YASUHARU OTAWA

Yasuharu Otawa, an attorney and counselor at law admitted in Japan, has been supporting clients who are involved in legal disputes or in need of legal advice on a daily basis since 2006.

In 1996, Yasuharu Otawa graduated from the University of Tokyo Faculty of Law (LL.B.) and passed the Japanese Bar Examination. After completing legal study and training at the Legal Training and Research Institute of the Supreme Court of Japan, Yasuharu served as a judge in Japan for seven years where he dealt with criminal lawsuits, civil lawsuits and domestic relations cases including divorce dispute and inheritance.  Yasuharu, serving as the presiding justice of the Uozu Branch of the Toyama District Court and the Toyama Family Court, resigned from the court in 2006, and started his legal practice as a lawyer at Tokyo office of a U.S. law firm in Japan where he put the work experience and perspective that he acquired as a judge to use, taking part in (i) dispute resolution matters, such as an international arbitration case, and representation of foreign and domestic companies in domestic lawsuits; (ii) a wide range of general corporate matters; and (iii) real estate securitization matters.

Yasuharu also completed his legal study at Boston University School of Law (LL.M.) and passed the New York State Bar Examination to be a U.S. lawyer admitted to the Bar of New York State from March 2014.

[Education] 

University of Tokyo Faculty of Law (LL.B.)

Boston University School of Law (LL.M.) 

[Membership]

Japan Federation of Bar Associations  (2006 - Current)

Daini Tokyo Bar Association  (2006 - Current)

The Japan Chapter of the Asian Society of International Law  (2013 - Current)

Lawyer in charge of international business support for enterprises (Japan Federation of Bar Associations /2016 - Current)

Lawyer in charge of consultation for the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's program for freelancers (2020 - Current)

[Awards]

Best Dispute Resolutions Attorney (Legal Awards 2020, APAC insider)

Civil Law Firm of the Year 2024 - Tokyo (Acquisition International)

Best Corporate & Civil Law Firm 2025 – Tokyo (Business Awards, APAC insider)