Speaking Engagement/ Publication

Ken Kiyohara often speaks at seminars locally in Japan, and participates in an international conference. He is also interviewed and quoted from time to time in the Japanese and English media (such as Nikkei, the Financial Times, and Reuters) on topical issues such as corporate governance, shareholder activism, insider trading, securities regulations and other capital market related matters.

Ken Kiyohara contributes to legal magazines on such topics as tender offer regulations, protection of minority shareholders, corporate governance, disclosure, auditing and insider trading. Additionally, he contributed approximately 30 articles to "Crossroads" (Juujiro), the daily column in the Nikkei evening edition, mainly on various corporate governance and disclosure issues during 2007 to 2013.

His media quotes/interviews and speaking engagements (in English) and articles and commentaries (in English) include among others the following:

  • September 2024
    Media Quote
    Quoted in an article of Dealreporter, “US rejection of Nippon Steel deal may pour cold water on future US investment from Japan” (September 10, 2024)  
  • April 2024
    Media Quote
    Quoted in an article of Nikkei (in Japanese), “Beneficial Shareholders Excluded from Tokyo Damages Lawsuits, Overseas Investors Rebuff Ruling” (April 29, 2024) 
  • April 2024
    Award
    Selected as Best Lawyers 2025 

    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 15th edition of Best Lawyers in Japan.

  • April 2024
    International Conference
    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 "Limited vs Reasonable Assurance" and “Audit Committees Supervision of Corporate Reporting and Audit” held as 2024 Plenary Meeting of the International Forum of Independent Audit Regulators (IFIAR) (April 2024).

  • March 2024
    Media Quote
    Quoted in an article of Bloomberg, “Bidding War Over Japan’s Roland DG Raises Governance Questions” (March 22, 2024) 
  • April 2023
    Award
    Selected as Best Lawyers 2024  

    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 14th edition of Best Lawyers in Japan.

  • December 2022
    Advocacy
    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. 
  • September 2022
    Media Quote
    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. 
  • September 2022
    Media Quote
    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. 
  • June 2022
    Advocacy
    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.

  • April 2022
    International Conference
    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.

  • April 2022
    Award
    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. 

  • April 2022
    Media Quote
    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)  
  • March 2022
    Media Quote
    Quoted in an article of Dealreporter, “Toshiba viewed unlikely to go ahead with break-up plan; fresh start needed” (March 24, 2022) 
  • April 2021
    International Conference
    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.

  • April 2021
    Award
    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. 

  • July 2020
    Media Quote
    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) 
  • April 2020
    Award
    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

  • October 2019
    Media Quote
    Quoted in an article of Dealreporter, “Japan to lower notification threshold as part of expanded scrutiny of foreign investments” (10 October, 2019) 
  • July 2019
    Media Quote
    Quoted in an article of Dealreporter, “Japan’s new METI guidelines aim to curb unfettered behavior by controlling shareholders” (July 24, 2019) 
  • May 2019
    International Conference
    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)

  • April 2019
    Others
    M&A Forum 2019 (organized by Mergermarket) 

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

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

  • December 2018
    Interview
    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) 
  • November 2018
    Media Quote
    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) 
  • September 2018
    Advocacy
    Release of English version of the Report by the “Working Group on Corporate Disclosure” of the Financial System Council (June 28, 2018) 
  • September 2018
    Media Quote
    Quoted in an article of Mergermarket and Dealreporter, “Nihon Nohyaku/ADEKA say premium justifies deal structure and pricing following complaint” (September 20, 2018) 
  • June 2018
    Media Quote
    Quoted in an article of Nikkei Asian Review, “Fujifilm takes its battle for Xerox to US court” (June 20, 2018) 
  • June 2018
    Article
    “International Securities and Capital Markets , IV Developments in Japan,” Vol. 52 The Year in Review 270-272 (2017), Annual Publication of the ABA/Section of International Law 
  • April 2018
    International Conference
    IFIAR (International Forum of Independent Audit Regulators) 

    Participation in the panel discussions at plenary meeting, as a member of the Advisory Group to the Investor and Other Stakeholder Working Group, International Forum of Independent Audit Regulators (April 19, 2018, IFIAR, Ottawa CANADA)

