So Saito

admitted in Japan and New York
s.saito@innovationlaw.jp
+81 3-5545-1820
Yuki Sato

So Saito set up the firm, formerly-named So Law Office in 2015 after having practiced law primarily in finance area, such as securitization, funds and derivatives for sixteen (16) years at one of the biggest Japanese law firms. He currently advises domestic and international clients in blockchain, fintech, venture finance, etc. He also assists startups and tech-companies such as VR/AR, AI, drone, MediTech, BioTech companies.

In 2020 he was ranked for FinTech Legal in Japan by Chambers Asia Pacific and for financial institution regulatory law in Japan by Best Lawyers (2021).

Practice Areas

Innovation, Technology, FinTech and Blockchain, Finance, Funds, M&A, General Corporate, Corporate Governance, Security, Construction and Infrastructure.

Languages

Japanese, English

09/2022 Corporate Auditor / HashPort, Inc.
05/2022 Metaverse Japan Association Auditor
12/2021 Corporate Auditor / LiB Consulting co.,ltd
10/2019 Japan STO Association Auditor
07/2016 Supervisory Director / Mitsubishi Estate Logistics REIT Investment Corporation
04/2015 Founder / So Law Office
2015 - 20218 Director / bitFlyer, Inc.
04/2015 Corporate Auditor / Topaz Capital, Inc.
09/2014 Legal Advisor / Japan Blockchain Association (Former name: Japan Authority of Digital Assets)
2014 - 2015 Compliance Officer / Funds (Type2 FIE Operator, Investment Advisor, Investment Manager)
06/2013 Attorney Director / Cedyna Servicer Co., Ltd.
2012 - 2018 Lecturer / the Chuo Graduate School of Accounting, specifically the MBA Program in International Accounting & Finance
2011 - 2012 Member of Workshop on Construction Contract Management held by the Ministry of Land, Infrastruacture, Transport and Tourism
2005 New York University, School of Law(LL.M.)
1997 The University of Tokyo, Faculty of Law(B.A.)
01/2023 Recognized for FinTech Practice by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2023
12/2022 Ranked as a lawyer in the FinTech field 2023 by Chambers and Partners
04/2022 Recognized for Financial institution regulatory law and FinTech practice by Best Lawyers in Japan 2023
01/2022 Recognized for FinTech Practice by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2022
12/2021 Ranked as a lawyer in the FinTech field 2022 by Chambers and Partners
04/2021 Recognized for Financial institution regulatory law and FinTech practice by Best Lawyers in Japan 2022
1999 Dai-ichi Tokyo Bar Association
2006 New York State Bar Association
2015 - FinTech Association Japan Individual / Supporting Member
2016 - Japan Association of the Law of Finance / Member
11/2017 ama University, The Center for Rule-making Strategies, “ICO (Initial Coin Offering) Business Research Group”
2016 - Japan UAS Industrial Development Association(JUIDA) / Individual Member
2005 - 2015 Securitization Forum of Japan Member of various committees
2011 - 2019 Association of Japanese Consulting Engineers (AJCE)(Currently, Engineering and Consulting Firms Associations, Japan(ECFA)) / Individual Supporting Member / Official Member
2012 - 2015 Japanese Conference on Overseas Development of Eco-Cities (J-CODE) Vietnam Working Group
03/2023 "Virtual Currency for Massive Power Consumption Transition to Environmental Type, Even After U.S. Lawsuit" NIKKEIGX
02/2023 "Anonymization service for virtual currency, sanctioned one after another for money laundering abuse." Nkkei
12/2022 “Metaverse & NFT” Impress Corporation
10/2022 "Legal Application of Metaverse Space Facing Many Issues and Considerations," Kinzai Weekly No. 3467 (October 11-18, 2022, Fall Issue)
07/2022 "Web 3.0 as Japan's Growth Strategy," NBL Magazine No. 1221 (July 1, 2022)　
10/2021 “Textbook of NFT” Asahi Shimbun Publications
