Service 3 — Initial Consultation
Find out where you stand before you decide anything
One hour to understand the law as it applies to your situation, what options exist, and whether formal action is something you actually need. Conducted in person or by video, in English or Japanese.
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A clear account of your position
By the end of the consultation, you will have a realistic picture of how the law treats your situation, what options are available and roughly what each would involve in terms of time, cost and likely outcome. Where no further action appears necessary, that is said plainly, with reasons.
A written summary is sent after the meeting. It sets out what was discussed, what conclusions were reached and what the next steps would be if you decide to proceed. You are not committed to anything further by attending, and the summary is yours to keep regardless of what you decide to do next.
The common situation
Not knowing whether it is worth pursuing
Most people who approach a legal question for the first time are not certain whether the situation warrants formal advice at all. There is a concern about taking up professional time with something that may turn out to be minor, or about starting a process that cannot easily be stopped.
In Japan, this uncertainty is sometimes compounded by language. Rules that would be navigable in a first language become opaque in a second, and the instinct to wait and see — hoping the situation resolves itself — can mean that options become narrower over time.
There is also a reasonable concern about cost: that seeking advice opens a lengthy and expensive engagement when what is needed is simply enough information to make a decision. The initial consultation exists specifically to address that — to give you what you need to decide, without commitment to anything further.
How this helps
Enough to decide — nothing you do not need
The consultation is designed around a single purpose: by the end of it, you should be able to make an informed decision about what to do next. That means covering the applicable legal framework without unnecessary detail, identifying the realistic options, and noting the time and cost implications of each.
The meeting is conducted in whichever language is more comfortable — English or Japanese. Documents can be reviewed during the session if brought in advance, and any questions about matters covered here are answered directly.
Where the matter falls outside the areas covered at this practice, that is identified, and where possible a referral to an appropriate practitioner is made. In that case there is no charge beyond the consultation fee.
The meeting in detail
What the hour involves
The structure of the consultation keeps the available time focused on what matters for your situation.
What to bring
Any documents relevant to the situation — contracts, letters, company records or property papers. A written note of the key dates and events is useful but not essential.
There is no requirement to prepare formal materials. A clear description of the situation in your own words is sufficient to begin.
During the meeting
The situation is described, the relevant legal framework is identified, and the options are set out. Any documents brought are reviewed. Questions are answered as they arise.
The meeting is in person at the Akasaka office or by video, depending on preference. Both are treated the same and carry the same fee.
Afterwards
A written summary of the consultation is sent within two working days. It records what was discussed, what the options are, and what the next steps would be if you decide to proceed.
There is no obligation to continue and no follow-up correspondence unless you choose to proceed. The summary is yours regardless.
The investment
A single fixed fee
Initial Consultation — one hour
One hour in person at Akasaka or by video — your choice
Conducted in English or Japanese, depending on preference
Assessment of the applicable legal framework and realistic options
Review of any documents brought to the session
Written summary sent within two working days of the meeting
Referral provided where the matter falls outside the areas handled here
The fee is the same regardless of the language used, the format of the meeting, or whether further work proceeds from it.
What falls within scope
Matters suitable for an initial consultation
The initial consultation is appropriate wherever you are uncertain whether a situation has legal implications, or where you understand that it does but want to assess the options before committing to any particular course. Below are the areas most commonly covered.
Contract disputes or concerns
Whether a party is in breach, what remedies exist and what the realistic path to resolution looks like.
Pre-signature review
Understanding what a contract requires before signing — whether a full review is warranted or a discussion sufficient.
Company formation questions
Entity type, shareholder structure, and the practical differences between options — before committing to a particular structure.
Property and lease matters
Obligations under a lease, disputes with landlords or tenants, or questions about what a property agreement actually requires.
Civil disputes
An assessment of a claim or defence before any formal steps are taken — what the position is and what the options involve.
Other civil matters
If the matter does not fit clearly above, a consultation will confirm whether it can be handled here or should be referred elsewhere.
No obligation
The meeting commits you to nothing beyond it
The initial consultation is designed to give you what you need to make a decision — not to create an expectation that further work will follow. If, at the end of the hour, the conclusion is that the situation does not warrant formal action, that assessment is given plainly and the matter is closed.
There is no follow-up unless you choose to proceed, no invoice beyond the consultation fee, and no further contact unless you initiate it. The written summary is sent as a matter of course, and any immediate questions arising from it can be answered by email.
A note on confidentiality
Everything discussed in the consultation is treated in confidence. Notes taken during the meeting are retained only as part of the written summary sent to you, and are not shared or retained in a form that identifies your matter without your instruction.
How to arrange it
Scheduling is straightforward
Contact us with a brief description of the matter and a note of any time constraints. A consultation date is agreed within two to three working days. There is no requirement to have everything worked out before the meeting — that is what the hour is for.
Step one
Describe the situation briefly by email or the contact form. A sentence or two is sufficient at this stage.
Step two
A date, time and format — in person or video — are agreed and confirmed by email along with the fee.
Step three
The consultation takes place. The written summary follows within two working days. What happens next is your decision.
Arrange a consultation
Describe your situation
If you have a matter you would like to understand better before deciding what to do, a brief description is all that is needed to arrange a time. The initial exchange by email carries no charge.
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