Miwa Shoda
Partner and Co-Chair of the firm’s Japan Practice
Jenner & Block LLP
Miwa Shoda was born and raised in Japan. After passing the Japanese bar exam when the passing rate was only 2.5%, she began her career at one of Japan’s premier law firms. With the blessing and support of that firm, she traveled to the US to receive her LL.M degree from University of Chicago Law School, and passed two more bar exams (New York and California) this time in a second language. Shoda then made groundbreaking steps from being a visiting attorney to associate and then partner at AmLaw 100 firms – a path unheard of within LL.M. and visiting attorney programs.
Since joining a US firm with no Asia footprint, Shoda has been pivotal in representing Japanese companies facing legal issues in the US. Calling on her international education and understanding of the business cultural differences, Shoda developed her skills for navigating Japanese clients through domestic issues.