Review Committee for the Registered Foreign Lawyer System

　The Registered Foreign Lawyer system has been discussed with regard to the format of the system based on domestic and international demand for legal services etc. The Review Committee for the Registered Foreign Lawyer System (hereinafter referred to as the “Committee”) was established by the Ministry of Justice and the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, responding to the “Implementation Plan for Regulatory Reforms” (Cabinet Decision, June 24, 2014), which prescribes that “a committee for the Registered Foreign Lawyer system shall be established with the participation of Registered Foreign Lawyers in order to discuss the standards for requirements of experience of having performed professional duties, etc. for approval in consideration of the situations of the foreign legal consultant systems in foreign countries based on the increasing demand for international legal service etc.”
　The Committee also discusses the indication of the registered foreign lawyer system described in the “Additional Regulatory Reforms in National Strategic Special Zones” (Decision of the Advisory Council on National Strategic Special Zones, October 10, 2014).

* The indicated positions, etc. are at the time of assuming the post

Chairperson Junichi Matsushita (The University of Tokyo Graduate Schools for Law and Politics: Professor of Law)
Members Masahiko Omura (Chuo University Graduate School of Law: Professor of Law)
　　　　Haruo Okada (Attorney at law)
　　　　Yuko Kato (Mitsubishi Corporation: Manager of Planning Sec. Legal Dept.)
　　　　Masahiro Kamei (Fujitsu limited: Vice Head of Legal, Compliance & IP Unit)
　　　　Kenneth Lebrun (Registered Foreign Lawyer)
　　　　Eiichiro Kozuma (Attorney at law)
　　　　Reiko Sakimura (Registered Foreign Lawyer)
　　　　Chen Tianhua (Registered Foreign Lawyer)
　　　　Yasushi Nakanishi (Kyoto University Graduate School for Law: Professor)
　　　　Shiro Yanagi (Attorney at law)

　　　[From the 1st Meeting to 9th Meeting]
　　　　Naoki Idei (Attorney at law)

(1) Standards for requirements of professional experience
(2) Other issues concerning the Registered Foreign Lawyer System

　 The Committee for the Registered Foreign Lawyer System received a wide range of opinions based on the expert findings of not only Attorneys at Law and Registered Foreign Lawyers but also experts in various fields, and continued to consider them regarding requirements of professional experience in the Registered Foreign Lawyer System and the establishment of so-called type B corporations (corporations where Attorneys at Law and Registered Foreign Lawyers are members with the aim of conducting legal services regarding Japanese and foreign law) system during 12 meetings held from March 13 2015 to July 5, 2016.
　  During these meetings, a report was compiled suggesting to (1) advance forward-looking considerations to relax requirements of experience of having performed professional duties and (2) request related organizations to enable the establishment of type B corporations.

〇  Review Committee for the Registered Foreign Lawyer System Report