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Mihoko Ida

Of Counsel
Tokyo
About
Mihoko Ida is a Japanese lawyer with over 20 years’ experience helping various multinationals mainly in the life sciences, consumer goods, food and retail, and technology sectors on employment and corporate law compliance.

Mihoko is dual-qualified in Japan and New York and advises domestic and international clients –particularly foreign companies operating in Japan – on employment contracts, compliance with Japanese labor laws, workforce management, employment disputes and corporate law compliance.

Mihoko regularly works with multinational legal and HR teams, coordinating across jurisdictions to provide practical, business-oriented advice in complex international employment matters. She often supports clients in corporate restructuring projects, including workforce restructuring, reorganizations, and employment aspects of M&A, and works closely with other professionals to deliver integrated, business‑focused legal solutions.

Areas of FocusEmploymentCorporateLife SciencesConsumer Goods, Food and RetailTechnology

EXPERIENCE

  • Assisted various foreign companies entering the Japanese market including establishing Japanese subsidiaries, advising on employee hiring, drafting employment contracts and establishing work rules.
  • Provided support on day-to-day labour management including conducting investigations into misconduct and harassment, and providing training, advising on employee leave, performance management, disciplinary action, dismissal, and retirement to many international companies doing business in Japan.
  • Represented multiple Japanese subsidiaries of foreign companies on dispute resolution including dealing with labour unions and labour authorities, lawyer-to-lawyer negotiations, and representations in labour tribunals and litigations. 
  • Advised various foreign companies intending to withdraw from the Japanese market, including dissolution and liquidation of Japanese subsidiaries, and workforce restructurings. 
  • Assisted many cross-border M&As and corporate restructurings especially in the pharmaceutical and the technology industries, by handling procedures under the Companies Act such as mergers and company splits, alongside processes concerning employee transfers and workforce restructurings.
Languages
  • Japanese
  • English
Education

    Prior Experience

    Served as Associate, Counsel, and subsequently Partner at the Tokyo office of a leading international law firm. (2004 – September 2025)

    Memberships and Affiliations

    • Tokyo Bar Association
    • New York State Bar Association

    Connect

    Phone

    +81 3 4550 2956
    (Work, Tokyo)
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