In Japan, legal disputes are typically resolved through one of the following methods:
- Negotiation
- Mediation
- Arbitration
- Litigation
Among them, negotiation between the parties resolves majority of disputes. Mediation and arbitration, with other methods of alternative dispute resolution (ADR), are less common. If a negotiation is deadlocked, the dispute generally goes to a court to be determined by a judge or judges.
Whatever route a dispute may take, most disputes are ultimately resolved by the parties reaching a settlement. This may occur at any stage, from before proceedings are commenced to after the examination of witnesses. Indeed, the parties may reach a settlement even after a judgment has been entered. In this sense, negotiation i.e. negotiating a settlement is almost always at the heart of dispute resolution.
We cover the following areas:
- Commodities disputes
- Energy disputes
- Shipping disputes
- Letter of credit disputes
- Bill of lading disputes
- Automotive disputes
- M&A disputes
- Shareholder disputes
- IP disputes
- Employment disputes
- Pension disputes
- Fraud and asset recovery