北川 リサ 美智子は、日米間のビジネスに精通する国際弁護士のトップのひとりとして、在米の日系企業より大変高い評価を頂戴しております。法律業務内容は、主に日系企業のビジネスに関するもので、訴訟（裁判、仲裁、上訴）、債権回収、国際取引法、契約法、雇用法（ハンドブック、懲戒、解雇、訴訟、差別、セクハラ等、業務再編成、非課税組織再編、不動産法（売買、リース等）、会社法、銀行法等、多岐にわたり豊富な経験を生かして活躍しております。北川氏はカリフォルニア州、テキサス州、ジョージア州、ニューヨーク州及びミシガン州の5州の弁護士資格を所有しており、日系企業の皆様方に高質かつ親切丁寧な、真心のこもったサービスを常に提供しております。

北川弁護士は、アメリカと日本の両国で教育を受けており、日本では京都大学大学院法学部（1986年､修士）､アメリカではロヨラ大学法学部（1982年､法学博士）ならびに南カリフォルニア大学商学部（1979年､学士）を卒業しており、1981年には東京大学でも研修いたしました。また、北川氏はアメリカ人の弁護士としては三人目の京都大学大学院法学修士号を授与された弁護士であり、日本の文部省ならびに日本大学婦人協会より奨学金を受けました。氏は1993年に独立し、北川&イベート法律事務所を開設するまで、いくつかの大手国際法律事務所の弁護士として活躍いたしました。氏の京都大学時代の恩師である北川善太郎教授が総監修した、画期的な英文での専門書「日本でビジネスをする」の一部執筆も手がけており、日本語も堪能です。

北川弁護士は、アメリカ弁護士協会、カリフォルニア州弁護士協会、テキサス州弁護士協会、ニューヨーク州弁護士登録、ジョージア州弁護士協会、ミシガン州弁護士協会、オレンジ郡弁護士協会、米国日系弁護士協会、南カリフォルニア日系企業協会（JBA）、京都大学同窓会（洛友会）、東京大学同窓会（南加東大会）、サンディエゴ日系ビジネス協会、ダラス日本人会、ヒューストン日本商工会、オースティン日本コミュニティー、ジョージア日本人商工会、法律実施協会国際法務部の元諮問委員会役員のメンバーとして活躍しているほか、 カリフォルニア州弁護士協会国際法部幹部会のアドバイザーも務めました。また、南カリフォルニア日系企業協会（JBA）、ダラス日本人会（DJA）、ヒューストン日本商工会（JBAH）、日本貿易振興機構JETRO (ロスアンゼルスとヒューストン)、 南加日系商工会議所（JCCSC）、サウスベイ経営セミナー（SBMS）、大阪商工会議所、企業研究会(BRI)、日本在外企業協会（日外協）等、日本及び米国内で多数の日本企業協会に向けてセミナー講演をしました。北川氏の日米間の法律についてのインタビューは、L.A.タイムズ新聞のビジネスセクション、三菱UFJリサーチ & コンサルティング、ILSマガジン、羅府新報、トランス・パシフィック誌及び企業概況ニュース（U.S.ジャパン・パブリケーション発行）で度々報道されました。2017年8月7日は全米アメリカ法曹協会の「雇用法」の部において、その特別メンバーとして選ばれ、取り上げられました。また、2018年5月では日本テキサス経済サミットでスピーカーとして講演をしました。北川氏は連邦最高裁判所の他、第9連邦控訴裁判所、連邦地方裁判所（CAの中区・南区、GAの北区）、連邦税務裁判所、連邦請求裁判所の認定登録弁護士です。氏は、法律家ランキングで権威あるマーティンデール・ハベル社の法的能力・道徳性の優秀評価を与えられております。 北川氏は日本人や日系アメリカ人のコミュニティー組織団体でも活躍しており、リーガルクリニックやスカウトBSAでもボランティアを務め、釣りや海洋保全について子供たちへ教育をしてきました。また、様々な学校や企業に向け、日本のこと、日系アメリカ人の歴史、文化や法律について、講義を行っています。 北川氏は日本の企業と日系企業、コミュニティー組織団体への多くの寄付やサポートもしております。 北川氏は、多数のセミナーを開講しており、アメリカ及び日本のビジネス法に関する執筆も精力的に行っております。以下に氏の活動の一部をご紹介します。

