Our Team

Representative Partner & CEOMakoto Saito

Qualifications

• Attorney-at-Law, Japan (admitted 2001, 54th Class)
• Attorney-at-Law, State of New York (admitted 2008)
• Licensed Real Estate Transaction Agent (not registered)

Languages

• Japanese
• English

Education

• LL.B., Kyoto University, Faculty of Law
• LL.M., Columbia Law School

Professional Experience

2001 – 2009
Practiced law at Anderson Mori & Tomotsune, specializing in Corporate, M&A, Capital Markets, and Real Estate Securitization.
2009 – 2018
Served as in-house counsel at JPMorgan, working in the Tokyo office, New York headquarters, and Asia headquarters (Hong Kong), handling a wide range of legal matters, including interactions with regulators across jurisdictions.
2018 – 2023
Returned to Japan and held senior leadership positions, including Head of Legal at the Japan subsidiary of a UK securities firm and Head of Markets Compliance at the Japan subsidiaries of a U.S. bank and securities firm. Responsibilities included regulatory engagement as well as the design, implementation, and operation of internal controls.
2023 – Present
Founded First Compass LLC. Concurrently practicing as an attorney at Misono Sogo Law Office.
Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar honors.

COOToshiyuki Takeda

Qualifications

• Attorney-at-Law (Japan)
• Licensed Real Estate Transaction Agent (not registered)
• Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM®)

Professional Experience

Graduated from Hitotsubashi University, Faculty of Law, and completed the Economic Law and Legal Training programs at the University of Tokyo. He has held positions at Aisin Seiki, Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking, Aon Hewitt Japan, and PwC Aarata LLC. He has extensive experience in establishing internal control systems, governance, risk, compliance, and internal audit, and serves as an outside director for two companies, including a listed corporation.

ConsultantYumiko Watanabe

Qualifications

• Attorney-at-Law, State of New York (admitted 2005)

Languages

• Japanese
• English

Education

• LL.B., University of Tokyo, Faculty of Law
• LL.M., University of Virginia School of Law

Professional Experience

Held legal roles at MSD, Baxter, Baxalta, Shiseido, and served as Head of Legal & Compliance at VisasQ. Currently with Astellas Pharma, responsible for employment and litigation in Japan and East Asia.
Over 20 years of in-house experience in contract review, dispute resolution, labor matters, investigations, and audits. Strong exposure to multinational environments, overseas expansion, plus Japanese–English legal translation.

Consultant
Kieko Matsumura

Qualifications

• Certified Public Accountant (Japan, admitted 2014)

Languages

• Japanese
• English
• Spanish

Education

• B.A., Spanish Studies, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies

Professional Experience

Experienced in financial audits of financial institutions at an audit firm, and provided advisory services on accounting, tax, and internal controls to Japanese companies in Mexico through a Japanese bank’s local subsidiary and a consulting firm. Broad expertise in governance, risk management, and J-SOX implementation in Japanese, English, and Spanish. Currently engaged in consulting on internal controls and risk management, supporting IPO preparation and acting as interim CFO for start-ups, while also serving as a full-time statutory auditor at a pre-IPO company.

Head of Strategic Sales
Kou Matsumoto

Qualifications

• Tax Accountant
• Real Estate Transaction Specialist (Unregistered)

Languages

• Japanese

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, Seijo University
• MBA, Meiji University, Graduate School of Global Business

Professional Experience

Began career in 1998 at Nomura Real Estate Development Co., Ltd., handling real estate transactions.
Later worked at Tsuji Hongo Tax Corporation and CS Accounting Co., Ltd., supporting SMEs with process improvement, tax services for listed companies, and business succession.
Currently operates independently, advising SME owners and helping create long-term corporate value.

FellowMakoto Inamura

Deputy GM, Legal Affairs, Japan Tobacco Inc.

Education

Graduated from Seijo University, Faculty of Law.
Master of Laws (LL.M.), Keio University Graduate School of Law.
MBA, Chuo University Graduate School of Strategic Management.

Professional Experience

Joined the company’s Legal Department in 2000, handling litigation, regulatory compliance, labor issues, shareholder meetings, governance, and crisis management.In 2016, transferred to lead the Legal Team in the Tobacco Business Division, overseeing legal matters for the Japan market.Recently focused on enhancing legal department’s business value through initiatives like legal tech adoption.Researcher at LegalOn Technologies Legal Operations Institute.

FellowMasazumi Urabe

Professional Experience

Graduated from Kyoto University in 1979 and joined Itochu Corporation(ICT).
Worked consistently in ICT, including two overseas assignments (5 years in the US and 5 years in the UK), traveling to 48 countries.
In 2013, transferred to Nippon Access Inc. as Executive Managing Officer in charge of IT, leading SAP implementation and DX platform development.Currently also active as an ISO 9001:2015 auditor.
Lives with wife, daughter, and a Mame Shiba dog.