For Attorneys Seeking Advice on International Cases
My name is Ryosuke Togi, Esq.
After being admitted to the Japan Bar (Dai-ichi Tokyo Bar Association) in 2012, I practiced law at a Tokyo law firm where I handled a wide variety of cases, including general civil matters such as negotiations and litigation, family cases such as inheritance and divorce, corporate legal affairs, and criminal/juvenile defense as court-appointed counsel. In 2020, I studied abroad at a U.S. law school, subsequently passed both the New York State Bar Exam and the California State Bar Exam, and gained experience at a law firm in San Francisco. Since January 2024, I have been practicing as the founder of Kaname Partners US, P.C. (For more details, please see my full profile here.)
Before studying abroad, I mainly handled cases in Japan. However, I frequently encountered situations where Japanese law and language alone were insufficient—for example, cases involving contracts or wills drafted in English, matters requiring communication with foreign parties, or inheritance cases where heirs resided overseas and foreign law needed to be confirmed. On many occasions I thought, “It would be so helpful if there were an attorney I could consult with easily in such situations.”
Many Japanese attorneys study abroad at U.S. law schools, but most of them focus on corporate law. Very few deal with general civil matters such as inheritance and divorce. Moreover, it is even rarer for an attorney to remain in the United States after study abroad and continue practicing in the same capacity as a community-based attorney. I myself initially intended to return to Japan after finishing my studies. However, I came to learn that Japanese attorneys were actively serving a wide range of clients in San Francisco, both individuals and corporations. I also saw firsthand that many local Japanese residents strongly preferred to consult with an attorney in Japanese rather than in English. This led me to decide that remaining in the United States and practicing here—just as I had in Japan—would allow me to be of real help to many Japanese people.
For more about my decision to remain in the U.S., please see my blog post below.
Please note: This blog post is available in Japanese only.
I serve as a community-based attorney in San Francisco, dedicated to assisting Japanese clients who face challenges under California law and U.S. law in general. I also hope to be of support to attorneys practicing in Japan.
Whether it is a one-time consultation, a specific question, a direct client referral, or a joint engagement, I am flexible in how I can assist. Please feel free to contact me in whatever form is most convenient for you.
- International Inheritance Cases: Heirs residing in the U.S., wills created overseas, and other cross-border inheritance issues.
- International Divorce Cases: Marriages between Japanese and American nationals, or Japanese couples residing in California.
- International Business Cases: Contracts specifying California jurisdiction, or business partners based in the U.S.
- Litigation in California: Court appearances and representation in California courts.
- U.S. Discovery in Litigation: Using U.S. discovery procedures to obtain information located in the United States, even when litigation is in Japan.