MIWA SHODA
Partner; Co-Chair, Japan Practice
Jenner & Block LLP
Born and raised in Japan, Miwa Shoda passed the country’s bar exam when the passing rate was only 2.5%. She began her career at one of Japan’s premier law firms and then traveled to the US for her LL.M degree, and passed the California and New York bar exams in her second language. Shoda then made groundbreaking transition from a visiting attorney to associate and then partner.
Shoda has been pivotal in representing Japanese companies facing legal issues in the US. The Japanese legal system is fundamentally different from the US. Japan is a civil law country, as opposed to common law. This, coupled with the language barrier, presents challenges for Japanese companies navigating US legal issues. Calling on her international education and understanding of the business cultural differences, Shoda has a strong ability to articulate complicated legal concepts and strategies across practice areas in complex litigation and sophisticated transactions.
