The law firm built for business in Japan

I know for sure that not everyone can hire a full-time lawyer on the team in Japan. But you can’t do business in Japan without a lawyer.

Uniquely in Japan, I understand that tension. So I created Catherine O'Connell Law, your outsourced legal counsel, what I call "Lawyer on Board."

This is the place where an outsourced, business-minded lawyer is there for you as your on-call internal lawyer to navigate you with smooth sailing on the seas of business and law in Japan.

You get access to the best of an in-house lawyer mindset, insights, and experience under the umbrella of a private practice law firm in Japan.

Let's Connect
 

How We Help you do business in Japan

We are your creative, flexible business law solution

Outsource your legal needs

  • Are you looking for a lawyer and need one soon but don’t have time to search?

  • Are you finding the Japanese legal market complicated and just want a simple solution for your legal needs?

  • Are you wanting to control costs via strategic outsourcing?

  • Do you need Japanese language support for contracts in Japan?

  • Do you have a substantial workload but not quite enough to justify the ROI on hiring a lawyer employee?

  • Are you looking for a reliable, experienced part time in-house counsel who can deliver quality work?

  • Have you been turned down by traditional law firms?

  • Do you need day-to-day legal service for contracts and a range of legal issues?

  • Are you too busy to spend your time getting your global contracts & policies suitable for use in Japan?

  • Are you looking for a solution that fills the gap between traditional big law firms and hiring a full time in-house legal counsel?

If you answered YES and are in search of affordable & flexible legal services, you have landed in the right place.

As the first foreign female to launch an award-winning law practice in Tokyo, I am the pioneer of delivery of fractional legal services in the Japan market. I know my way around business in Japan.

  • I am a modern lawyer revolutionizing the practice of law through a new breed of delivery of legal services in Tokyo Japan. With me on your side I will help you to expand access to affordable legal services on an outsourced basis.I help CEOs running smaller businesses and I help the bigger end of town as well. One thing in common is they all need an extra pair of hands to help out. 

    I act as outside general counsel to businesses, providing day-to-day advice and service on contracts and a range of legal issues. – and if your business needs are a good fit for our practice, I’m excited to help you find your way in business in Japan 

Awards & Accolades

- Kind Words -

  • practical solutions

    “I liked that she could understand the western mindset as well as Japan mindset and therefore come up with practical business solutions based on business customs as well as the law. Her advice was easy to understand for me with English as a second language.”

    -Tomohiko

  • Full of learning and wisdom

    “Catherine is an excellent interviewer, actively listening and eliciting deeper knowledge and nuggets of wisdom from her guests. She also asks fun, personal questions that give us insights into these interesting, powerful women.”

    -Christine

  • Efficient, balanced approach

    “Catherine's process is very transparent, and she was great at explaining the parameters to me upfront. I was delighted with the finalized agreement, and from start to finish had a great experience working with her.”

    -Donald

Listen to Lawyer on Air

Where I pour you a glass of wine at my favorite virtual wine bar in Tokyo while you listen to inspirational inside stories from my guests, as we relax and talk about what it’s like in life, and in the law, for women lawyers in Japan.

Latest Episodes

Featured
Small Seasons, Big Impact: Building a legal practice that you love in Japan with Saki Nakahara
Small Seasons, Big Impact: Building a legal practice that you love in Japan with Saki Nakahara

Saki Nakahara joins us to share her story of finding her way to starting her own practice in the perfect area for her. We hear about how she spent a lot of time on the qualification she thought she should achieve because it was more difficult. However, that experience then went on to become part of a strong foundation for her true calling. If you are wondering how starting your own firm could be a chance to do the work you want as well as incorporate some of your passions, this is a fantastic episode showing a different way to work in the law in Japan.

Embracing change in law: Olga V. Mack's insights on technology, personal branding & thought leadership
Embracing change in law: Olga V. Mack's insights on technology, personal branding & thought leadership

I am thrilled to welcome Olga V. Mack, a renowned contributor to thought leadership on law and tech to the Lawyer on Air podcast. Olga takes us on a captivating journey, sharing her experiences from integrating art, science, and law to her impactful presence on LinkedIn and the evolution of her own podcast, "Notes to My Legal Self." Join us as we delve into her alternative to mentorship, AI innovation, and the power of individual excellence in the legal landscape. If like Olga, you do not like to wait in line, learn how you can be at the forefront of the exciting changes happening in the legal industry today.

Making Partner in a Big Four Japanese Law Firm with Madoka Shimada
Making Partner in a Big Four Japanese Law Firm with Madoka Shimada

Madoka Shimada is Partner at Nishimura and Asahi, one of the “Big Four” law firms in Japan. You might have heard some things about what it’s like to work there but Madoka shares some of the innovations and how she has carved out a unique career for herself with her interesting combination of qualifications.