Advocacy Report by the “Working Group on Corporate Disclosure” of the Financial System Council on December 27, 2022, the Financial Services Agency of Japan posted on its website a Report by the “Working Group on Corporate Disclosures” of the Financial System Council, in furtherance of the Report by the Working Group, dated as of June 13, 2022, addressing remaining discussion points of streamlining “quarterly reporting” by Japanese companies and updates to sustainability reporting regime. Once an English version or summary of the Report is made available, we will post an update. Ken Kiyohara has continued to have participate in the discussions of these Reports as a member of the Working Group on Corporate Disclosure.　

Quoted in an article of Dealreporter, “Tokyo urged to call on companies to step up English disclosure of securities reports” (September 16, 2022), in connection with strategic importance of the IR and urgent need to address negative impact of inattentiveness by many Japanese companies to the significance of full disclosure in English.　

Quoted in an article of Dealreporter, “Tokyo Seeks more aggressive disclosure guidelines on strategic shareholdings following experts’ report” (September 7, 2022), in connection with proposed revisions to the disclosure rules, concerning strategic shareholdings and the impact.　

Report by the “Working Group on Corporate Disclosure” of the Financial System Council　

On June 13, 2022, the Financial Services Agency of Japan posted on its website a Report by the “Working Group on Corporate Disclosures” of the Financial System Council, addressing such subjects as sustainability reporting by Japanese companies, disclosure of corporate governance, and quarterly reporting. Summary of the report in English is available here.
This is the second time that Ken Kiyohara has participated in the discussions as a member of the Working Group on Corporate Disclosure. The previous report by the Working Group issued in June 2018 is here.

IFIAR (International Forum of Independent Audit Regulators)　　

As a member of the Advisory Group to the Investor and Other Stakeholder Working Group (IOSWG), Ken Kiyohara participated in the panel discussions on investors’ and other stakeholders’ expectations to auditors and audit regulators under the “new normal” (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world), held as a part of the virtual 2022 Plenary Meeting of the International Forum of Independent Audit Regulators (IFIAR) (April 26 2022).
See here.

Selected as Best Lawyers 2023　

Ken Kiyohara, our representative partner, has been recognized as among best lawyers in the “Corporate and Mergers and Acquisitions Law” section and “Corporate Governance and Compliance Practice” for 13th edition of Best Lawyers in Japan. 

Quoted in an article of Dealreporter, “Toshiba urged to hold open and fair talks with PE firms, not to repeat las year’s mistake” (April 11, 2022)　　

Quoted in an article of Dealreporter, “Toshiba viewed unlikely to go ahead with break-up plan; fresh start needed” (March 24, 2022)　

IFIAR (International Forum of Independent Audit Regulators)　　

As a member of the Advisory Group to the Investor and Other Stakeholder Working Group (IOSWG), Ken Kiyohara participated in the panel discussions on investors’ expectation in the area of auditor responsibilities for addressing fraud risks, held as a part of the virtual 2021 Plenary Meeting of the International Forum of Independent Audit Regulators (IFIAR) (April 21 2021).  See here.

Selected as Best Lawyers 2022　

Ken Kiyohara, our representative partner, has been recognized as among best lawyers in the “Corporate and Mergers and Acquisitions Law” section for 12th edition of Best Lawyers in Japan. For more details, please refer to the Best Lawyers Website. 

Quoted in an article of Dealreporter, “LINE and Nichii Gakkan buyouts highlight loopholes in M&A guidelines and differences between Japanese and US court processes, lawyers say” (July 24, 2020)　

Selected as Best Lawyers 2021　

Ken Kiyohara, our representative partner, has been recognized as among best lawyers in the “Corporate and Mergers and Acquisitions Law” section for 11th edition of Best Lawyers in Japan. For more details, please refer to the Best Lawyers Website. 

Quoted in an article of Dealreporter, “Japan to lower notification threshold as part of expanded scrutiny of foreign investments” (10 October, 2019)　

Quoted in an article of Dealreporter, “Japan’s new METI guidelines aim to curb unfettered behavior by controlling shareholders” (July 24, 2019)　

IFIAR (International Forum of Independent Audit Regulators)　

Participated in the panel discussions, “Perspectives on Audit Committee Activities,” and also a breakout session, at a plenary meeting of the International Forum of Independent Audit Regulators (IFIAR), as a member of the Advisory Group to the Investor and Other Stakeholder Working Group, (May 1 & 2, 2019, Rhodes, Greece)

M&A Forum 2019 (organized by Mergermarket)　

Panel discussion - Room for improvement: Corporate governance and rising shareholder activism (April 10, 2019, Conrad Hotel, Tokyo)

Quoted in an article of Mergermarket and Dealreporter, “TSE shake-up plan welcomed by event investors but concern by long-onlies” (March 22, 2019)　

Accounting and Audit System Research Sub-Committee of The Daiichi-Tokyo Bar Association　

Facilitator of Panel Discussions of the Symposium, “Role of and Expectation for the Audit Committee in Support of Audit Quality- Analysis of Collaboration with Auditor and International Good Practices” (March 13, 2018, Tokyo)

Interview comments on a criminal charge against Mr. Carlos Ghosn, from the perspective of Japanese disclosure rule on executive compensation, featured in a special column covering three expert interviewees, entitled “Compound Eyes: Repercussions of Mr. Ghosn Arrest” of Nikkei Shimbun morning edition (December 4, 2018)　

Quoted in an article of Nikkei electronic edition, entitled “Multiplied Effects of Plea Bargain and Whistleblowing Stops Runaway of Top Management: Arrest of Nissan Chair Carolos Ghosn” (November 20, 2018)