Noriko Higashizawa

Noriko Higashizawa has over 30 years of extensive experience representing global companies on labour and employment matters including dispute resolution such as litigation and arbitration. She has led various labour disputes to successful and satisfactory resolutions using strategies that consider employee-friendly Japanese labour laws.

She has also provided legal advice on general corporate matters and has been acting as local counsel role for her international clients. She has published several articles on labour laws and has recently authored an article on Japanese privacy laws. She has also been invited multiple times to speak in international legal conferences on various topics such as labour laws, data privacy law and diversity.

She serves a variety of clients across industries, including a globally-known hotel chain, a logistics company, automobile parts companies, pharmaceutical & medical device companies, a broadcasting company and telecommunication and internet companies. Her extensive knowledge of western and Japanese customs and business practices has assisted her in effectively providing counsel to European and US clients.

She has been a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel since 2008 and served as a Vice Chair International of Employment and Diversity committees. She obtained her LL.M. degree from Duke University Law School. Before joining City-Yuwa, Ms Higashizawa was a partner at a major US law firm.