03/2021 “2019 revised FIU and security tokens” Q&A A course to become strong in the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law and the Financial Instruments Sales Law
03/2021 “Practice and Law of Custody of Crypto Assets” The Financial and Business Law Precedents No.1611 (March 2021 special issue)
Legal Landscapes Governing Digital Tokens in Japan - Chamber of Digital Commerce
2019 Kinyu Homu Jijo "The appearance of the virtual currency Libra and Japanese laws and regulations on it "Financial Law Journal No.2123 (October 10th 2019 issue)
2019 “Life after Google” Supervision of Japanese translation (May 24th 2019 issue)
05/2019 “The basics of law in virtual currency”, Tokyo Omotenashi settai restaurant 50 /2020 (May 24th 2019 issue)
Chambers and Partners Global Practice Guide FinTech 2019 - Japan Chapter
07/2018 “Widespread use of cryptocurrency – current status and challenge for future” Website of National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan, July 2018 No.72 (2018 July 17 Issue)
06/2018 “Regulatory trends on virtual currency trading and/or ICO – by country/ region” “REGULATIONS” June 2018 vol.13 (2018 June 18 Issue)
12/2017 “Fundraising in the era of FinTech – Bank loans and VC remain to be the mainstream. For further development of ICO self-regulation is awaited” “REGULATIONS” December 2017 vol.11 (2017 December 11 Issue)
06/2017 “Symposium Ⅱ Legal issues surrounding transactional Fintech” Journal of the law of finance vol.33 (2017 June 26 Issue)
04/2017 “Effects of Payment Services Act, as amended”, Nikkin Journal No.732 May 2017 issue
10/2016 ”Virtual Currencies, Blockchain and their Financial Practices”, Financial Law Journal No.2051 (October 10th 2016 issue)
07/2015 ”Answers to the Seven Most Frequently Asked Questions on Bitcoins”, Nikkin Journal No.708 (July 2015 issue)
06/2015 ”Recent trends in regulation of cryptocurrencies in Japan and other countries”, Kinzai Weekly No.3123 (June 15th 2015 issue)
07/2014 Islamic business law and practice, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry
03/2014 ”Regulations under Existing Laws on Bitcoins”, Weekly Financial Affairs (March 31, 2014 edition)
10/2011 Vietnamese Real Property Law for Vietnam’s Urban Development, Shin-Toshi Vol.67 No.2 (February 2013 edition)
10/2011 Foreign national debt default and bond essentials, CDS, credit ratings and other legal complications, The Turnaround & Credit Management Quarterly No.134 (October 5th 2011 issue)
The opinions of large law firm attorneys regarding intermediate summary of issues of Civil Code (concerning credit) revision, Brief Summary of the opinions of Nishimura & Asahi Law Office Attorneys, NBL No.962 (October 1st 2011 issue)
05/2011 Effects of the Basel 2.5 Accord on the Securitization Schemes, Kinzai Legal issue No.1924 (25th June 2011 issue)
06/2011 Tax reforms for Japanese Sukuk, Islamic Finance news
06/2011 Nuclear power operators’ damage compensation obligations, Business law July 2011 issue
05/2011 2011 edition of Q&A regarding credit derivatives, Tokyo Financial Exchange J-CDS (Website), Japan Securities Clearing Corporation (JSCC)(Website)
05/2011 The Great East Japan Earthquake and Nuclear Power Damage Compensation System, Kinzai Weekly No.2930 (May 16th 2011 issue)
02/2011 Islamic Finance and the 2011 Tax Reform, Kinzai Weekly No. 2918 (February 14th 2011 issue)
09/2010 Financial Regulation and Side Effects – Credit Rating Firms in Focus, (Nishimura & Asahi Legal Outlook Vol.10) Website Law and Finance Journal, Asahi Judiciary
07/2010 ADR and CDS Business Revitalization – The Issue of Relevance to Credit Events and Acquiring Public Information, Kinzai Legal issue No.1902 (25th July 2010 issue)
06/2010 (New Practical Finance Introduction Series) Liquidation and securitization of assets and credit (2nd Edition), Kinzai Institute for Financial Affairs, Inc.