  • Publications

    Seminars

    • Mergers and Acquisitions of High Tech Companies, Osaka and Tokyo, Japan (April 1990);
    • Fundamentals of Real Estate Investment & Development, Osaka and Tokyo, Japan (April 1990);
    • Doing Business with the Japanese, Japan Festival in San Diego (January 1992);
    • International Business Transactions with the Pacific Rim, State Bar Statewide Minority Attorneys’ Conference (June 1992);
    • Hate Crimes and Japan-Bashing, O.C. Japanese Coalition (June 1992);
    • U.S.-Japan Relations, Future of the Nikkei Community Conference (October 1992);
    • Representing and Negotiating with the Japanese, California State Bar International Law Section Education Institute (November 1992);
    • International Law and Technology Conference, California State Bar International Law Section (January 1993);
    • Legal and Business Considerations in Acquisitions, including Auctions, RTC/FDIC, REO, Bankruptcy and Probate Sales, Osaka and Tokyo, Japan (June 1993);
    • Business Law Tips For Avoiding Litigation and Overview of the Litigation Process (January 1996);
    • Japanese Women’s Symposium (July 1997);
    • Termination Procedures, So. California Ikkikai Benkyokai (May 1998);
    • Separation Agreements, So. California Ikkikai Benkyokai (June 1998);
    • Sexual Harassment, South Bay Management Seminar (July 1998);
    • Sexual Harassment, Osaka University, Japan (January 2000);
    • Legal Education and Training in the U.S., Osaka University, Japan (January 2000);
    • Treaty of Friendship Commerce & Navigation, Kanazawa University, Japan (April 2001);
    • Legal Strategies for Success in the U.S., Japan Pharmaceutical Mfrs. Assoc. (April 2002);
    • Legal Risk Management in the U.S., Wakunaga of America Co., Ltd. (July 2002);
    • Overview of the Acquisition of a Private Company, (July 2002);
    • California Employment Law Recent Developments, Japan Pharmaceutical Mfrs. Assoc. (April 2004);
    • Recent Legal Developments & Legal Risk Management, California Ikkikai Benkyokai (June 2005);
    • Sexual Harassment Claims, California Ikkikai Benkyokai (December 2005);
    • Collection Litigation, California Ikkikai Benkyokai (January 2006);
    • RIF – Reduction in Force, South Bay Management Seminar (December 2008);
    • RIF – Reduction in Force “Surviving the Recession,” Japan Business Association (June 2009);
    • Employment Risk Management “7 Key Points for Japanese Executives,” Japan Business Association (September 2010);
    • Employment Risk Management, NA AISIN Group (June 2011);
    • Employment Risk Management “Managing Labor Costs in a Changing Economy,” Japan Business Association (September 2011);
    • “Business Legal Structures and Employment Law Basics,” Asian Pacific Islander Small Business Program Expo (September 2011);
    • Employment Risk Management “7 Key Points for Japanese Executives,” Japanese Maquiladora Association (October 2011);
    • Employment Risk Management “Managing Labor Costs in a Changing Economy,” Kyoto Comparative Law Center (November 2011);
    • Employment Risk Management “7 Key Points for Japanese Executives,” Osaka Chamber of Commerce (November 2011);
    • Employment Risk Management “7 Key Points for Japanese Executives,” Tokyo Lexis Nexis Japan (November 2011);
    • “Hiring to Firing,” Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California (February 2012); and
    • “DISCRIMINATION/EEOC CLAIMS: Age, Sexual Harassment, Race & Retaliation: Risk Management & Winning Strategies,” JETRO (June 2012).
    • “Sexual Harassment and Discrimination and Workplace Behavior,” Sponsored by Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership at Loyola Law School (December 2012);
    • “Disability Policy in Japan and the United States,” Sponsored by Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership at Loyola Law School (March 2013);
    • “Employment Arbitration Agreements: Winning Strategies and Benefits of Employment Arbitration Agreements for Japanese Companies Doing Business in the U.S.” JBA (June 2013);
    • “Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, & Inappropriate Workplace Behavior Prevention Compliance Training,” Mitsubishi Materials U.S.A. Corporation (June 2014);
    • “Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, & Inappropriate Workplace Behavior Prevention Compliance Training,” Kobelco Compressors America, Inc. (November 2014);
    • “U.S. and California Employment Discrimination Law: Sexual Harassment; Case Studies” Hanyang University, Seoul Korea (April 2015);
    • “U.S. and California Employment Discrimination Law: Sexual Harassment; Case Studies” San Diego Community Expo (May 2015);
    • “Employment Litigation� Increase in Litigation: Wage/Hour Claims, Unpaid Overtime and Misclassification” Japanese Business Association (June 2015);
    • “U.S. Employment Discrimination Law: Sexual Harassment; Case Studies” San Diego Japan Business Association (November 2015).
    • “U.S. Employment Discrimination Law, Sexual Harassment; Case Studies” San Diego JBA (November 2015);
    • “Employment Law Fundamentals” Little Tokyo Service Center (May 2016);
    • “New Overtime Laws, $15/hr. Minimum Wage, Increase in Litigation re Wage & Hour” South Bay Management Seminar (June 2016);
    • “Employment Law Fundamentals” Little Tokyo Service Center: Gardena (July 2016);
    • “New Overtime Law/Exempt Classification/Overtime Violations/ Case Studies/Risk Management ” DJA Shokobukai (Chamber of Commerce) (July 2016);