  • March 2018
    Media Quote
    Quoted in an article of Nikkei Asian Review, “Japanese investors riled by discounted tender offers” (March 15, 2018) 
  • March 2018
    Media Quote
    Quoted in an article of Mergermarket and Dealreporter, “Japan’s corporate governance code reform could trigger non-core business sales” (March 14, 2018) 
  • February 2018
    Presentation
    Accounting and Audit System Research Sub-Committee of The Daiichi-Tokyo Bar Association 

    Facilitator of Panel Discussions of the Symposium, “Internal Audit’s Roles in Fraud Risk Management and Remaining Issues: Promoting Collaboration with Auditors and Results of External Assessment of Internal Audit Functions” (February13, 2018)

  • November 2017
    Media Quote
    Quoted in an article of Dealreporter, “Toshiba Memory: MOFCOM yet to initiate formal review, Unigroup opposition could affect time line” (November 10, 2017) 
  • November 2017
    Media Quote
    Quoted in an article of the Dealreporter, “ADK/Bain: WPP files arbitration request with JCAA on alliance termination” (November 2, 2017) 
  • October 2017
    Media Quote
    Quoted in an article of the Dealreporter, “Aeria rejects short-seller ‘inflated download’ accusation” (October 27, 2017) 
  • October 2017
    Media Quote
    Quoted in an article of the Dealreporter, “Toshiba Memory bidder Bain Capital upbeat on timely antitrust clearance” (October 5, 2017) 
  • July 2017
    Media Quote
    Quoted in an article of Nikkei Asian Review, “High Court clears path for Idemitsu to issue shares, pursue merger” (July 20, 2017) 
  • June 2017
    Article
    The Year in Review (2016): “ International Securities and Capital Markets: V Developments in Japan”(The International Lawyer, vol. 51) 
  • June 2017
    Media Quote
    Quoted in an article of the Dealreporter, “Japan: Disclosure of AGM votes likely to see more support for activist proposals” (June 14, 2017) 
  • June 2017
    Media Quote
    Quoted in an article of Asian Venture Capital Journal, “Japan carve-outs: chips off the block” (June 13, 2017) 
  • April 2017
    Media Quote
    Quoted in an article of the Dealreporter, “PanaHome: Activists mark milestone victory with improved offer” (April 28, 2017) 
  • April 2017
    International Conference
    IFIAR (International Forum of Independent Audit Regulators) 

    Participation in the panel discussions at plenary meeting and breakout session, as a member of the Advisory Group to the Investor and Other Stakeholder Working Group, International Forum of Independent Audit Regulators (2017 IFIAR, Tokyo)

  • February 2017
    Media Quote
    Quoted in an article of the Dealreporter, “PanaHome/Panasonic: Shareholder urging PanaHome not to allow Panasonic to vote at AGM” (February 14, 2017) 
  • August 2016
    Media Quote
    Quoted in an article of Dealreporter, “Japan faces growing investor cynicism after Supreme Court rejects JCOM minorities’ appeal” (August 3, 2016) 
  • April 2016
    International Conference
    Participation as a member of the Advisory Group to the Investor and Other Stakeholder Working Group, International Forum of Independent Audit Regulators (IFIAR) (2016 IFIAR Plenary Meeting in London) 
  • August 2015
    Media Quote
    Quoted in a cover story of August issue of A-Plus magazine, a monthly magazine of Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants, “Toshiba’s True Colours” (August 2015) 
  • July 2015
    Media Quote
    Quoted in an article of Nikkei Asian Review, “Toshiba may face shareholder lawsuits” (July 20, 2015) 
  • June 2015
    Media Quote
    Quoted in an article of Nikkei Asian Review, “Abe’s tax cut, reforms draw cheers” (June 26, 2015) 
  • June 2015
    Media Quote
    Quoted in an article of Asian Venture Capital Journal “Corporate Governance: Thin end of the wedge?” (June 17, 2015) 
  • April 2015
    International Conference
    Speaker and panelist at the Panel Discussions, 2015 Plenary Meeting of the International Forum of Independent Audit Regulators (IFIAR), with a report entitled “Trend in Firm Revenue and Growth (Japan): Addressing Some Threats to Audit Quality,” and Breakout Sessions (Taipei, April 2015) 
  • April 2015
    Presentation
    Speaker at Luncheon of the Taiwan Corporate Governance Association, “Changing Corporate Governance Landscape in Japan by Adoption of Corporate Governance Code” (Taipei, April 2015) 
  • April 2015
    Presentation
    Presentation “Strategic Alliance, tied with equity investment~Key to Successful Investment in Japanese Company” (Jones Day, Taipei) 
  • February 2015
    Commentary
    “Japanese Corporate Governance Is Changing with the Adoption of a New Code in 2015” (Jones Day Commentary, February 2015) 
  • June 2014
    Media Quote
    Quoted in an article of Nikkei Asian Review ”Abe’s tax cut, reforms draw cheers” (June 26, 2014) 
  • February 2014
    Media Quote
    Quoted in an article of the Financial Times, “Bitcoin exchange Mt Gox files for bankruptcy protection” (February 28, 2014) 
  • February 2014
    Media Quote
    Quoted in an article of Reuters, “Japan says any bitcoin regulations should be international” (February 27, 2014) 
  • January 2014
    Media Quote
    Quoted in a main article of a special issue of the Asian Lawyer, “Can Abenomics Save Japan?” (January 2014) 
  • June 2013
    Interview
    Interviewed for Reuters’ video streaming program, “Foreign shareholders lay siege to Japan’s boardroom” (June 26, 2013) 
  • November 2011
    Interview
    Interviewed for comments on the Olympus scandal for a weekly news program, “Japan 7 Days” (November 12, 2011) of NHK World (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) 
  • November 2011
    Interview
    Interviewed for comments on the Olympus scandal for a news program of “Newsline” (November 11, 2011) of NHK World 
  • November 2011
    Media Quote
    Quoted in an article of the Financial Times, “Olympus’ proffered truths invite yet more questions” (November 8, 2011) 
  • December 2010
    Media Quote
    Quoted in an article of the Financial Times, “Japan plans short selling curbs” (December 28, 2010) 
  • September 2009
    Commentary
    “Amendment of the Anti-Monopoly Act of Japan and its Impact on Mergers and Acquisitions” (Jones Day Commentary, September 2009) 
  • September 2008
    Commentary
    “Recent Developments in Takeover Defense Discussions in Japan” (Jones Day Commentary, September 2008) 
  • February 2008
    Presentation
    Joint presentation to a leading global company 