03/2010 Latest Financial Regulation, Commercial Law
05/2009 Effects of the Basel II Accord Revision on Securitization Exposure, Kinzai Weekly No.2835 (4th & 11th May 2009 joint issue) p.84-88
03/2009 CDS and the Counterparty Risk, Kinzai Weekly No.2829 (23rd March 2009 issue) pp. 60-61
02/2009 Q&A Regarding Credit Derivatives, Tokyo Financial Exchange J-CDS (Website) (co-author)
01/2009 Operation Managed by Banking Groups after the Lifting of the Islamic Banking Embargo, Banking Law Journal 21 No.697 (January 2009 issue)
12/2008 Bankruptcy of Securitized Products and Restructuring of Applicable Credit, Servicer Quarterly No.15 (December 25th 2008 issue)
11/2008 Recent changes to the Japanese banking regulations on Islamic financeComplinet.com (Website)
06/2008 Japanese Legal Issues Regarding the Entry of Domestic Financial Institutions into Islamic Financial System, Business Law August 2008 issue pp. 100-107
03/2008 Securities with Links to Insurances and Japanese Legal Considerations, Aioi Basic Research Review 4th issue
03/2008 Recent regulatory topics on Islamic finance in JapanAsian-Counsel
02/2008 The Use of Trusts in Regards to Corporate and Company Law, Citizens and Law No.49 (February 2008 issue) pp. 24-33
07/2007 The Extent of Regulated Transactions as Clarified by Cabinet and Cabinet Office Directives, Japan Compliance Officer Association July 2007 issue
03/2007 Asset Liquidation Law (SPC law) and Trust Finance and Commerce, Precedent No.1261 (March 2007 special issue)
03/2023 "DAOs and Japanese Law – Current Status and Future” Liberal Democratic Party’s Parliamentarians for Blockchain Promotion
03/2023 "Recent Trends and Further Development of Web3" SBI Financial and Economic Research Institute Co., Ltd.
03/2023 "The Future of Finance - The Revolutionary Role of AI" FinGATE
02/2023 "Recent Trends and Future Prospects of Web3 - including Similarities with Securitization Transactions -" Securitization Forum of Japan
02/2023 "Fintech x web3 x Sustainability" Fintech Association & Japan Blockchain Association co-hosted event
"Metaverse Business Potential and Laws and Regulations: Relationship between Domestic and Foreign Cases and Japanese Laws" InfoCom Research, Inc.
02/2023 Japan Empowerment Summit 2023 presented by Metaverse Japan "Standardization of the Metaverse From Japan to the world"
01/2023 "Metaverse Business Potential and Laws and Regulations: Relationship between Domestic and Foreign Cases and Japanese Laws"Japan Research Institute for New Systems of Society
12/2022 NFT Summit Tokyo 2022 "Regulations and Issues Companies Need to Know When Entering Web 3"
12/2022 Legal Plus Smmit event JAPAN "Crypto & Blockchain Disputes in Japan – Whats Coming in 2023"
10/2022 "Token regulation in Japan" THE TOKENIZER
10/2022 GC Summit Japan event "Emerging Tech - Web3, AI, Metaverse, Robotics etc."
10/2022 "What is the "Metaverse"? [Business Trends]" LiB Consulting co.,ltd
09/2022 1st Cocone web3 event "Anatomy of the web3 business scheme in Japan".
09/2022 "NFT, Metaverse and Japanese Law" Society for the Study of Finance and Treasury
02/2022 EY Japan FinTech Seminar "How to Establish the NFT Market in Society”
02/2022 “Study Session on Attracting International Financial Functions” held by Fukuoka Prefecture.
02/2022 “DeFi and Japanese Law“ at SBI Financial and Economic Research Institute
07/2021 “Sports NFT and Japanese Law” / Mobile Content Forum(MCF)　Lecturer
02/2021 “Embedded Finance”/ Fintech Association of Japan　Moderator
10/2020 “DeFi and Japanese law”/ Fintech Association of Japan　Presenter/ Panelist
09/2020 Fintech Engineer Training Seminar #10: "The Current Situation and Future of Decentralized Finance (DeFi)" [Handout in JP]
04/2020 ACCJ Webinar [Handout in EN]
Results of Public Comments on Crypto Asset Derivatives Transactions and Crypto Asset Margin Transactions／JCBA [Handout in JP]
STO Panel
STO Seminar/Financial Facsimile News Seminar [Handout in JP]
02/2019 Financing through STO (Security Token Offering) - legal issues in and out of Japan / Financial Management Forums, Inc.