    • “New Overtime Law/Exempt Classification/Overtime Violations/Case Studies/Risk Management ” South Bay Management Seminar (August 2016);
    • “Executive Training – U.S. Employment Law & Executive Management Training,” “Sexual Harassment, Discrimination & Prevention Compliance Training,” ShinMaywa (California), Ltd. (September 2016);
    • “New Overtime Law/Overtime/Exempt Classifications” JBA Houston (October 2016);
    • “New Overtime Law/Overtime/Exempt Classifications” JETRO Los Angeles (October 2016);
    • “Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, & Prevention Compliance Training,” “U.S. Employment Law & Executive Management Training,” Kura Sushi USA, Inc., (June 2017);
    • “Doing Business in the U.S.~ Key points and comparison of different States’ Employment Laws” Kansai Economic Federation (Kankeiren), Osaka (October 2017);
    • “Doing Business in the U.S.~ Managing Subsidiary of Japanese company and Group Company~ Comparison of States’ Employment Laws” LexisNexis Japan, Tokyo (October 2017);
    • “Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, & Prevention Compliance Training” Business Research Institute (BRI), Tokyo (January 2018);
    • “U.S. Employment Law~ Comparison of Key States’, Employment Laws and Costs” Business Research Institute (BRI), Tokyo (January 2018);
    • “Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, & Prevention Compliance Training” LexisNexis Japan, Tokyo (January 2018);
    • “Sexual Harassment Prevention Compliance Training” Fujitsu, Tokyo (January 2018);
    • “Understanding the U.S. Litigation, Trial and Arbitration Systems and Winning Strategies/ The U.S. Sexual Harassment Training for Japanese Company” Lexis Nexis Japan, Osaka (March 2018);
    • “Understanding the U.S. Litigation, Trial and Arbitration Systems and Winning Strategies/ The U.S. Sexual Harassment Training for Japanese Company” Lexis Nexis Japan, Nagoya (March 2018);
    • “U.S. Business Legal Considerations for Success for Japanese Companies in Texas” U.S.-Japan Council Japan-Texas Economic Summit (May 2018);
    • “The U.S. Litigation/Arbitration ~Understanding the Process and Winning Strategy~” Lexis Nexis Japan, Tokyo (May 2018);
    • “How Japanese Companies can Win in U.S. Litigation ~ Understanding the U.S. Litigation, Mediation, Trial and Winning Strategies” Japan Overseas Enterprises Association (JOEA) Tokyo, Japan (May 2018);
    • “Understanding the U.S. Litigation, Trial and Arbitration Systems and Winning Strategies ~with case studies~” Japan Business Association of Southern California (JBA) (October 2018);
    • “Understanding the U.S. Litigation, Trial and Arbitration Systems and Winning Strategies ~with case studies~” Japan Business Association of Houston (October 2018);
    • “Understanding the U.S. Litigation, Trial and Arbitration Systems and Winning Strategies ~with case studies~” Business Research Institute (BRI), Tokyo (November 2018);
    • “Understanding the U.S. Litigation, Trial and Arbitration Systems and Winning Strategies ~with case studies~” Fujitsu, Tokyo, (November 2018);
    • “Understanding the U.S. Litigation, Trial and Arbitration Systems and Winning Strategies ~with case studies~” JBA News (December, 2018);
    • “U.S. Federal, State Litigation & Arbitration Process Winning Strategies & Risk Management Strategies” Austin Japan Community (AJC) (January 2019);
    • “U.S. Federal, State Litigation & Arbitration Process Winning Strategies & Risk Management Strategies~Japan law comparison” Lexis Nexis Japan, Tokyo (January 2019);
    • “U.S. Federal, State Litigation & Arbitration Process Winning Strategies & Risk Management Strategies~Japan law comparison” Lexis Nexis Japan, Osaka (January 2019);
    • “U.S. Federal, State Litigation & Arbitration Process Winning Strategies & Risk Management Strategies” Japan Overseas Enterprises Association (JOEA) Tokyo, Japan (January 2019);
    • “U.S. Federal, State Litigation & Arbitration Process Winning Strategies & Risk Management Strategies” San Diego Japanese Business Association, San Diego, CA (April 2019);
    • “CFIUS/FIRRMA and the U.S. Investment~Japanese Company’s U.S. Subsidiary, Litigation Trial and Arbitration Process “Risk and Winning Strategy”” Lexis Nexis Japan, Tokyo (July 2019);
    • “Mediation and Settlement Conferences: Winning Strategies” Japan Business Association (November 2019);
    • “Tech Changes, Tech Tools, & AI in U.S. Trials & Arbitrations” Osaka Bar Association (July 2023);
    • “U.S. Litigation Process, Winning Strategies, Tech Changes, Tech Tools & AI” Lexis Nexis Japan, Tokyo (July 2023);
    • “Breach of Contract: U.S. Litigation Process & Tech Changes, Tech Tools & AI” Business Research Institute (BRI), Tokyo (July 2023);
    • “U.S. Trials & Arbitration: Tech Changes, Tech Tools, AI, Winning Strategies” Japan Overseas Enterprises Association (JOEA) Tokyo (July 2023);
    • “Post-Pandemic Technology Changes to U.S. Courts, Tech Tools & AI” Japan Business Association of Southern California (JBA) Irvine, California (November 2023);
    • “Importance of U.S. Trials, Mediation and Arbitration Post-Pandemic and Legal Tech Developments, Tech Tools, AI, Winning Strategies” Oh-Ebashi LPC & Partners, Osaka (March 2024);
    • “U.S. Mediation and Arbitration Important Changes After the Pandemic: Tech Tools and Winning Strategies” Business Research Institute (BRI), Tokyo (March 2024)

