International law firm Bird & Bird is expanding its team in Japan with the addition of Aya Saito, who joins the firm from Boston Consulting Group (“BCG”) where she served as Legal Lead for Northeast Asia.
With over 15 years of commercial experience, including in-house roles at BCG and Accenture, Aya brings substantial capability across the full spectrum of cross-border technology and outsourcing transactions, in particular regarding system integration and business outsourcing projects, as well as data privacy, AI and other regulatory and compliance matters.
At Bird & Bird, Aya will work closely with the Tokyo Managing Partner, Hiroyuki Iwamura, to develop the firm’s Japan practice across key sectors including Technology & Communications, Energy & Utilities, Retail & Consumer, and Life Sciences & Healthcare. Aya will leverage the considerable experience she has gained from working at consulting firms such as BCG and Accenture to assist Japanese companies and businesses with technology and outsourcing transactions in order to achieve their commercial objectives. In addition, Aya will leverage her experience as a global in-house lawyer to help clients on the day-to-day legal issues they face as they expand and develop their businesses.
Working closely with over 1600 Bird & Bird lawyers around the network, Bird & Bird Japan provides clients with a holistic offering – combining leading local Japanese knowledge with the global expertise of the firm’s international team.
Hiroyuki Iwamura, Tokyo Managing Partner and Corporate partner at Bird & Bird, says: “We are delighted to welcome Aya to the firm. Her broad experience is complementary to our existing capabilities and will enhance the depth of service we can offer to our clients in Tokyo. Her blend of experience and understanding of in-house needs will resonate with our clients who are looking for an international law firm in Japan who understands the Japanese companies’ complex commercial and legal needs. Welcome to the firm Aya!”
Fabian Niemann and Mark Leach, co-heads of the international Tech Transactions Practice Group at Bird & Bird, comment: “Our international Tech Transactions practice continues to go from strength to strength, and Aya will be a valuable addition to the team. Her unique skill set and broad experience, gained during her time spent in-house, greatly complements Hiro’s expertise and will bolster our already robust international capabilities, providing immense benefits to clients across the Bird & Bird network.”
Aya adds: “I am thrilled to join the Tokyo office of Bird & Bird. The firm’s strong focus on technology and its outstanding reputation for fostering collaborative culture have always appealed to me. I am looking forward to working with my new colleagues at Bird & Bird, both in Japan and internationally, to support clients as they grow and expand in a world of rapid technology change”.