EAMZ Blockchain Summit 2019 Discussion, “STO’s - The New Kid On The Block”
02/2019 “Comparative Analysis on STO (Security Token Offering ) in Japan and in Korea - Commentary on STO Regulations by attorneys from both countries”/CoinBeneJapan Sponsored Event [Handout in JP]
“Will STO(Security Token Offering) bring blockchain a renewed prospority? ”/Jinse Meetup #JAPAN #VOL.2
“Cross Chain decentralized exchanges how would they boost development of wallet blockchain industry?”/AtoX & TEAM Cross chain Event
01/2019 “Widespread use of crypto currency – current status and challenge for future”/2018 Asia Pacific Blockchain (Tokyo) Summit [Handout in JP]
09/2018 “Crypto Crimes and Investigatory methodologies”/Aichi prefectural police headquarters
“Understanding Blockchain Investments: Virtual Currencies and Japan Regulations” / The American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) [Handout in EN]
06/2018 “Role of Crypto-currency Exchange and Japanese VC Act”／ASEAN＋3 BOND MARKET FORUM (ABMF) [Handout in EN]
Latest Trends Surrounding Virtual Currency and Its Legal System /JIPDEC [Handout in JP]
“ICO in Japan: Current Trend and Regulations” /Blockchain for Enterprise 2018 in Nagoya [Handout in JP]
02/2018 “Virtual Currency Market in Japan” /PRC-Japan Virtual Currency Conference No.1 [Handout in JP]
“Bitcoin and its criminal use – criminal cases”/National Police Agency, Cybercrime Division, Training Session
“ICO and Japanese Law”/Financial Facsimile News Seminar [Handout in JP]
10/2017 “Legal Framework for ICO”/ICO Conference [Handout in JP]
09/2017 “Bitcoin and its criminal use – criminal cases”/Gunma prefectural police headquarters
“Summary of Japanese laws applicable to ICO” / Japan Blockchain Association Meetup VOL.2
08/2017 Study Sessions “Bitcoin and related criminal cases”/National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan
01/2017 Cabinet Order, Cabinet Office Ordinance and the Guidelines of the Virtual Currency Law／at Japan Blockchain Association Virtual Currencies Sector regular meeting [Handout in JP]
04/2017 Results of public comments: Virtual Currencies Act – Japan Blockchain Association Virtual Currencies Sector regular meeting [Handout in JP]
11/2016 Study Sessions of Investment Contract for Entrepreneurs “Funding, Investment Contract and Shareholders’ Agreement of Startups” / Fin Book Camp [Handout in JP]
10/2016 “Comments on New Virtual Currency Regulation and Treatment of Bitcoin in Bankruptcy Proceedings” [Handout in JP]
09/2016 Latest Trends Surrounding Virtual Currency and Its Legal System / JIPDEC [Handout in JP]
08/2016 Current Situation, Specific Cases and Legal Issues of FinTech and Blockchain Businesses / Seminar-info
Current Situation, Specific Cases and Legal Issues of FinTech and Blockchain Businesses / Seminar-info
06/2016 Legal issues of Blockchain technology which is of current interest as a new IT infrastructure／Financial Management Forums
07/2016 Current situation and future regulation of virtual currency／Chubu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry
Bitcoin, Blockchain and Japanese Law／The Japanese Institute of Certified Public Accountants
New regulation of virtual currency in Japan／Monthly Party With Mrs And Miss Bitcoin
04/2016 New regulation of virtual currency in Japan／Japan Authority of Digital Assets Workshop [Handout in JP]
Prospective expansion of Drone business and legislative issues in Japan／Financial Facsimile News Seminar
01/2016 Current situation and legal issues of FinTech business／Financial Management Forums
Legislation and Infrastructure in Need of Fintech Reform – Trends and Prospects Surrounding Virtual Currency / GMS Forum 2015
07/2015 Current State of Digital Currency Regulation in Japan, Regulation Panel／The New Context Conference 2015 Tokyo
