2025 ICC Tokyo Arbitration Day

12:15-13:00

• Master of Ceremony Ms. Seri Takahasi, Partner, Mori Hamada & Matsumoto, Tokyo

13:00-13:20

Opening Speech

• Harumichi Uchida, Chair, ICC Japan Arbitration Committee; Partner, TMI Associates, Tokyo      
• Dr. Donna Huang, Director, Arbitration and ADR, North Asia, ICC Dispute Resolution Services, Shanghai

13:20-13:30

Welcoming Remarks

• Yoshiyuki Tsutsumi, Assistant Vice Minister of Justice, Ministry of Justice of Japan, Tokyo

13:30-13:50

Keynote Speech  

• Mr. Alexander Fessas, Secretary General ICC International Court of Arbitration; Director, ICC Dispute Resolution Services, Paris

13:50-15:20

Panel I

Triangle Dialogues between ICC, Japanese In-house and External Counsel: Effective Communication and Strategic Planning on Key Issues of Dispute Prevention and Resolution

The close interaction between in-house and external counsel and arbitration institutions such as the ICC Court, lays the foundation for cross-border business. Effective communication and strategic planning between these stakeholders will ensure that companies can prevent disputes in their business transaction and can seekremedy in dispute resolution. This session will be hosted in an innovative format of triangle dialogues to discuss the key issues in dispute prevention and resolution for Japanese companies.

This session will cover the following key issues that companies may commonly confront:

1. Interactions between in-house counsel and external counsel
2. Interactions between arbitration lawyers and corporate lawyers
3. The role of the ICC Court
4. Expedited procedures
5. Cost of the arbitration process
6. Application of Alternative Dispute Resolution

Panelists:

• Mitsuru Claire Chino, (FCIArb), Managing Executive Officer, ITOCHU Corporation, Tokyo; Attorney at Law, California
• Alexander G. Fessas, Secretary General ICC International Court of Arbitration; Director, ICC Dispute Resolution Services
• Tomoya Hashimoto, Deputy General Manager, Legal Dept, MARUBENI Corporation, Tokyo
• Ben Jolley, Partner, Herbert Smith Freehils, Tokyo
• Tomoki Yanagisawa, Partner, TMI Associates, Tokyo

15:20-15:45

Coffee break

15:45-17:05

Panel II: Navigating the Crossroads of Disputes in the Infrastructure Industry: Dispute Boards and Arbitration

In the dynamic and high-stakes world of infrastructure industry, where precision and collaboration underpin success, disputes are an inevitable reality. For global leaders like Japanese contractors, the choice of dispute resolution mechanism becomes not merely a procedural question but a strategic decision—one that can shape the outcome of multimillion-dollar projects. This panel explores how these mechanisms, guided by frameworks such as the ICC Dispute Board Rules, ICC Rules of Arbitration, ICC Guide on Effective Conflict Management can be effectively applied to manage and resolve disputes. This panel will discuss the strategic application of dispute boards (DB) as well as other procedural steps leading up to and including arbitration, and bring the practical insights for the Japan-related infrastructure industry. The focuses of this panel’s discussion will include tiered dispute resolution clauses, terms and conditions of the DB, the role played by arbitration lawyers in the operation of the DB, and the possibility of arbitration in the event of an appeal against the decision of the DB.

Panelists:

• Peter Harris, Partner, Clifford Chance, Tokyo
• Nicholas Lingard, Partner, Freshfields, Singapore
• Shingo Ohno, Senior Managing Consultant, Systech International, Yokohama
• Toshihiko Omoto, Distinguished Professor of Graduate School of Management (MBA), Kyoto University, Kyoto
• Christopher Rowden, Principal, CDI Lawyers,  Brisbane
• Kaori Sugimoto, Partner , Nagashima Ohno & Tunematsu, Tokyo

 17:05-18:25

Panel III:

FAQ from In-house lawyers to Arbitrators.

Spotlight on various items including Interim Measures: Must-know Practices and Skills to Develop

In this panel, panelists including In-house lawyers and practitioners will discuss the must-know practices in international arbitration and exchange their experiences and queries that they had in actual arbitration. This will include various matters, such as interim measures in arbitration which are usually taken in urgent circumstances to prevent possible damage or to preserve evidence that may be lost. Basic queries and ideas might also be posed from the audiences.

Panelists:

• Daniel Allen, Partner, Mori Hamada & Matsumoto, Tokyo
• Toshimi Itakura, General Manager, Legal Department, Sojitz Corporation, Tokyo
• Chan Leng Sun SC, Senior Counsel and Chartered Arbitrator, Duxton Hill Chambers, Singapore
• Yoko Maeda, Partner, City-Yuwa Partners, Tokyo
• John Ribeiro, Senior Legal Counsel, INPEX Corporation, Tokyo
• Louise Stoupe, Partner, Morrison & Foerster LLP, Tokyo

 18:25-18:30

Closing remarks

18:45-19:00

Relocation to Miyabi Room 3^rd floor

19:00-20:30

Reception