Job Opportunity for Legal Counsel at Howden, Tokyo, Japan

About:
Howden, a leading independent global insurance broker with offices across Asia and over 40 countries worldwide, is seeking a bilingual Legal Counsel to join its Japan team. This role offers the chance to work closely with the CEO Japan and General Counsel Asia, providing practical, business-focused legal advice to support strategic growth, compliance, and operations.

Eligibility:

Qualified lawyer with a law degree in Japanese law
Minimum 5 years post-qualification experience (PQE)
Preferably admitted to the Japan Bar
Fluency in Japanese (native) and English (business level)
Experience in a law firm or in-house legal team, preferably in insurance, reinsurance, broking, or financial institutions

Roles and Responsibilities:

Draft, review, negotiate, and finalize corporate and commercial contracts, including service agreements, NDAs, SLAs, distribution agreements, and more
Advise on corporate, commercial, HR, and regulatory matters for Howden Japan
Support strategic initiatives such as M&A, new business ventures, post-deal integration, and litigation management
Maintain document management systems, contract templates, and governance processes
Provide training, guides, and operational support to internal teams
Collaborate with regional legal teams and external counsel to ensure effective legal solutions
Conduct research, analysis, and prepare briefings for business stakeholders