The Office

L&J LAW OFFICE, LPC (called “L&J”) was incorporated as a legal professional corporation in April 1, 2005 with its offices located in Tokyo, Imabari and Kure.
L&J is especially active in the highly specialized fields of maritime matters, logistics, ship finance, international transaction and many other legal matters including domestic commercial and civil cases, where suitable working teams are organized on a case by case basis. L&J provides services for clients of Shipping Companies, Trading Companies, Shipowners, P&I Clubs, Banks, Insurance Companies, Logistics Companies, Shipbuilding Companies, Forwarders, Construction Companies, Warehousers, etc. within and outside of Japan who perform global business.

L&J’s competitive power has been increased by its branches in Imabari of Ehime Prefecture and Kure of Hiroshima Prefecture. Imabari and Kure are the widely renowned centres of maritime and shipbuilding industries in western Japan, and having the bases in both east and west of Japan enables L&J to accommodate the client’s every need and request in the most rapid and systematic way. L&J has also established a worldwide communication network of reputed law firms in Europe, the United States, Asia and other major nations of the world and is capable of rendering prompt services with respect to the most advanced and complex international legal affairs.

The name “L&J” comes from the words “Liberty & Justice”. This being the most important principle, L&J shall provide you with the best legal service that will fully satisfy your concerns.

Corporate History

  • April 1st, 2005 L&J LAW OFFICE, LPC established in Jimbo-cho, Tokyo
  • June 1st, 2005 Imabari Office established
  • August 7th, 2006 Tokyo office transferred to Kudanshita, Tokyo
  • August 5th, 2013 Tokyo office relocated to Ichibancho, Tokyo
  • January 1st, 2016 Kure Office established
  • January 20th, 2020 Tokyo office relocated to Ocyanomizu, Tokyo

Main Areas of Practice

L&J is especially active in the highly specialized fields of maritime matters, logistics, ship finance and international transaction although it handles all types of legal matters including domestic commercial and civil cases, whereby providing its clients with a wide variety of legal services. By expansion of the human resources and facilities, L&J constitutes a suitable working team of staff members on a case by case basis and provides prompt and high quality services. L&J has established a worldwide communication network of reputed law firms in the main nations of the world and is also capable of rendering prompt services with respect to international legal matters.
Maritime Matters
Advises P&I Clubs, Insurance Companies, Shipowners, Managers, Operators, Shipbuilders, etc. on all fields of maritime matters including marine casualties (collision, grounding, oil spillage), cargo claims, charterparty disputes, shipsales disputes, ship registration, foreign investment, drafting various contracts and legal consultation.
 
Logistics
Advises Logistics Companies on various services, including settlement of claim disputes, drafting various contracts and project documents.
 
Finance
Advises Trading Companies, Leasing Companies, Banks, Shipowners, Shipbuilders, etc. on various services, such as drafting ship finance documents, investment agreements, resolving disputes, offering legal consultation and obtaining performance of obligation.
 
Tax
Advises on various areas of tax matters including overseas joint ventures, subsidiaries established in tax haven jurisdictions and schemes for owning vessels, and are also capable of handling tax disputes in litigations or complaints as well as participating in tax investigations for the purpose of advocating clients’ rights.
 
International Transactions
Handles matters relating to international transactions, establishment of JV companies, advising on sales contracts, distributorship contracts, agency contracts, license contracts, resolving disputes, legal consultation, etc.
 
Corporate
Has experiences in matters relating to incorporation of Japanese subsidiaries or branches of foreign corporations, consultation for IPO in Japanese stock markets and drafting investment agreements to Japanese companies.
 
Insolvency Laws
Has been involved in application for Rehabilitation Procedure, Bankruptcy and other Insolvency Procedures on behalf of indebted companies or creditors.
 
Competition Laws
Has recently extended its specialty to this field with the aim of offering practical legal advices to the shipping sector, particularly given the advent of a penchant for the application of competition laws to the shipping industries.