It goes without saying that corporate legal functions are increasingly critical to protect corporate value from diversified risks and in terms of integrity and social responsibility. It is also true that legal professionals are proactively turning risks into positive business opportunities reaching beyond the legal function. The Chief Legal Officer (CLO) (which as used herein includes the position General Counsel as appropriate), is responsible for flexible and agile decision-making and has become an integral member of the core management team. As the leader of the company’s legal department, the CLO has the authority and responsibility to take a variety of important actions. In addition, the CLO should be sensitive to changes in the business environment and responsible for bold changes in the corporate legal organization and to create a framework for talent and career development. This position of the CLO or General Counsel is a leadership position very common in reputable companies overseas, but in Japan, only a few companies have established this position, and this situation has been slow to change.
In order to provide a meaningful venue to further the development of CLOs, present and future, both in terms of quality and quantity, we have established The Japan CLO Association as a legally incorporated association. We are pleased to help increase awareness and share knowledge of practices and issues relating to the position of the CLO with you, and to hear your opinions and requests in this regard. We would like to hear from a wide variety of professionals, both legal and business, who have common interest in the development and transformation of the legal function both at the leadership level and in general.
Chairman, JACLO
