Shirasawa and Yoshiyuki Takanashi Patent Attorneys: Koji AKANEGAKUBO and Seiji Kurishita [Counsel] Attorneys: Kaori Matsumoto and Sayaka Ueno For more details, please visit our website: https://lnkd.in/gNeDyu7W

We’re excited to share that Sayaka Ueno, attorney at TMI, will be in San Francisco from January 13 to 16 during JPM Week. She will be attending various industry events to engage with healthcare professionals and exchange insights. If you will be in town for JPM Week, feel free to reach out to arrange a time to meet! #jpmweek #JPM2025 #JPM25

Happy New Year from all of us at TMI Associates! In 2025, we will remain committed to delivering exceptional legal solutions and driving success together with you. Wishing you a prosperous and fulfilling year ahead!

Jun Hee Lee (counsel, attorney) on January 7, 2025 will participate as a speaker at the “South Korea Corporate Governance Forum 39th Seminar -Trends in Japan's Governance Reforms and Outlook for 2025: What are the Implications for South Korea?” in Seoul, South Korea. In the panel discussion, experts with deep knowledge of Japanese governance from academia, the finance and business community, and the legal profession will discuss the principal components of Japan's governance reforms, recent examples including take-over bids (TOBs), and any guidance the Japanese experience can provide for similar issues in the Korea market.

Explore our blog, “Statistical Data Related to Patents (October 2024)”, authored by Norie Matsuyama, Yoshio Murai, Koichi Sawai, Satoshi Hamada, Jun Homma, Yusuke Nakamura and Junko Kakihara. In the event that you become involved in patent disputes or consider utilizing procedures such as trials for invalidation, patent oppositions or hantei (advisory opinions), it is helpful to keep in mind statistical trends, such as how much time it takes to go through the procedures and what decisions are frequently made. In order to make it easier to understand the statistical information considered useful, we regularly summarize the statistical data related to patents and the source of such information. This article is an updated version of such statistical data based on information published as of October 2024. We have also included statistical data regarding which the subject thereof is not only patents but intellectual property rights as a whole, which we also believe are useful. For example, the “Number of Intellectual Property Appeal Cases Commenced and Disposed, and Average Time Intervals from Commencement to Disposition (Courts of First Instance: All District Courts)” in Section II. A. 1. below sets forth statistical data regarding “intellectual property appeal cases” which are not limited to patent suits; on the other hand, “Number of Patent Suits Commenced at District Courts” in the same section sets forth statistical data regarding “Patent Suits” which fall under ordinary civil procedures. To read the full article, please visit our website: https://lnkd.in/gK5irQrj #TMIblog

Season’s Greetings from TMI Associates! Thank you to our clients and colleagues for your trust and support in 2024. This holiday season, we celebrate our shared successes and look forward to continuing our collaboration in the coming year. Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful and peaceful holiday season!

Explore our recent article on The Legal 500: Pharmaceutical Advertising Comparative Guide, written by our attorneys Sayaka Ueno, Hitoshi Fujimaki and Ryuya Katagiri. The guide provides a practical overview of pharmaceutical advertising law, covering key topics such as relevant legislation, self-regulation guidelines, press releases, gifts, samples, grants and donations, anti-bribery rules, and the roles of regulatory authorities and courts. To read the full article in the Japan chapter, please visit The Legal 500’s website: https://lnkd.in/gvCm2kp5 #TMIPublication #PharmaceuticalAdvertising #Legal500