Attorney
Yohei Kijima

Greeting

 Since being admitted to the bar in 2013, I began my career as an in-house counsel and have been extensively involved in international corporate legal matters, with a particular focus on compliance support for pharmaceutical and other healthcare companies. After joining Shin-Yotsuya Law Offices, I have also expanded my practice to include international family law, labor matters, and consultations from individual clients.

 From 2013 to 2018, I served in the legal department of a major Japanese pharmaceutical company and later as Head of Legal & Compliance at the Japanese subsidiary of a global pharmaceutical manufacturer. In these roles, I handled a wide range of matters, including legal support for R&D, manufacturing, and marketing authorization; OTC marketing; IT-related issues; international arbitration and dispute resolution; M&A and licensing; expansion into Asia; U.S. patent litigation; and internal whistleblowing investigations. In 2019, I founded Pharma Integrity Inc., a consulting firm specializing in compliance for pharmaceutical companies, where I provide advice on promotional compliance (advertising regulations, anti-bribery rules, and pharmaceutical regulatory requirements). I also serve as an advisor to the Compliance Study Group of the Pharmaceutical Legal Practice Society (“IHOKEN”).

 In my role as an attorney at the firm, I have been involved not only in a wide range of corporate advisory matters and litigation, but also in secondments to major global pharmaceutical and medical device companies, where I engaged in investigations into manufacturing irregularities and clinical trial misconduct. These practical experiences have been highly evaluated; in 2023 I was selected as a Top Pharma Compliance Solutions Provider in APAC, and in 2024 I was named as one of the “Five Most Trusted Lawyers in Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Law” in Japan.

 In recent years, I have also focused on cross-border matters involving Australia and New Zealand. Working closely with partner law firms in Sydney and Melbourne, I provide support across a variety of fields—including international succession, divorce and child custody, asset management, real estate transactions, inbound investment into Japan (company establishment, JV structuring, and contract frameworks), and bilingual (Japanese–English) contract drafting and review. Through my active involvement with the Australia and New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ANZCCJ), I have further strengthened connections with business communities in both countries.

 In addition, I also handle matters for individual clients. Drawing on my various experiences such as a counselor at the Tokyo Employment Consultation Center (TECC), I provide comprehensive support in whistleblowing issues, labor matters, inheritance, family law, and a broad range of domestic and international civil matters.

 Although my practice spans a wide variety of areas, I believe that the foundation of all legal services lies in “credibility” and “trust.” I place great importance on understanding the unique circumstances and background of each case, and on delivering advice that is truly tailored to the client’s needs. Please feel free to contact me at any time should you need assistance. I look forward to working with you.

 For more information on international healthcare services provided by Yohei Kijima, please click here.

Biography

Born: August 1985, Fukushima Prefecture
2004: Graduated from Aizu High School
2008: Graduated from Kyoto University, Faculty of Law (LL.B.)
2010: Graduated from Cornell University Law School (LL.M.)
2011: Graduated from Waseda University Law School (J.D.), passed Japan’s Bar examination
December 2012: Registered as an Attorney (Tokyo Bar Association)
January 2013: Member of the Japan In-House Lawyers Association
June 2015: Registered as an Attorney in New York State, USA
March 2019: Changed Attorney’s registration to Daini Tokyo Bar Association
July 2023: Member of the Drug Information Association (DIA)
September 2023: Awarded “Top Pharma Compliance Solutions Provider in APAC 2023” by Pharma Tech Outlook
September 2023: Member of the Medical Affairs Professional Society (MAPS)
June 2024: Academic Member of Association to Generalize Utilization of Generative AI (“GUGA”)
June 2024: Awarded “5 Best AI Solution Providers to Watch 2024” by Silicon Review
June 2024: Awarded “5 Most Reliable Attorneys for Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Practice” (Nikkei Newspaper)

Carrer

January 2013 – June 2017: Legal Department (Legal Counsel), Eisai Co., Ltd.
July 2017 – December 2018: Head of Legal and Compliance Department, CSL Behring K.K.
January 2019 – April 2021: Associate, Shin-Yotsuya Law Offices
January 2019 – Present: Advisor to the Compliance Committee of the The Japan Pharmaceutical Industry Legal Affairs Association (“IHOKEN”)
March 2019 – Present: Founding Director/Senior Consultant, Pharma Integrity Inc.
April 2019 – Present: Consultant, Tokyo Employment Consultation Center (“TECC”)
April 2021 – March 2022: Counsel, GIT Law Office
July 2021 – December 2021: Seconded to a major foreign medical device company
April 2022 – Present: Counsel, Shin-Yotsuya Law Offices
December 2022 – Present: Seconded to a major foreign pharmaceutical company

Books and Articles

“Handbook of Japanese Regulations on Advertisement of Prescription Drugs, 2nd Edition” (Yakuji Nippo, Limited., 2024)
Handbook of Regulations on Japanese Regulations on Transfer of Value and Bribery of Prescription Drugs” (Yakuji Nippo, Limited., 2024)
“Achieving Compliance in Pharmaceutical Companies, Revised Edition – Overview of Relevant Laws and Voluntary Standards with Case Studies” (Yakuji Nippo, Limited., co-authored, 2019)
“Industry-based Q&A Book: Regulations on Pharmaceuticals” (Chuo Keizai-sha, co-authored, 2024)
“Industry-based Q&A Book: Regulations on Medical Devices” (Chuo Keizai-sha, co-authored, 2024)