Bonnie Kong is a partner at Anderson, Mori & Tomotsune in Tokyo. Bonnie shares how she came to be working in law and how an interest in Japan set her on a course over 10 years of visiting, learning the language, working on deals with Japan overseas and then finally moving to live in Japan. We discuss the importance of continuous learning, cultural understanding across generations, and community engagement in achieving legal career success. We also discuss the paradox of effortlessness! Join us for another fascinating story of a woman in the law in Japan.

If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Head over to Apple Podcasts to leave a review and we’d love it if you would leave us a message here!

In this episode you’ll hear:

• Why nothing is wasted when you learn continuously in your law career

• What it’s like to take on the leadership role of partner in a firm

• Inspiration from tennis star Roger Federer on effortlessness

• Her favourite restaurant and other fun facts

About Bonnie

Bonnie Kong is a Partner in the Tokyo office of Anderson Mori & Tomotsune. Bonnie has extensive experience in a broad range of corporate matters, including capital markets transactions, cross-border mergers and acquisitions, restructuring and securities and investment projects in Greater China and Japan, as well as licensing and regulatory compliance.

Prior to joining Anderson Mori & Tomotsune, Bonnie was a partner of a prestigious international law firm in Hong Kong and prior to that in other firms in Tokyo and Hong Kong.

Bonnie is fluent in English, Cantonese and Mandarin, and is conversational in Japanese.

She undertook a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Auckland in New Zealand, and she subsequently studied Bachelor of Chinese Laws at Tsinghua University and did a Postgraduate Certificate in Laws (PCLL) at The University of Hong Kong. She also joined a Japanese Language Program at Keio University in Japan.

She is qualified as a barrister and solicitor in New Zealand and New South Wales, Australia, and as a solicitor in Hong Kong and England and Wales.

Outside of the practice of Law Bonnie served as a judge at the Intercollegiate Negotiation Competition in the past two consecutive years. She was previously a part-time lecturer at the Graduate Schools of Law and Politics at the University of Tokyo.

Bonnie is passionate about diversity equity and inclusion and has been appointed as a member of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee at Anderson Mori & Tomotsune since April last year and as a member of the Pro Bono Committee since April this year. She is involved with supporting Women in Law Japan most recently with the International Women’s Day event in 2024, hosted at her law firm’s seminar room.

In her spare time, Bonnie loves traveling and has been to different parts of Japan, and she also enjoys cycling.

Connect with Bonnie

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bwkong/

Links

Bonnie’s Secret Restaurant, Suigian: https://suigian.jp/

72 Micro Seasons App https://www.kurashikata.com/72seasons/

Connect with Catherine

Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/oconnellcatherine/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyeronair

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@lawyeronair

Miyako Ikuta is a partner at Kitahama Partners in Tokyo registered to practice in France, New York, and Japan. Miyako shares her journey across multiple countries and legal systems and discusses her diverse roles, including serving as an auditor and outside director. and shares valuable tips for preparing for board roles. Additionally, she delves into her passion for privacy and data law, her experiences with the EU Court of Justice, and her advocacy for human rights. Miyako is truely making a big impact on the legal landscape in Japan, listen to hear the full story.

If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Head over to Apple Podcasts to leave a review and we’d love it if you would leave us a message here!

In this episode you’ll hear:

• How an early frustration with a lack of privacy from her family set Miyako on the path to become a lawyer

• How a one year exchange in France led to Miyako becoming one of a few Japanese Advocat (Lawyer)

• Miyako’s passion for the law and her efforts to bring about positive changes in Japan

• What you need to study up on when you get shoulder tapped for a board role

• Her restaurant and other fun facts

About Miyako

Miyako is a Partner in the Tokyo office of Kitahama Partners.

As a qualified lawyer in Paris, New York, and Tokyo, her main practice areas are corporate law, IP law, and data privacy law. She has extensive experience in court proceedings in France and Japan, so she is very able to handle litigation matters including cross-border arbitrations when requested.

Most recently, she has been advising on and handling various cross-border matters in Europe, especially in regard to the EU regulations including the GDPR. From the start of her career she has always been active in cross-border transactions between Japan and France.

Miyako studied an LL.B. in Japan (at Ritsumeikan University) and furthered her study of law in France (at Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Tours and the University of Paris II). She started her career as a French attorney at Baker & McKenzie, Paris, then moved to Mandel, Ngo, and Partners in the nineties. She lived in France for about 10 years including 1.5 years of living in Vietnam. Miyako then moved to the US in 1999, went to Columbia Law School where she studied for an LL.M. and then spent half a year at the EU Court of Justice (TFI) in Luxembourg. She moved to New York and joined Hughes Hubbard and Reed LLP and then returned to practice in Japan. Outside of the firm she is an auditor of the Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency (a Japanese public agency under the governance of the Ministry of Environment) and is a corporate auditor of PCA Corporation (also listed on the Prime Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange). She was previously a corporate auditor at Renaissance Inc. (listed on the Prime Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange), Miyako is also an outside director of kaonavi, inc. (listed on the Growth Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange).

Outside of work, Miyako is active, serving on the Data Issues Committee and the Working Group regarding Attorney-Client Confidential Communication at the Japan Federation of Bar Associations (JFBA), and on the Attorney Mediation Committee at the Daini Tokyo Bar Association.

In the spring of 2024, Miyako restarted doing “Kokyo runs”, jogging with her colleagues around the Imperial Palace. She also completed a full marathon at the Tokyo Marathon in 2019. Miyako’s favorite pastimes are listening to the radio, watching sumo and kabuki, and going to operas.

Connect with Miyako

Website: https://www.kitahama.or.jp/english/professionals/miyako-ikuta/

Links

Namamugi Fish Market: https://www.kanagawa-kankou.or.jp/spot/369

Connect with Catherine

Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/oconnellcatherine/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyeronair

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@lawyeronair

Gillian Musgrave is a seasoned lawyer with a rich background in maritime law and marine insurance. Gillian shares her journey from qualifying as a solicitor in England and Wales to working internationally in London, Italy, New York, Singapore, and now as an in-house consultant in Tokyo. We go on a voyage of discovery into the depths of a truly fascinating and not so well known area of the law. Grab your sea legs, let’s get into it!

In this episode you’ll hear:

• How ships featured in Gillian’s childhood and how she steered her way into maritime law

• P&I Clubs: what they are and what it’s like to work for one

• Gillian’s top tips for success in the law and in Japan

• Her favourite late night cocktail bar, a current favourite book and other fun facts

About Gillian

Gillian Musgrave is a lawyer who qualified as a solicitor in England & Wales in 1990. Her specialist area of law is shipping and marine insurance.

Initially she worked in maritime law firms in London and Italy. She then moved in-house and worked for many years as a Director of Claims with a P&I Club, (a specialist insurer of shipowners’ liabilities) managing teams of claims executives in various company offices worldwide. For two years she also acted as the Head of Claims of a Lloyd’s Syndicate in the London insurance market.

She is now working in Tokyo as an in-house Consultant to a Japanese insurance company giving advice on English law maritime matters. To this end she has become a Japanese registered foreign lawyer.

Connect with Gillian

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillian-musgrave-33834741/

Links

Bar Trench in Ebisu: https://small-axe.net/bar-trench/

Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky https://amzn.asia/d/0gSnSQXD

Connect with Catherine

Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/oconnellcatherine/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyeronair

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@lawyeronair