Satoru Kohdera

Managing Partner
  • Lawyer (Kobe & Tokyo offices)

Satoru Kohdera practices in the areas of general corporate law, bankruptcy and civil rehabilitation, medical negligence and administrative law. He also has experience in guardianship cases regarding the management of assets of the elderly as well as wills and the administration of deceased estates. Satoru also holds a current appointment as an external auditor of a publicly listed company and uses that experience to provide legal advice regarding corporate governance and compliance. He has previously served as the President of the Hyogo Bar Association and the Vice President of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations. He currently serves as the President of the Hyogo Bar Association’s international relations committee.

Professional History

1958 Born in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan
1984 Graduated from Osaka University Faculty of Law
1988 Passed Bar exam
1991 Completed legal training; registered as a lawyer; entered Ohshiro Law Office
1993 Partner of Higashimachi Law Office
1999〜2000 Kobe city nursing care service provider evaluation committee member
2000~2004 Amagasaki city information disclosure review committee member
2000〜2012 Kobe city public welfare research committee, special member
2003~2004 Vice president of Hyogo Bar Association
2004~2006 Adjunct instructor, Kwansei Gakuin University Faculty of Law
2004~ Kobe Anshin Support committee member
2004~ Auditor, Kanki Inc.
2006~ Civil mediator (Sasayama Summary Court, Kobe Summary Court)
2006~2009 Kobe city public welfare research committee, special member
2009~2012 Chairman of regional support examination committee, Hyogo regional office, Japan Legal Support Center
2012~2014 Deputy Director, Hyogo regional office, Japan Legal Support Center
2012~2014 Board of Trustees selection committee member, Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation
2012~ Board of Trustees selection committee member, Kobe Public Welfare Promotion Association
2013~2016 Kato city information disclosure review committee member
2013~2017 Substitute auditor, Kawasaki Heavy Industries
2014~2014 External committee member investigating bribery of former staff member of the Kobe City Hospital Organization
2015~ Managing partner of Higashimachi LPC
2015~2016 Kobe volunteer probation officer selection committee member
2015~2016 President of Hyogo Bar Association
2016~2017 Vice president of Japan Federation of Bar Associations
2017~2018 Disciplinary committee member, Kobe Public Welfare Promotion Association
2017~ Member of expert committee regarding creating dementia patient-friendly communities (Kobe city)
2017~2020 Auditor, Kawasaki Heavy Industries
2018~2019 Member of examination committee regarding the proper enforcement of residential requirements under the Public Offices Election Act (Ono city)
2020~2022 Outside Director (Audit & Supervisory Committee Member), Kawasaki Heavy Industries

Publications

Co-editor of “The Elements of the Tramper Shipping Business” by Shigeru Tamura; 2009, Inui Steamship Co., Ltd.
Co-author of “An easy to understand guide to company law”; 2003, Shin Nihon Hoki

Seminars and Presentations

“Public servants and the revised Civil Code”
2018 Harima-Awaji Regional Association of Equity Commissions staff workshop (12th December 2018)
Debt recovery training
Kato city (29th February 2016)
“Practical implementation of the revisions to the Labor Contracts Act and the Stabilization of Employment of Elderly Persons Act”
Kobe Chamber of Commerce and Industry (19th December 2012)
“Seminar for supporters on how to utilise adult guardianship (in Tamba and Kakogawa)”
Hosted by Rights Protection Centre Partner Hyogo, supported by Hyogo Association of Certified Social Workers (21st and 23rd November 2010)
“Explanation of the Adult Guardian System”
2010 guardian training seminar hosted by the Japanese Association of Certified Social Workers (11th July 2010)

Major Published Cases

Compensation claim case (the “Amagasaki Municipal Amagasaki Higashi Senior High School Case”, (Kobe District Court, 10th September 2002, published in Rodo Hanrei No. 841, p. 73)

Major Maritime Cases

Case claiming compensation for damage due to the oil spill from the tanker Nakhodka, Fukui District Court case number Heisei 11 (1999) (Wa) 295
Case seeking a provisional disposition order against a vessel (published in 1991 “Kaijihou Kenkyukai Journal” No. 111, p1-13)

Memberships

Kobe Rotary Club
Japan Bar Association
National Insolvency Lawyers Network