Total Access Japan – U.S. Trends in ESG Management and Finance, and Suggestions for Japanese Companies

1 hour 33 minute watch

Webinar | May.25.2022 | 10:00am - 11:15am (Tokyo Standard Time)

Webinar - Recording Available

日本語: Total Access Japan – 米国のESG経営・ESGファイナンスの動向と、日本企業への示唆

With the investment in ESG (Environment, Society, Governance) rapidly increasing in the United States and Europe, the appropriate management of ESG is becoming a major concern worldwide. Currently, the investment in ESG is on the rise in Japan, and its management has also become a growing concern for Japanese companies with not enough practical experience acquired in this area yet.

This webinar will feature Ashley Walter, partner in Orrick’s Seattle Office and and Jennifer Poh, counsel in Orrick’s New York Office, both with experiences in ESG related matters, will explain the trends in ESG management and investment in the United States. In addition, Sakon Kuramoto and Gohshun Kawamura, senior associate and managing associate in the Tokyo office will also discuss the current state of ESG in Japan and will be moderated by Joseph Perkins, partner in our Silicon Valley office and Hiroki Sugita, partner in our Tokyo Office.

The webinar will follow an open discussion format among our presenters with opportunities for participants to ask questions. We encourage you to submit questions ahead of time so our presenters can conduct any necessary research prior to the event.

To submit your question, please contact Tokyo Marketing.

Date & Time: Wednesday, May 25 from 10:00 am – 11:15 am (Japan Time)
Speakers:
Ashley Walter, Partner, Orrick Seattle Office
Jennifer Poh, Counsel, Orrick New York office
Sakon Kuramoto, Senior Associate, Orrick Tokyo Office
Gohshun Kawamura, Managing Associate, Orrick Tokyo Office
Joseph Perkins, Partner, Orrick Silicon Valley Office
Hiroki Sugita, Partner, Orrick Tokyo Office
Language: English (no simultaneous interpretation) *webinar may contain some explanations in Japanese
Registration: RSVP by May 23 (Monday)

* Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP is an accredited MCLE provider in the States of New York and California. This continuing legal education course has been approved in accordance with the requirements of the Continuing Legal Education Board.

Participation from competitors is discouraged.

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Practice:

  • Finance Sector
  • 并购
  • Business & Human Rights
  • 日本业务
  • 全球合规与监管
  • 冲击力金融

Sakon Kuramoto 高级律师

东京

Sakon is an attorney at law admitted to practice in Japan as well as New York, USA. He has been engaged in ESG/SDGs/Business and Human Rights + Environment, VC/Startup, M&A, and Compliance from a strategic perspective, paying attention to both domestic and international aspects based on the needs of Japanese companies expanding overseas.

Among others, as a lawyer specializing in ESG/SDGs/Business and Human Rights, he supports the corporate clients for human rights/environmental due diligence.

He is based in Tokyo and focuses his practice on assisting various companies, and has experience working in the United States and Singapore as well. He has represented a lot of companies in numerous investments and M&A transactions in Japan, the United States, Europe, and Southeast Asia.

As a lawyer specializing in ESG/SDGs/Business and Human Rights + Environment & Climate Change, he is well versed in laws and regulations of various countries to ensure proper supply chain management, international norms and standards related to SDGs, ESGs, and "business and human rights," as well as relevant ILO conventions, and provides support for the promotion of ESG/Impact Investing. He also supports the promotion of ESG/Impact Investing.

He also advises Japanese companies on how to deal with women, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ employees from the perspective of promoting stakeholder relations and DI&E (Diversity, Inclusion & Equality) management. From the standpoint of a corporate lawyer, he also assists Japanese companies with the proper handling of foreign workers, including technical interns.

He was appointed by the Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games as a candidate for the Advisory Committee for the Reporting System based on the Tokyo 2020 Code of Sustainable Procurement.

He is also an expert member of the "Platform for Responsible Acceptance of Foreign Workers" (JP-MIRAI), whose secretariat is managed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

He is one of the founders and Steering Committee Officers of the Business and Human Rights Lawyers Japan.

He received the Excellence Award of the 6th "Shin Nihon Hoki Foundation Incentive Award".

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Practice:

  • Energy & Infrastructure Sector
  • 能源
  • 基础设施
  • 可再生能源
  • 日本业务

Gohshun Kawamura 高级律师

东京

Gohshun Kawamura is a senior associate in Orrick’s Tokyo office and a member of the Energy and Infrastructure Group.

He focuses on the development, acquisition and financing of solar, wind and other renewable energy projects in various regions of Japan. He has experience related to the FIT/FIP system and other laws and regulations related to the electric power industry, as well as negotiations with relevant government agencies, and the preparation and negotiations of related contracts.

In addition, he is involved in establishing schemes and negotiating contracts for the corporate PPAs of non-FIT renewable energy projects, as well as preparing on-site PPAs and general terms and conditions for electricity retailers.

He is the co-author of Orrick’s “Japan Renewables Alert".

Prior to joining Orrick Tokyo Office, he was an assistant judge at the Tokyo District Court and the Matsuyama District Court, where he gained experiences in a variety of cases, including civil, administrative and criminal matters.

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Practice:

  • Technology & Innovation Sector
  • 科技企业业务
  • 区块链与加密货币
  • 日本业务
  • 并购

Joseph Perkins 合伙人

硅谷

Joseph Perkins advises technology companies and venture capital investors with a focus on blockchain, cryptocurrency, Web3, and NFT companies, as well as Japanese technology clients in their growth journeys.

In the fast-paced and unprecedented blockchain and cryptocurrency markets, Joseph helps companies develop innovative and comprehensive legal strategies to achieve their goals of bringing to market disruptive and transformative technologies. From DAO and NFT creation, general corporate and fundraising strategies, to navigating complex and changing regulatory regimes, Joseph has become a go-to advisor for companies in the blockchain and virtual currency ecosystem.

As a member of Orrick’s Technology Companies Group, Joseph assists cutting-edge technology companies and investors with general corporate counseling, private venture capital financing, and M&A services. Joseph has had the opportunity to work with some of the most iconic companies in Silicon Valley, advising on corporate strategy and fundraising matters.

Joseph also leads Orrick's international Technology Companies practice connecting Silicon Valley with Japan. He represents a number of technology companies and investors based in Japan, bringing his Silicon Valley experiences to assist founders and corporate venture capital funds. Joseph is fluent in Japanese and retains a strong connection to Japanese companies and our Tokyo practice.

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Practice:

  • Life Sciences Sector
  • 并购
  • 科技企业业务
  • 金融科技

Hiroki Sugita 合伙人

东京

Hiroki Sugita is a partner in Orrick’s Tokyo Office and a member of the M&A and Private Equity Group. He works on a wide range of cross-border transactions including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, emerging companies and venture capital transactions, and private equity investment especially in Japan, the United States, Europe and Asia.

He also has extensive experience in fund formation, real estate and various types of finance transactions.

Hiroki has a deep understanding of clients’ needs from his secondment experience with a U.S. investment bank in 2005 and a Japanese major trading house from 2012 to 2014.

Prior to joining Orrick, Hiroki worked at O’Melveny’s Tokyo office as a counsel where he mainly worked on cross border M&A.