02/2015 The Rise of Bitcoin / Rakuten Financial Conference 2015
01/2015 Inside Bitcoins Singapore
09/2014 Bitcoin Regulation and Activities of the Japan Authority of Digital Assets／Bitcoin Center NYC
06/2014 Bitcoin business and the Japanese law / Financial Facsimile News Seminar
04/2014 Overview of Bitcoins and Handling under the Japanese Law / Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities Seminar
02/2014 Outline of Bitcoins and Position under Japanese Law
03/2013 Practical Operation of Contract Management and Disputes for “New Managers” in Overseas Construction Businesses
12/2012 Vietnamese Law, Vietnamese Real Property Law and Urban Development Law for Vietnam’s Urban Development
10/2012 Capital Procurement (Contingent Capital) under Basel III
05/2012 Case Examples of Losses Suffered / Overseas Construction Projects Contract Management for “New Managers” in Overseas Construction Projects
03/2012 Legal Issues relating to the Default of Sovereign Debt
10/2011 Case Examples of Failures and Disputes of Overseas Construction seen in Publically Announced Materials and Future Risk Management
09/2011 Methods of Capital Procurement under Basel III
07/2011 Legal Issues and Future Corporate Responses relating to Reconstruction following the Great East Japan Earthquake
01/2011 Various Issues of CDS Practice and Credit Event Assessments
12/2010 Japan and the Islamic financial markets
11/2009 Japan and the Islamic financial markets
09/2009 Investment in securitized and structured products and risk management and dispute resolution
04/2009 Finance Strategies that Stay One Step Ahead
Graduate School of International Corporate Strategy (ICS) Endowed Class “Practical Aspects of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act”
02/2009 Islamic Finance and Japanese Legal System
06/2019 The financial crisis and practical remedies to the financial and economic situation in local areas
12/2022 ASIAN LEGAL BUSINESS Japan Edition (December 2022)
06/2022 ASIAN LEGAL BUSINESS Japan Edition (June 2022)
06/2022 Nihon Keizai newspaper On-line, June 10, 2022
06/2022 Asahi newspaper, June 6, 2022
01/2022 Nikkei X Trend, January 17, 2022
12/2021 SBI Financial and Economic Research Institute, December 24, 2021
12/2021 CoinDesk, December 17, 2021
12/2021 The Finance, December 17, 2021
11/2021 TBS "news23", November 10, 2021
10/2021 ASIAN LEGAL BUSINESS Japan Edition (October 2021)
09/2021 Nihon Keizai newspaper, September 29, 2021 page 38
06/2021 The Japan Times, June 9, 2021 NFT interest growing in Japan, but legal worries persist
04/2020 Hokkaido newspaper, April 12, 2020 page 26
09/2019 Nihon Keizai newspaper, September 24, 2019 page 8
07/2019 Yomiuri newspaper, July 26, 2019 page 6
06/2019 Nihon Keizai newspaper On-line, June 29, 2019
02/2019 Sanyo newspaper, February 24, 2019 Page 4
11/2018 Nihon Keizai newspaper On-line, November 18, 2018
11/2018 Asahi newspaper, November 14, 2018 Page 10
07/2018 Kobe newspaper, July 26, 2018
05/2018 Nikkei Business No.1940, May 7, 2018
05/2018 Nikkei newspaper, May 5, 2018 Page 26
03/2018 Weekly Toyo Keizai No.6781, March 17, 2018
02/2018 Sunday Mainichi February 13, 2018, The February 25, 2018 Issue
02/2018 Yomiuri newspaper, February 6, 2018 Page 7
12/2017 Nikkei newspaper, December 10, 2017 Page 2
11/2017 Toyo Keizai newspaper On-line, November 4, 2017
11/2017 Weekly Toyo Keizai No.6758, November 4, 2017
09/2017 Nikkei Sangyo newspaper(Nikkei Industrial Journal), September 20, 2017
09/2017 AERA No.40, September 18, 2017
09/2017 Nikkei Business No.1907, September 11, 2017
08/2017 Nikkei Business No.1905, August 28, 2017
08/2017 Sankei newspaper, August 18, 2017
08/2017 Nikkei Online, August 18, 2017