The Best Lawyers in Japan Awards
In the milestone 15th edition, The Best Lawyers in Japan™ awards celebrates legal excellence and leadership across Japan. This edition underscores the outstanding contributions to the legal industry made by lawyers through all stages of their careers.
Employing the rigorous Best Lawyers Purely Peer Review® methodology, which involves nominations, voting and thorough research, these awards stand as the most comprehensive acknowledgment of legal talent in Japan.
The 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in Japan™ boasts 1,616 esteemed lawyers hailing from two major metropolitan areas, with Tokyo leading with most recognized lawyers.
Across 47 practice areas, the top 10 with the highest number of recognized lawyers include Corporate and Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Intellectual Property Law, Banking and Finance Law, Litigation, Corporate Governance and Compliance Practice, Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Real Estate Law, Antitrust/Competition Law, International Business Transactions and Patent Law.
For those seeking legal counsel in Japan, the Best Lawyers website emerges as the primary resource, particularly for Banking and Finance Law, Intellectual Property Law, Arbitration and Mediation, Capital Markets Law, Corporate and Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Insolvency and Reorganization Law, International Business Transactions, Litigation, Real Estate Law and Corporate Governance and Compliance Practice.
Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Japan
For Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Japan category, an award initiated in 2020 to recognize emerging talents with less than 10 years of private practice experience, we are honored to announce the 3rd edition.
Following the same rigorous methodology, this edition celebrates 335 lawyers from 55 law firms across two metropolitan areas. Of the 28 practice areas with awarded lawyers, the ten with the most honorees include Corporate and Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Arbitration and Mediation, Intellectual Property Law (Non-Patent), Labor and Employment Law, Capital Markets Law, Patent Practice, Litigation, Financial Institution Regulatory Law, Banking and Finance Law and Insolvency and Reorganization Law.
Celebrating Excellence: "Lawyer of the Year" Accolades
In this year's awards, we shine a spotlight on the "Lawyer of the Year" distinctions, which recognize one exceptional lawyer per practice area within each metropolitan region. In 2025, we proudly bestowed this prestigious title upon 48 lawyers across Japan.
Showcasing Your Award
For those recognized, Best Lawyers offers various avenues to showcase their awards through impactful marketing strategies. To explore options for highlighting individual lawyer and firm awards via websites, social media channels, Best Lawyers Profile Suite packages and commemorative items, please contact sales@bestlawyers.com.
Curious about the honored legal practitioners in Japan? Utilize our Find a Lawyer tool to search by location and specialty.
Access the complete report of Best Lawyers international releases, continuously updated to stay abreast of legal excellence worldwide.
