[MIKOTAMA Seminar #09: Crisis Management and Response to Misconduct]
We will be holding an event titled "Who Should You Consult? – The Fate of a Company is Decided in the First Week After a Scandal Comes to Light: Initial Response and How to Choose the Right Lawyer."
[February 2026, 10 (Wednesday) 14:15~]

Event Outline

"Suspicions of misconduct have surfaced within the company. Who should I consult first, and what should I talk about?"
Corporate scandals aren't just a problem for large corporations that make the news. Harassment complaints, embezzlement and kickbacks by accounting staff, falsification of quality data, social media posts by employees causing outrage, labor disputes over unpaid overtime, and even inappropriate behavior by executives can happen suddenly to any company, regardless of its size.

And what greatly influences subsequent responses is the "initial response." Mistakes in the initial response—such as misjudging the order in which interviews are conducted, resulting in the loss of evidence, delays in reporting to management, or being late in deciding whether to make a public announcement—often escalate a problem that could have been resolved into a serious crisis that shakes the company's credibility.

So why do companies stumble at the initial stage? It's not because they lack a sense of urgency or because the person in charge is incompetent; in most cases, it's because they lack a framework for deciding "who to consult." Companies have lawyers in various positions involved, such as legal counsel, in-house lawyers, outside directors with law degrees, and lawyers on third-party committees.
While all of them are "lawyers," their respective positions and roles within the company differ. Understanding who to consult in what situations is crucial for an appropriate initial response.

This seminar will provide a clear and concise overview of how to handle corporate misconduct, using this "map of contact points" as its foundation. We will discuss practical matters, from establishing systems to prepare during normal times, to initial responses immediately after the discovery of misconduct, how to conduct internal investigations, and collaboration with external experts, incorporating actual cases reported in the media.
This event is ideal not only for those who are currently struggling with how to handle such situations, but also for business owners and legal, general affairs, and compliance personnel who feel that such situations could occur within their own companies.

Main topics

• Scandals are not just a problem for "large corporations."
• Lawyers involved with a company—who should you consult?
• Initial response immediately after discovery
• How will the investigation proceed?
• Can scandals be "prevented"?
  *The contents may change on the day. We apologize for any inconvenience.

After the seminar, we will hold a social gathering where participants can ask questions and exchange information directly with each other and the lawyers in charge. We hope you will come to the venue.

Your First Class

[If participating at the venue]
Those who can participate at the venueApplication formOnly those who have requested to participate in person will be able to attend.
If the number of applicants exceeds the capacity, we will hold a lottery. Successful applicants will be notified by email, and unsuccessful applicants will be sent an email with the online streaming URL attached.

*If you are attending in person, we will ask you to submit a business card at the reception.

• Date and Time: Wednesday, October 14, 2026, 15:00-17:30 (tentative) (Social gathering from 16:30-17:30)
·venue:Mimura Komatsu Law Firm(Meiji Seimei Kan ６th Floor,２-１-１ Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo）
・Capacity: 30 people (first come, first served)　　　

[If you are participating online:
A viewing URL will be sent to the email address you registered when you applied.
When the time comes, please join us via the streaming URL that was sent to you via email.

Date and Time: Wednesday, October 14, 2026, 15:00-16:30 (tentative) 
・Capacity: 150 people

▼Event Overview
• Title: "Who Should You Consult? – The Fate of a Company is Decided in the First Week After a Scandal Comes to Light: Initial Response and How to Choose the Right Lawyer"
・Program: 14:30-15:00 Doors open
　　　　　　　15:00-15:05 Greetings
　　　　　　　15:05-16:10 Seminar (Lecturers: Sho Kosasa / Tomoji Yamada)
　　　　　　　16:10-16:30 Q&A　　 
　　　　　　　16:30-17:30 Social gathering (only for those attending the event)

[Seminar registration benefits]
The following document files and video link URLs will be sent to the email address you registered for this seminar, exclusively for those who have registered.
• Presentation materials (excerpt)
• Seminar videos (with viewing period restrictions)

・ Participation fee: Free
• Target audience: Executives and officers of companies that do not have a dedicated legal department, or whose legal affairs are handled by a small number of people who also handle other legal matters.
　　　　　Those in charge of general affairs, human resources, or management departments who are responsible for handling complaints about harassment and misconduct.
　　　　　Even if you have a legal advisor, have you ever felt unsure about "how much you can consult them about"?
　　　　　For those who wish to clarify their role in times of crisis as an outside director, auditor, etc.
　　　　　Those who are considering developing or reviewing their internal whistleblowing system or crisis management system.
　　　　　*Lawyers are not permitted to participate.

Your First Class

·inquiry:Mimura Komatsu Law Firm　Email: info＠mktlaw.jp

▼Instructor profile

Sho Kosasa
He joined Hironaka Law Office and was involved in criminal defense in high-profile cases that attracted significant social attention, as well as in large-scale defense team cases. He gained extensive experience on the front lines of crisis management, including dealing with clients and the media amidst intense media coverage. Subsequently, he moved to Mimura Komatsu Law Office and gained practical experience in corporate legal affairs (in-house) through a secondment to Nippon Steel Corporation.
Currently, her work focuses on internal investigations into harassment and misconduct (supporting both the investigating and investigated parties), external investigations as a member of third-party committees and special investigation committees, handling criminal cases involving company representatives and employees, and providing consultation and litigation related to intellectual property. She also serves as a member of a special investigation committee for a listed company.
"When a difficult situation arises, I want to be a lawyer who assesses the situation, takes initial action, and collaborates with experts in various fields as needed"—that's my motto.

Tomoji Yamada
Graduated from the University of Tokyo Faculty of Law in 1977. Worked at various courts from 1979, and from 1993 to 1997 served as a representative (litigation) for the government at the Litigation Department of the Tokyo Legal Affairs Bureau. Served as a judge in the Intellectual Property Division of the Tokyo High Court, and as presiding judge in the Intellectual Property Division, Corporate Law Division, and Administrative Litigation Division of the Osaka District Court, as well as the Intellectual Property Division of the Osaka High Court. Served as a notary public from 2017 to 2024, and joined Mimura Komatsu Law Offices in August 2024. Possesses extremely broad experience in intellectual property, corporate law, administrative litigation, government representation (litigation), and notarization.

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