Shuichi Sugahisa has worked on regulatory reforms like the JFTC's Antimonopoly Act
Baker & McKenzie (Gaikokuho Joint Enterprise) has onboarded Shuichi Sugahisa, former secretary general of the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC), as a senior consultant in the firm’s antitrust and competition group effective 16 August.
Sugahisa has around 40 years of experience in competition law practice and policy, having joined JFTC in 1983. He worked on several regulatory reforms throughout his career, but most notable was his instrumental role in strengthening the implementation of JFTC’s Antimonopoly Act.
During his tenure, Sugahisa had assumed varied positions, including director general of the Trade Practices Department in 2016, director general of the Economic Affairs Bureau in 2017 and secretary general of the JFTC in 2020. He also involved himself in major legislative and enforcement initiatives.
"Competition law enforcement is being strengthened and legal systems are being revised around the world. It is extremely important for Japanese companies operating global businesses to keep abreast of the latest information in a comprehensive and holistic manner,” said Akifusa Takada, co-managing partner of Baker McKenzie’s Tokyo office. “We're confident that the addition of Shuichi — a leading expert in this field in Japan — when combined with Baker McKenzie's unparalleled global antitrust and competition law group, will form a uniquely strong service offering for our clients."
Baker McKenzie said it was confident that Sugahisa’s appointment would “take our regulatory advice to the next level.”
"We are delighted to be joined by Shuichi, whose extensive antitrust knowledge and regulatory experience with the JFTC will further bolster our leading practice in Japan and premier global offering for our clients,” said Mark Hamer, chair of the global antitrust and competition group at Baker McKenzie. “More than ever, multinational businesses require practical insight and guidance on antitrust risks across the globe and Shuichi's expertise perfectly complements our strong bench of practitioners around the world."
Baker McKenzie’s antitrust and competition group is currently the largest in the world, with more than 300 practitioners spanning 60 offices in 43 countries. The Tokyo office nabbed the Asian Legal Business Japan Law Award for Antitrust and Competition Law Firm of the Year in 2020 and 2021.
