Companies Act
and Corporate Governance

The Companies Act is the basic law that defines the structure for a company, a group of people, to conduct business activities as a single corporate entity. The Companies Act is also very important for small and medium-sized companies and start-up companies in terms of securing ownership, ensuring smooth business succession, raising funds, preparing for listing, and so on.

We assist our clients in various ways to build a foundation for corporate owners and entrepreneurs to focus on their business activities with a sense of security.

In addition, expectations for proper corporate governance by shareholders, investors, and other stakeholders are increasing for listed companies. We assist listed companies in a variety of ways as they seek to enhance their corporate value in response to demands for corporate governance bythe market and other stakeholders.

Many of our lawyers, from young and mid-career professionals to seasoned veterans, have served as outside directors of listed companies, and we are proud to offer our services based on our deep understanding of the realities of corporate management.

We also handle a wide range of disputes related to corporate management, including disputes over ownership interests in family-owned companies and disputes at shareholders' meetings and through the securities markets in listed companies.

Services for small and start-up companies

  • Support for the development of corporate structures based on the Companies Act to ensure corporate ownership
  • Advice on institutional design and capital policy according to business size and growth stage
  • Assistance in establishing fund-raising schemes using class shares, preparation of investment contracts and shareholder agreements, and so on
  • Support for business succession

Services for listed companies

  • Support for compliance with, and utilization of, the Companies Act, Financial Instruments and Exchange Act (“hard law”)
  • Support for compliance with the Corporate Governance Code and related guidelines (“soft law”)
  • Advice on shareholder meetings and other disclosure and dissemination of corporate information in line with the current trend of emphasis on corporate governance

Dispute resolution

  • Handling of disputes through corporate litigation and non-contentious procedures relating to the validity of resolutions of shareholders' meetings and new share issuance, stock valuation, and other corporate management matters
  • Handling of management disputes through general meetings of shareholders, including proxy fights
  • Dealing with management disputes through securities markets, including hostile takeover bids
  • Handling of shareholder derivative actions