About us
History
Shinwa Law Office (formerly Akashi Law Office) was established in April 1998 by Attorney Norihiko Akashi (45th term of the Legal Training and Research Institute), who previously worked at the former Showa Law Office (currently Kyoei Law Office and Habataki Law Office).
In response to the growing needs of our clients, we have continuously expanded our team of attorneys.
On May 1, 2013, we changed our name from “Akashi Law Office” to “Shinwa Law Office,” and have since continued our development as a collaborative practice.
In March 2015, following the establishment of Shinwa Law Office as a professional corporation, we opened our Tokyo office. We further expanded by opening our Matsuyama office in April 2017, strengthening our ability to provide legal services to a broader range of clients.
In April 2019, we adopted a mid-term management policy of “Growing and developing together with our clients.” We enhanced our organizational structure and integrated the Osaka office into Shinwa Law Office, further strengthening our service platform and promoting closer collaboration among our offices.
Our Philosophy
“As a team of professionals, we open the future together with you.”
When you consult a lawyer, what is it that you truly need?
Of course, you may want to resolve the problem you are facing.
But you may also wish to ease the burden on your mind and move forward, prevent the same issue from happening again, or grow and develop your business—driven by a desire to move toward a better future.
We bring together the strengths of each professional on our team to understand what our clients truly need, and we work with you, step by step, toward the future.
And to continue supporting our clients over the long term, we too must keep growing.
By constantly refining not only our professional knowledge and experience, but also our personal character and integrity, we strive to create the future together with our clients and our team.
Our Strengths
Prompt and Attentive Support
With offices in Osaka, Tokyo, and Matsuyama, our firm is home to more than 20 attorneys, allowing us to respond quickly to client requests from across Japan.
Each of our attorneys works hard every day to handle the wide variety of legal issues faced by small and medium-sized businesses, which make up the majority of our clients.
We also place great importance on being approachable and supportive, building relationships in which clients feel comfortable seeking advice, and providing clear and easy-to-understand explanations.
Expertise and Proactive Legal Support
At our firm, we stay up to date with the latest legal amendments and court decisions, and each attorney continuously develops their expertise through ongoing research and knowledge-sharing.
While each attorney’s area of specialization may differ, we work closely as a team—complementing one another’s strengths—to provide high-quality legal services and respond to a wide range of issues our clients may face.
Because dispute resolution often requires significant time and cost, preventing disputes before they arise is essential.
For this reason, we do more than simply resolve problems after they occur. We identify potential risks early, help prevent issues before they escalate, and provide a legal support structure that helps make problems less likely to arise in the first place.
Professional Network
Through the handling of a wide range of cases over the years, our firm has built strong cooperative relationships with professionals in areas such as tax, accounting, intellectual property, and real estate.
When necessary, we work closely with these specialists to provide well-rounded support and achieve the best possible outcomes for our clients. We have also strengthened our capabilities in recent years to handle matters involving international transactions, which we are increasingly asked to assist with.