    Court and State Bar Admissions

    Federal Court Admissions

    • U.S. Supreme Court (12/15/2008)
    • U.S. Court of Federal Claims (11/15/1983)
    • U.S. Tax Court (09/12/1983)
    • U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals (08/22/1983)
    • U.S. District Court California Central District (08/18/1983)
    • U.S. District Court California Southern District (09/27/1986)
    • U.S. District Court Georgia Northern District (11/20/1995)
    • U.S. District Court Texas Eastern District (08/16/2019)
    • U.S. District Court Texas Southern District (09/26/2019)

    State Court and State Bar Admissions

    • California State Bar Association (12/17/1982)
    • California Supreme Court (12/17/1982)
    • Georgia State Bar Association (07/06/1995)
    • Georgia Supreme Court (11/20/1995)
    • Georgia Court of Appeals (11/20/1995)
    • New York Appellate Division of Supreme Court, 3rd Department (12/03/2014)
    • Texas State Bar Association (03/19/2015)
    • Texas Supreme Court and all Texas State Courts (03/19/2015)
    • Michigan State Bar Association (11/16/2020)

    Associations

    • American Bar Association
    • California State Bar Association
    • Texas State Bar Association
    • New York State Attorney Register
    • Georgia State Bar Association
    • Michigan State Bar Association
    • Orange County Bar Association
    • Kyoto University Rakuyukai Alumni Association
    • Tokyo University Nanka Todaikai Alumni Association
    • National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA)
    • Japanese American Bar Association (JABA)
    • Japan Business Association of Southern California (JBA)
    • Houston Japan Business Association
    • Dallas Japanese Association
    • Austin Japan Community
    • Georgia Japanese Chamber of Commerce
    • Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM)
    • California Chamber of Commerce (CalChamber)
    • Balboa Angling Club
    • International Game Fish Association (Lifetime Member)
    • Coastal Conservation Association (Lifetime Member)