
Noriko Higashizawa
- Admitted
- 1988, Japan
- noriko.higashizawa@city-yuwa.com
- Languages
- Japanese/English

Practices
Noriko Higashizawa has extensive experience representing global companies on labour and employment matters including dispute resolution such as litigation and arbitration. She has led various labour disputes to successful and satisfactory resolutions using strategies that consider employee-friendly Japanese labour laws. She has also provided legal advice on general corporate matters and has been acting as local counsel role for her international clients. She serves a variety of clients across industries, including a globally-known hotel chain, a logistics company, automobile parts companies, pharmaceutical & medical device companies, a broadcasting company and telecommunication and Internet companies. She has been a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel since 2008 and served as a Vice Chair International of Employment and Diversity committees. She obtained her LL.M. degree from Duke University Law School. Before joining City-Yuwa, Ms. Higashizawa was a partner at a major U.S. law firm.
- General Corporate
- Commercial Litigation
- Unfair Competition, Designs, Trademarks and Copyrights
- General Consultations on Personnel and Labor Matters
- Collective Bargaining
- Labor Litigation and Arbitration
- Cross-Border Transactions
- Foreign Direct Investment
- International Litigation
- Asia Practice
- Life Sciences / Pharmaceuticals
- Food Products
- Health Care
- Manufacturing
- Transportation and Logistics
- Hotels and Leisure
- TMT
Professional Background / Education
Professional Background
- 1988-2001
- Konaka, Toyama & Hosoya
- 1994-
- Howrey & Simon LLP (Foreign Associate)
- 1994-1995
- Becker, Glynn, Melamed & Muffly LLP (Foreign Associate)
- 2002-2004
- Kyo Sogo Law Offices (Registered Associated Office with Dorsey & Whitney)
- 2004 to Present
- City-Yuwa Partners
Education
- 1982
- Keio University (LL.B.)
- 1988
- Legal Training and Research Institute
- 1994
- Duke University School of Law (LL.M.)
-
Articles“The new style of working in Japan – ‘Work Style Reform’ and teleworking”Noriko Higashizawa Akira Nagasaki Kosuke HasegawaSeptember 2022Practices : General Consultations on Personnel and Labor Matters
-
Articles“Guide to Whistleblowing (Japan Chapter)”Noriko Higashizawa Aya Kinoshita Yuki TakahashiAugust 2022Practices : General Corporate Corporate Governance / Shareholders Meetings General Consultations on Personnel and Labor Matters
-
Articles“Covid-19: employment issues under Japanese labour law”Noriko Higashizawa Kosuke Hasegawa Risako SuzukiNovember 2020Practices : General Consultations on Personnel and Labor Matters
-
Articles“Data Privacy Protection of Personal Information Versus Usage of Big Data: Introduction of the Recent Amendment to the Act on the Protection of Personal Information (Japan)”Noriko HigashizawaOctober 2017Practices : General Corporate Compliance and Internal Control TMT
-
Articles“Understanding International Labor and Employment Policy: A Primer for Multinational Employers Operating in a Global Economy”Noriko HigashizawaJuly 2014Practices : General Consultations on Personnel and Labor Matters Collective Bargaining Labor Litigation and Arbitration
-
CY Japan Legal UpdateCOVID-19 Japan UpdatesLabor Law (3) (Vol. 5)Noriko Higashizawa Kosuke Hasegawa Satoko FukuiJune 2020Practices : General Consultations on Personnel and Labor Matters Crisis Management
-
CY Japan Legal UpdateCOVID-19 Japan UpdatesLabor Law (2) (Vol. 4)Noriko Higashizawa Kosuke Hasegawa Satoko FukuiMay 2020Practices : General Consultations on Personnel and Labor Matters Crisis Management
-
SeminarsGC Summit Japan 2022The evolving workplace: practical guidance on effectively resolving labour disputes in Japan.Noriko Higashizawa Akira Nagasaki Kosuke HasegawaOctober 13, 2022Practices : General Consultations on Personnel and Labor Matters
-
SeminarsSeminar "What’s it REALLY like to work in Japan?"“Working in Japan – Point-based Skilled Immigration System”Noriko HigashizawaJune 12, 2018Practices : Immigration Law
-
SeminarsIADC (International Association of Defense Counsel) Asian Regional Meeting 2014“Data Privacy and Misappropriation of Trade Secrets in Japan”Noriko HigashizawaOctober 2014Practices : Personal Data Protection
-
SeminarsIADC (International Association of Defense Counsel) Midyear Meeting 2013“Understanding International Labor and Employment Policy: A Primer for Multinational Employers Operating in a Global Economy”Noriko HigashizawaFebruary 2013Practices : General Consultations on Personnel and Labor Matters
-
SeminarsForeign Affiliated Company Business Seminar“Legal Knowledge and Practice on Mental Health Issues”Noriko HigashizawaApril 4, 2012Practices : General Consultations on Personnel and Labor Matters
-
SeminarsMidyear Meeting 2012“Diversity in Japan”Noriko HigashizawaFebruary 14, 2012Practices : General Consultations on Personnel and Labor Matters
-
Seminarsthe Mid-year Meeting“Background Checks and US Discovery Rules”Noriko HigashizawaFebruary 13, 2012Practices : Personal Data Protection General Consultations on Personnel and Labor Matters
-
SeminarsIADC (International Association of Defense Counsel) Midyear Meeting 2012“Employers at Home and Abroad: DOs and DON’Ts for Requesting-Employment Records Background Checks and US Discovery Rules”Noriko HigashizawaFebruary 2012Practices : Personal Data Protection General Consultations on Personnel and Labor Matters
-
SeminarsIADC (International Association of Defense Counsel) Midyear Meeting 2009“The Attorney-Client Privilege And Attorney Work-Product Doctrine In Japan”Noriko HigashizawaFebruary 2009Practices : General Civil Practice
- City-Yuwa Partners and our lawyers are recommended in the Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2023. (January 11, 2023)
- City-Yuwa Partners attorneys have been recognized as leading attorneys in their practice areas in Who’s Who Legal: Japan 2022. (October 25, 2022)
- The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2022 recommends City-Yuwa Partners in 10 areas and further recommends our 7 lawyers. (January 14, 2022)
- The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2021 has recommended City-Yuwa Partners in the 8 areas, and further recommended our 6 lawyers. (January 18, 2021)
- The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2020 has recommended City-Yuwa Partners in the 9 areas, and further recommended our 4 lawyers. (January 17, 2020)
- The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2016 has recommended our Firm in the areas of Banking and finance, Capital markets, Corporate and M&A, Labour and employment, Restructuring and insolvency, and Structured finance/securitization, and further recommended the following lawyers: (December 1, 2015)