Senior Counsel, Japan at Agoda in Tokyo

We are looking for a commercially-focused Japan-qualified lawyer to serve as Agoda's subject-matter anchor for Japan legal matters and to contribute to the global commercial legal team.

This is a dual-mandate role: approximately half the time will be dedicated to Japan-specific legal and regulatory work, and the other half to supporting the broader global commercial legal team - based regionally - on cross-border commercial transactions and matters.

The ideal candidate brings a strong foundation in Japanese law, a practical understanding of the regulatory environment affecting digital platforms and travel businesses in Japan, and the commercial acumen to draft and negotiate contracts with minimal supervision. They will be comfortable navigating Japan-specific complexity while also contributing to a high-volume, internationally diverse commercial pipeline. The role requires sound legal judgment, the ability to manage competing priorities across time zones, and a genuine partnership mindset with the business.

Key Responsibilities

Japan Legal & Regulatory (~50%)

• Act as subject-matter anchor for Japan legal matters across the business, providing first-line legal advice and escalating to specialist external counsel where appropriate.
• Monitor and advise on the Japanese legal and regulatory environment as it applies to online travel, digital commerce, and platform businesses - including the Antimonopoly Act (独占禁止法), Consumer Contract Act (消費者契約法), Act on Specified Commercial Transactions (特定商取引法), and the Travel Agency Act (旅行業法).
• Coordinate and manage external Japanese counsel on complex regulatory, advisory, or contentious matters; own the briefing and output quality on those engagements.
• Support Japan corporate and entity-level matters, including coordination with the Registered Officer and relevant internal stakeholders.
• Liaise with internal teams (compliance, finance, government relations) and engage with Japanese regulatory authorities as required.

Commercial - Global Team (~50%)

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial contracts as part of the global commercial legal team, including vendor agreements, data and technology agreements, marketing and media contracts, and partnership arrangements.
• Provide practical, business-oriented legal advice to internal clients across the organization on commercial matters.
• Turning legal advice into action: work with stakeholders to move from legal analysis to implementation, helping teams understand their options, make informed decisions, and execute solutions.
• Contribute to the development of contract templates, playbooks, and internal guidance materials that improve legal efficiency across the team.

Risk Management

• Identify legal and regulatory risks early and develop proportionate, commercially workable mitigation strategies for the business with a focus on enabling and driving business growth.
• Support dispute management and external counsel coordination on contentious matters.
• Contribute to cross-functional projects and legal team initiatives as required.

Required Qualifications

• Education: LL.B., LL.M., or J.D. degree.
• Qualification: Registration as a bengoshi (弁護士) with the Japan Federation of Bar Associations is preferred but not required.
• Experience: 5-10 years of post-qualification experience (PQE). A mix of law firm and in-house experience at a multinational technology, e-commerce, or OTA company is strongly preferred.
• Regulatory Knowledge: Good working knowledge of the Japanese legal and regulatory environment for digital and platform businesses; practical ability to assess regulatory risk and identify when to seek specialist external advice.
• Language Proficiency: Native fluency in Japanese and professional fluency in English is required for communicating with global teams.
• Soft Skills: Commercial mindset, sound independent judgment, and the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced, international environment. Comfortable working across time zones with a geographically distributed team.

Additional Skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with sound judgment and attention to detail.
• Strong commercial judgment, with the ability to balance legal risk against business objectives and recommend practical, proportionate solutions.
• Strong academic credentials and experience working in a top-tier law firm and/or in-house legal team at a multinational company.
• Experience with travel, technology, online platforms, or another regulated digital business is preferred.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a large, diverse, and geographically distributed team.
• A demonstrated can-do, roll-up-your-sleeves approach, coupled with a strong work ethic and high integrity. You would rather get the right answer than the credit.
• Ability to contribute at both the strategic and detailed levels, working collaboratively with colleagues and business teams to get things done. Clear and persuasive communication skills including the ability to explain complex legal issues (and options) to non-legal colleagues.
• Experience of contributing to policies, procedures, training materials, playbooks, or templates that improve legal efficiency and compliance.
• Experience of using AI tools in an efficient and scalable manner.