    “What is “J-Sox”?: Japanese Disclosure Reform and Comparison with The Public Company Accounting Reform and Investor Protection Act”(together with Richard Kosnik, colleague (then) of Jones Day, New York)

  • June 2007
    Commentary
    “Recent Revisions to Japanese Tender Offer Rules: Toward Transparency and Fairness” (Jones Day Commentary, June 2007) 
  • May 2007
    Media Quote
    Quoted in an article of the Financial Times, “OC move fuels conflict of interest concerns” (May 8, 2007) 
  • March 2007
    Media Quote
    Quoted in an article of the Financial Times, ”Comment & Analysis: A takeover battle launched by the upstart Livedoor is a test of how much big corporate groups can protect themselves against unwanted attention” 
  • October 2006
    Article
    Year In Review (2005): “International Securities and Capital Markets: VI Developments in Japan”(The International Lawyer, Vol. 40, No.3) 
  • December 2005
    Practice Note
    “Ongoing Discussions on Takeover Reforms and Defensive Measures” (IBA Asia Pacific Forum Newsletter. Vol.13, No 2 
  • August 2005
    Practice Note
    “Changing takeover practice in Japan” (Corporate Update (Japan), Ashurst, August 2005) 
  • July 2005
    Article
    Year In Review (2004): “International Securities and Capital Markets: VI Developments in Japan”(The International Lawyer, Vol. 39, No.2) 
  • March 2005
    Media Quote
    Quoted in an article of the Financial Times, “Comment & Analysis: Changing channels: a TV bid brings public scrutiny to Japan’s boardrooms?” (March 22, 2005) 
  • January 2005
    Article
    “Directors’ and Officers’ Liability in Japan” (The Willis Worldwide Directory of Directors’ and Officers’ Liability, January 2005) 
  • December 2004
    Article
    “Guide to Cross-Border Tender Offers in Japan” (IFLR 1000 Country Legislation Guide for Japan) (IFLR website) 
  • November 2004
    Media Quote
    Quoted in an article of the Financial Times, “Legal doubts dog ‘groundbreaker’” (November 19, 2004) 
  • May 2004
    Article
    “Legal changes for venture funds in Japan”(Asian Venture Capital Journal Weekly, Vol.17) 

     

  • April 2004
    Article
    “Leveraged Finance, ‘Momentum builds towards leveraged finance surge in Japan’” (IFLR Guide to Japan) 

Note: The above are only those in English.
For more information on speaking engagement, media quotes and publication in Japanese and English, please click here.