Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP is strengthening its services in Asia with the addition of global trade lawyer Junko Suetomi as a shareholder in its Tokyo office. Junko, who previously worked at Baker McKenzie, is a highly regarded, multidisciplinary lawyer who has advised the Japanese government, practised in the United States, and counselled clients on trade sanctions imposed on countries worldwide.
“Greenberg Traurig’s driving goal in Tokyo and throughout Asia has been to attract top-tier talent that exhibits legal excellence to ensure we continue to meet and exceed client expectations,” said Koji Ishikawa, managing shareholder of Greenberg Traurig’s Tokyo office. “Junko’s wide-ranging experience is the perfect embodiment of that mission. She has served her clients honourably, developed critical relationships throughout Japan, and has become one of the most trusted voices on sanctions, international trade regulations, and the intricacies of global trade. We are privileged to welcome her to the firm.”
Junko’s appointment is the latest step in Greenberg Traurig’s ongoing ascent in the Asian market, with the firm’s Singapore office recently adding a team of investment fund lawyers and the Seoul office being named “Best Foreign Law Firm” two years in a row by the Asia Business Law Journal. The firm’s global growth strategy has focused on recruiting top local talent, empowering them on the ground, respecting local rules and markets, and encouraging collaborations with the firm’s more than 3,000 lawyers operating in 51 offices worldwide.
“Junko’s unique experience will open up new possibilities for our clients and provide Greenberg Traurig with an invaluable resource in the critical Japanese market,” said Richard A. Edlin, vice chair of Greenberg Traurig.” We have built an international team of trade lawyers across the firm who understand their local markets and work collaboratively to bridge the gaps between distant regions. Junko represents a significant addition to that team.”
Junko focuses her practice on commercial and trade law, World Trade Organisation (WTO) disputes, civil and criminal litigation, antitrust law, bankruptcy law, and general corporate law. She advises clients on trade remedy matters, antitrust compliance programs, customs matters, and disputes with government entities.
Junko regularly analyses and advises clients on sanctions programmes, particularly those imposed on Russia, Iran, and Myanmar. She counsels businesses on inbound and outbound trade deals, advising them on regulations imposed by the governments of Japan, the United States, and others, especially in recent years, as companies have grappled with global supply chain disruptions.
“Companies operating in the global market are facing challenges on all fronts, from tariffs and trade wars to political instability and regional conflicts,” she said. “I’m constantly analysing how those problems affect the global supply chain and providing legal guidance to my clients on how to navigate them.”
