Professional Summary
Kento Tanei is a member of the Employment & Compensation group at Baker McKenzie’s Tokyo office. Kento was seconded to the Japanese government Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) from April 2021 to March 2023 as a professional in labor-related laws. While at the MHLW, he was responsible for amendments to the Labor Standards Act, the Labor Contract Act and other labor-related laws.
Practice Focus
Kento handles the full range of labor/employment law matters for domestic and international companies, including general labor disputes, harassment allegations and drafting of terms and conditions of employment. He has particularly extensive experience with cases of unilateral termination and solicitation of voluntary resignation and also handles the labor law aspects of M&A and corporate reorganization projects.
Representative Clients, Cases or Matters
- Assisted various domestic and international clients in cases of unilateral termination and solicitation of voluntary resignation based on employee performance issues and/or misconduct, and in cases of redundancies and other terminations resulting from economic issues on the employer’s side (including employee transfers, unilateral termination and solicitation of voluntary resignation).
- Represented various domestic and international clients before labor tribunals and in courts of law in cases involving unilateral termination and solicitation of voluntary resignation, collective bargaining with trade unions and dealings with the Labor Standards Inspection Office and the Labor Bureau.
- Investigated harassment and/or misconduct by officers and/or employees of domestic and international clients and analyzed appropriate disciplinary measures and other actions in response.
- Assisted various domestic and international clients in drafting and reviewing employment agreements, work rules and other HR and labor-related documents, and in researching regulations on wages and working hours.
- Provided labor law-related support for M&A and corporate reorganization projects, such as deal structuring, due diligence and overall project management.
- Assisted various domestic and international clients with issues related to the Companies Act — such as the appointment and termination of directors — and HR and labor matters under the Act on the Protection of Personal Information.
Publications, Presentations and Articles
Publications
- Author, “Cutting-Edge Labor and Employment Practice: Remote Work, Resignation Proxy Services, Job-Based Employment and Other Recent Issues,” Gyosei, August 2026, Language: Japanese
- Co-author, “Supply Chains and Legal Practice,” Keiso Shobo, February 2026, Language: Japanese
- Co-author, “Key Points for Labor Law Due Diligence in M&A Transactions [3rd Edition],” Shojihomu, August 2025, Language: Japanese
Articles
- Author, “Practical labor tribunal cases, no. 184: handling labor tribunal proceedings for small, foreign-affiliated companies,” Chuo Rodo Jiho, National Federation of Labor Standards Associations, July 2026, Language: Japanese
- Author, “Cutting-edge labor and employment practice, no. 3: workplace romance, workplace affairs and labor law,” Gyosei, February 2026, Language: Japanese
- Author, “Analyzing labor case law through the burden of proof, no. 14: burden of proof in disciplinary actions based on the Morgan Stanley Group case,” Rodo Kaihatsu Kenkyukai, December 2025, Language: Japanese
- Author, “Cutting-edge labor and employment practice, no. 2: remote work and labor law,” Gyosei, December 2025, Language: Japanese
- Author, “Cutting-edge labor and employment practice, no. 1: Generation Z and labor law,” Gyosei, October 2025, Language: Japanese
- Author, “Labor law issues related to the overseas expansion of Japanese companies,” International Business Law, May 2025, Language: Japanese
- Author, “Latest issues regarding reduction and non-payment of retirement allowance based on recent court precedents,” Business Houmu, Chuokeizai-sha, April 2025, Language: Japanese
- Author, “Enterprise Value Charge and related labor law issues,” Romujijo, SANRO Research Institute, Inc., March 2025, Language: Japanese
- Author, “Labor law practice for international companies doing business in Japan,” Romujijo, SANRO Research Institute, Inc., August 2024, Language: Japanese
- Co-author, “Effective April 1, 2024: Changes to the deemed working time system for discretionary work,” Baker McKenzie Client Alert, February 2024, Language: English
- Co-author, “What effect will the ‘clear notice’ requirement on the scope of possible changes in employees’ workplaces and duties have on employment generally and on transfer and unilateral termination?” BUSINESS LAWYERS, January 2024, Language: Japanese
- Co-author, “Effective April 1, 2024: Changes to employer’s obligation to provide clear notice of terms of employment,” Baker McKenzie Client Alert, January 2024, Language: English
- Co-author, “COVID-19 (Coronavirus): Obligations and Other Considerations for Employers in Japan,” Baker McKenzie Client Alert, April 2020, Language: English
- Co-author, “Working style reform-related bills,” Baker McKenzie Client Alert, July 2018, Language: English
Presentations
- Speaker, “Introduction to Japanese Labor Law for International Companies (Part 2),” Tokyo Employment Consultation Center, August 2026, Language: English
- Speaker, “HR and labor management for foreign-affiliated companies,” Global HR Conference in Japan, May 2026, Language: Japanese
- Speaker, “Introduction to Japanese Labor Law for International Companies (Part 1),” Tokyo Employment Consultation Center, May 2026, Language: English
- Speaker, “Labor law practice for foreign-affiliated companies,” International Labor Management Study Group, April 2026, Language: Japanese
- Speaker, “What is the Labor Standards Act?” Tokyo Employment Consultation Center, February 2026, Language: English
- Speaker, “Labor Law Issues Unique to International Companies,” JETRO, November 2025, Language: English
- Speaker, “Notice of Employment Conditions,” Tokyo Employment Consultation Center, October 2025, Language: English
- Speaker, “Labor law considerations when hiring foreign nationals,” Tokyo Employment Consultation Center, September 2025, Language: Japanese
- Speaker, “How to Draft Employment Agreement,” Tokyo Employment Consultation Center, August 2025, Language: English
- Speaker, “Enterprise Value Charge and labor law,” Tokyo Bar Association, Special Committee on Labor Legislation, July 2025, Language: Japanese
- Speaker, “Regulations related to Wages and Other Payments under Japanese Labor Law,” Tokyo Employment Consultation Center, July 2025, Language: English
- Speaker, “Labor law issues related to the overseas expansion of Japanese companies,” International Business Law, June 2025, Language: Japanese
- Speaker, “Regulations related to Holidays and Leave under Japanese Labor Law,” Tokyo Employment Consultation Center, June 2025, Language: English
- Speaker, “Commencement and End of Employment,” Tokyo Employment Consultation Center, May 2025, Language: English
- Speaker, “Change of Workplace and Duties, Secondment and Employee Transfer,” Tokyo Employment Consultation Center, February 2025, Language: English
- Speaker, “Working Hour Regulations under Japanese Labor Law,” Tokyo Employment Consultation Center, December 2024, Language: English
- Speaker, “Commencement and End of Employment,” Tokyo Employment Consultation Center, November 2024, Language: English
- Speaker, “Labor law practice for international companies doing business in Japan,” Roseijiho Seminar, July 2024, Language: Japanese
Admissions
Japan (2015)
Professional Association and Memberships
- Tokyo Bar Association – Member
Education
Keio University Law School (JD)(2014)
Waseda University (LLB)(2012)
Languages
Japanese
English