As part of the research process for asialaw Profiles we survey buyers of legal services for their feedback on:
- Assessment and Rating of law firms and lawyers’ quality of service and work
- Upcoming market trends
Here is a snapshot of the data for Japan:
Firm attributes
We ask clients to rate law firms on the following (from 1 poor to 5 excellent):
- Costs transparency
- Extensive local/international network
- Industry sector knowledge
- Technical ability and innovation
- Use of technology
- Value for money
- Client relationship management
- Risk management
Best firm by individual attribute
- Costs transparency: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune, Atsumi & Sakai (tie)
- Extensive local/international network: Atsumi & Sakai
- Industry sector knowledge: Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
- Technical ability and innovation: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
- Use of technology: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
- Value for money: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
- Client relationship management: Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
- Risk management: Anderson Mori & Tomotsune, Atsumi & Sakai, Mori Hamada & Matsumoto (tie)
Best overall firms by aggregate score
- Atsumi & Sakai
- Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
- Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
General statistics
Highest rated law firm attribute: Value for money
Lowest rated law firm attribute: Use of technology
Lawyer attributes
We ask clients to rate lawyers based on the following attributes (from 1 poor to 5 excellent):
- Communication
- Commercial understanding
- Country knowledge
- Industry sector knowledge
- Listening to and implementing feedback
- Meeting deadlines
- Responsiveness and accessibility
- Technical ability
Best lawyer based on aggregate score
Miki Goto, Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
General statistics
Highest rated lawyer attribute: Country Knowledge, Listening to and implementing feedback, Meeting deadlines, Responsiveness and accessibility
Lowest rated lawyer attribute: Technical ability
Market feedback
Topic that concerns clients most:
Regulatory or governmental changes
How law firms can assist clients:
- Continuously provide updates to actual and anticipated changes
- Inform clients about regulatory changes, show examples of similar issues and how they have been taken care of