Job Title: Paralegal / Legal Support Specialist (Japan & Korea)
Location: Tokyo, Japan (with partial remote support for Korea)
Reporting Line: Reports to Regional Finance/Executive Leadership
Overview
This role supports legal and intellectual property functions for a multinational retail organization across Japan and Korea. The position involves a broad range of legal support activities, including contract management, risk assessment, compliance, and intellectual property protection.
The role works closely with regional (APAC) and global legal teams, as well as external legal advisors, to provide practical legal support to business operations. English is frequently used for communication, documentation, and coordination with international stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities
Legal Risk & Advisory Support
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Conduct initial reviews and assessments of legal risks related to business activities
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Provide first-level guidance on internal legal inquiries (e.g., contracts, marketing, consumer matters, labor topics)
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Organize legal issues and escalate complex matters to regional or external legal counsel
Corporate Governance Support
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Maintain and manage company licenses, registrations, and official records
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Support administrative procedures related to executive appointments or corporate changes
Contract Review & Management
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Review and draft amendments for various agreements (e.g., NDAs, service agreements, marketing contracts, commercial leases)
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Coordinate contract terms with internal stakeholders
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Manage contract lifecycle processes, including tracking, filing, and database maintenance
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Support improvements and standardization of contract workflows
External Counsel Coordination
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Act as a liaison between internal teams, regional legal, and outside counsel
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Prepare documentation and background materials for legal consultations
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Review external counsel outputs and highlight key risks for internal stakeholders
Intellectual Property & Brand Protection
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Support anti-counterfeiting activities, including coordination with customs authorities
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Work with internal teams and external partners on brand protection initiatives
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Collect and analyze counterfeit-related data and prepare internal reports
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Maintain IP-related documentation and evidence
Global & Regional Collaboration
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Respond to requests from global and regional legal teams
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Support localization and implementation of global policies
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Assist with compliance programs, training materials, and data tracking
Additional Legal Support
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Conduct legal and regulatory research for Japan and Korea
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Assist with issue resolution (e.g., customer claims, vendor disputes)
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Prepare internal training materials related to legal and IP topics
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Provide administrative support for filings and regulatory inquiries
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Handle ad-hoc legal projects as needed
Requirements
Essential Qualifications
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2–3+ years of experience in a legal support or paralegal role (in-house or law firm)
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Experience reviewing and managing contracts
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Ability to read and communicate in English for business purposes
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Strong organizational, documentation, and time-management skills
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High level of integrity and understanding of confidentiality requirements
Preferred Qualifications
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Experience in intellectual property or anti-counterfeiting matters
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Exposure to Korean legal environment or language skills
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Background in retail, fashion, or consumer-related industries
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Experience working within a multinational organization
Additional Experience (Preferred by Hiring Team)
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3+ years of experience in intellectual property-related work
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3+ years of experience in the retail industry
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3+ years of experience in legal support roles
Personal Attributes
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Strong communication and stakeholder coordination skills
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Ability to manage tasks efficiently while maintaining accuracy
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Proactive and self-motivated approach to problem-solving
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Strong awareness of handling sensitive and confidential information