Professional Summary
Hideo Ohta has been practicing law for approximately 40 years, working mainly in the areas of environment, labor, and corporate and commercial. His practice also has a particular emphasis on soil contamination prevention law, including related litigation. In addition to his practice, he is a professor of law at Chuo Law School, where he has been teaching environment law, civil litigation practice and legal clinic for six years. Mr. Ohta currently serves as a member of the Firm’s Environment and Climate Change Practice Group.
Practice Focus
Mr. Ohta focuses on providing advice and legal services in environmental law and labor law. On the labor side, he advises particularly on corporate restructuring, early retirement packages, adjustment termination, selective termination and union negotiations. His experience also includes contract law concerning joint venture projects, partnerships, hotel and resort management, franchising, technical assistance, marketing, licensing, joint development, plants manufacturing and service, due diligence relating to mergers and acquisitions, international litigation and arbitration.
Representative Clients, Cases or Matters
- Performed environmental due diligence for a US company’s acquisition of factories in Japan.
- Advised clients on the development of environmental systems, including soil contamination regulations in Japan.
- Represented certain US subsidiaries in environment litigation.
- Advised clients on CERs resulting from CDM projects.
- Advised clients on ERUs resulting from JI projects, and on AAUs.
- Assisted US and German subsidiary companies in various labor issues, including early retirement as redundancy of workforce.
Publications, Presentations and Articles
- Co-editor, “Contaminated Real Estate Transactions from a Legal, Accounting and Tax Perspective,” Chuokeizai-sha, September 2012, Language: Japanese
- Chapter III of Basic Measures to Follow to Prevent Soil Contamination and Groundwater Pollution, Ohmsha, April 2012, Language: Japanese
- Editor, “Chapter 2: Business Environmental Law & Regulations,” Understanding the Manufacturing Process Flow Through Business Environment Law, LexisNexis, March 2012, Language: Japanese
- “Contaminated Real Estate: Practical Problems and Court Cases,” Chuo Law Journal Vol. VII No.4, March 2011
- “Impacts of the Amended Soil Contamination Law: Managing risk in relation to real estate transactions,” Risk Management Today, May 2010
- “Revised Soil Contamination Countermeasures Law and its Impact on Land Distribution,” Business Homu, November 2009
- “Revised Law and its Impact on Land Transactions,” Kankyo Kanri, July 2009
- “Legal and Taxation Matters concerning Trading of Contaminated Lands,” Chuo Keizaisha, June 2009
- “Responsibilities of the Seller and Issues to Note for the Buyer in Contaminated Land Transactions,” (Jiyu to Seigi, November 2008)
- “Soil Contamination in Japan – Practical and Legal Issues for the Buyer and Seller of Contaminated Land,” PLC Cross Border Environment Handbook, September 2008
- “Disclosure Liability of the Seller of Contaminated Land,” B&M Global Environmental Newsletter, Issue No. 5, August 2008
- “Liabilities of the Seller of Contaminated Land,” NBL, No. 874, 1 February 2008
- “M&A and Environmental Risks, Volumes 1 and 2,” Lexis Kigyo Homu, February and March 2007
- “Introduction to the Theory of Requirements and Facts – Introductory Lecture – A Day in the Classroom,” Hogaku Seminar, December 2006
- “Japan takes cautious steps toward Kyoto compliance,” IFLR Guide to Japan, January 2006
- “Soil Contamination Prevention Law: Q&A,” (published by Chuo Keizaisha, March 2003
- “Soil Contamination Prevention Law and M&A,” Journal of Junkan Keiri Joho, 1 February 2003
- “Points on New Foreign Investment Law in Vietnam,” Journal of Junkan Keiri Joho, February 1997
- “Asia Business Guide,” Nikkei BP, June 1996
- “Indirect Acquisition of Canadian Corporations and Canadian Foreign Investment Law,” Kokusai Shoji Homu, April 1983
- “Trend in Canadian Foreign Investment Law Practice,”Kokusai Shoji Homu, September 1982
- “A Study on the Teaching Method at Law Schools – Civil Trial Practice,” Law School Kenkyu, No. 1
Admissions
Japan (1977)
Professional Association and Memberships
- Japan Federation of Bar Associations – Member
- Tokyo Bar Association – Member
- Law School of Chuo University – Professor of law (2010-)
Education
Queen’s University (LL.M.) (1981)
Chuo University (Bachelor’s Degree Jurisprudence) (1972)