Koichi Saito
Partner
Tokyo
LEGAL AWARDS
The Nikkei "Top-performing Lawyer 2023" Business & Human Rights Practice, Ranked 10th in the ranking of lawyers by companies and 6th in the overall ranking
Thomson Reuter "Stand-out Lawyers 2024"
The Best Lawyers in Japan 2025/ Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Japan (2025 Edition)
Chambers DEI Awards: Asia-Pacific and Greater China Region 2024 - Diversity & Inclusion: Outstanding Contribution - Shortlisted
Key Practice Areas
Corporate
Sustainability
M&A/Business Restructuring
Support for Start-ups
Internal investigations and organizing third-party committees
TEL:81-3-6775-1095
/FAX:81-3-6775-2095
Koichi Saito is a partner in employee/executive incentive practice group. He is a leading lawyer in this field in Japan. He advises on all aspects of share/cash-based incentive plans. He advises on selection of types of awards, design of the incentive plan, due diligence on legal and tax issues in Japan as well as other jurisdictions, implementation of the incentive plan, and operation of the plan. He advises Japanese listed and private companies on issues relating to incentive plans generally, in M&A situations and on IPO. He advises global corporations on extending their incentive plans into Japan.
He also specializes in business and human rights and other aspects of ESG law. He advises Japanese and multinational corporations, governments and international organizations on preparing policies and their implementation, including risk assessment, human rights due diligence, mitigation of human rights risks, and engagement with stakeholders. He has served as Operating Committee member of Business and Human Rights Lawyers Network Japan since 2019, and he is also a member of Advisory and Mediation Panel of Japan Center for Engagement and Remedy on Business and Human Rights (JaCER).
SERVICES
Practice Areas
Key Practice Areas
Corporate
M&A
Government Investigations and Crisis Management
Intellectual Property
Sustainability
Related Practice Areas
Corporate
Government Investigations and Crisis Management
Labor and Employment
Media and Entertainment
Competition/Antitrust
Dispute Resolution
International Practice
LEGAL AWARDS
The Best Lawyers in Japan™・Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Japan™ (2025 Edition)
Chambers DEI Awards: Asia-Pacific & Greater China Region 2024 - Shortlisted
Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyers - independently rated lawyers
The Nikkei " Top-performing Lawyer " in 2023
The Best Lawyers in Japan™ 2024
Best Lawyers 2023
RELATED INSIGHTS
ARTICLES
Featured Articles and Interview Contents
NEWSLETTERSNewsletters
SEMINARSSeminars
PUBLICATIONSPublications
CAREER
Mar 1999
The University of Tokyo (LL.B.)
Jun 2008
Harvard Law School (LL.M.)
Sep 2008 - Jun 2009
Visiting Researcher at Harvard Law School
QUALIFICATIONS
Japan (2001) New York (2009)
PROFESSIONAL AND
ACADEMIC ASSOCIATION
ACADEMIC ASSOCIATION
Dai-ichi Tokyo Bar Association
New York State Bar Association
LANGUAGES
Japanese (first language)
English
Koichi Saito
TEL:81-3-6775-1095
/FAX:81-3-6775-2095
Corporate
Sustainability
M&A/Business Restructuring
Support for Start-ups
Internal investigations and organizing third-party committees