Naoya Suzuki

Practice Areas

Education

2022: Graduate School of Law, Kyoto University (J.D.)

2020: Faculty of Law, Doshisha University (LL.B.)

2017: Aichi Prefectural Jishukan Senior High School

Experience

2023: Joined ZeLo

2023: Registered with Daini Tokyo Bar Association

2023: Qualified to Practice Law

2022: Passed Japan Bar Exam

Representative Works

Advised on regulatory trend analysis; strategic use of Japan's Grey Zone Clarification System and Regulatory Sandbox framework; and government relations activities aimed at legislative amendments and the licenses and regulatory approvals.
Advising both issuers and investors on startup financing from the seed stage through later stages, including common stock, preferred stock, J-KISS, and convertible bonds (CBs). Provided comprehensive legal support covering capital structure design, fundraising methods and exit strategies, contract negotiations, and execution of investments.
Serving as external counsel in corporate misconduct and reputational crisis matters, including initial response, internal investigations, and the formulation of external communication strategies. Worked closely with management and public relations teams to support effective risk management.
Advised on numerous M&A transactions involving both public and private companies, including corporate reorganizations and various transaction structures such as share transfers, mergers, demergers, and business transfers. Experience includes legal due diligence, contract negotiations, and post-closing integration support.
In addition, engaged in a wide range of matters, such as day-to-day contract review and negotiations (including cross-border transactions); preparation of internal rules and enhancement of governance frameworks for IPO readiness; support for establishing in-house legal departments; formation and dissolution of joint ventures between operating companies and startups; and resolution of corporate disputes, including inter-company disputes and company–shareholder disputes, as well as M&A-related litigation.