Professionals
Taku Maruyama(Managing Partner, Founder of IPAX Partners)
Drawing from over 20 years of experience, Taku Maruyama focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and other forms of business alliances, general corporate matters and commercial transactions. Utilizing his strong business background, Taku has advised numerous clients on setting up and doing business in Japan. Taku works with a variety of clients from multinationals to startups across a wide range of industries with a special emphasis on technology and growth-oriented companies.
Taku’s professional experience includes management consulting experience at McKinsey & Company where he advised clients on a variety of matters from business development, global business strategy, growth strategy to mergers and acquisitions. His strong understanding of business and corporate governance is also informed by his experiences serving in non-executive roles for Japanese companies from time to time.
Seminars and Speaking Engagements
“Implications of the revised Act on the Protection of Personal Information of Japan” (2022)
“About the outline of the revised Act on the Protection of Personal Information of Japan (enforced in April 2022)” (2022)
“Information Session for New Executive Officers” (2021)
“In order not to make overseas expansion a crisis” (2013)
“Cloud computing and security issues” (2012)
“Business succession strategy of medical institutions” (2010)
“Overview of the New Companies Act” (2006)
“Corporate Governance” (2002)
“Implications of the Enron Scandal” (2002)
Publications
“Rock Magazine” by The Gibraltar Life Insurance (2014‐2016)
Series articles at “My Business Info” by Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance (2014-2016)
“Privacy Protection” (HR Agenda, No.4)
“New Corporate Governance in Japan” (Corporate Finance, Sep. 2003)
“Recent Reforms of the Japanese Commercial Code” (Corporate Finance, Aug. 2003)
“Study on Recent Practice of PFI in Japan” (PFI News Volume 67, Jul. 2003）
“Revitalization Prompts Simplification of M&As” (ALB, Jun. 2003)
Professional Associations and Memberships
Tokyo Bar Association
The Japan Academic Society for Ventures and Entrepreneurs
The Japan-British Society
Bar Admissions
Japan (1999)
External Roles
- Corporate auditor of Integrity Healthcare Co., Ltd.
- 2017 – present
- Corporate auditor of Oriental Consultants Holdings Company Limited
- 2015 – present
Professional History
- Founded IPAX Advisory Service Ltd. (Tokyo)
- Aug. 2010
- Founded IPAX PARTNERS (Tokyo)
- May 2010
- Senior Associate, Anderson Mori & Tomotsune (Tokyo)
- Dec. 2008 – Apr. 2010
- Consultant, McKinsey & Company Inc. (Tokyo, London and Frankfurt)
- Sep. 2006 – Nov. 2008
- Summer Associate, Goldman Sachs (Japan), Investment Banking Division
- Jun. 2005 – Aug. 2005
- Associate, Anderson Mori (Tokyo)
- Apr. 1999 – Jul. 2004
Education
London Business School, MBA (2006)
University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, IEP (2005)
Waseda University, Faculty of Law, LL.B. (1997)
Languages
Japanese (native), English (fluent)
Atsuko Kudo
Professional Associations and Memberships
Daini Tokyo Bar Association
Bar Admissions
Japan (2003)
External Roles
- Independent Director (Audit and Supervisory Committee Member), Create Medic Co., Ltd.
- 2024 – present
Professional History
- Counsel, IPAX PARTNERS(Tokyo)
- Mar. 2023 – present
- Civil Conciliation Commissioner of Tokyo Summary Court
- 2018 – present
- Practical legal training at Tilleke & Gibbins (Bangkok, Thailand)
- 2016
- Practical legal training at JCS International Commercial Lawyers (London, UK)
- 2015 – 2016
- Civil Conciliation Commissioner of Tokyo Summary Court
- 2012 – 2014
- Director of Oxfam Japan
- 2010 – 2013
- Kojima Law Offices
- 2003 – Feb. 2023
- Worked for a film and event producing company and an institute for city planning
- 1986 – 2002
Education
Swansea University-College of Law (UK) (LLM in International Commercial and Maritime Law)
Seijo University (B.A.)
Languages
Japanese (native), English (fluent)
Chie Ihara
Publications
“Q＆A about The Law and Practice of Land and Building Lease 2nd edition”(NIHON KAJO Publishing Co., Ltd., 2012)
“Q＆A about The Law and Practice of Land and Building Lease 3rd edition”(NIHON KAJO Publishing Co., Ltd., 2017)
Professional Associations and Memberships
Daiichi Tokyo Bar Association
Bar Admissions
Japan (2011)
Professional History
- Associate, IPAX PARTNERS(Tokyo)
- Apr. 2023 – present
- Associate, Murata & Wakatsuki Law Offices
- Mar. 2021 – Feb. 2023
- Senior Specialist for reconciliation of alternative dispute resolution at the Nuclear Damage Compensation Dispute Resolution Center
- Oct. 2012 – Jun. 2021
- Associate, local law firm (Tokyo)
- Oct. 2011 – Sep. 2018
- Assistant Judge
- Oct. 2001 – Oct. 2011
Education
Tokyo University, Faculty of Law, LL.B. (1999)
Languages
Japanese (native), English (fluent)
Ryota Mizushima
Seminars and Speaking Engagements
“Implications of the revised Act on the Protection of Personal Information of Japan” (2022)
“About the outline of the revised Act on the Protection of Personal Information of Japan (enforced in April 2022)” (2022)
Professional Associations and Memberships
Tokyo Bar Association
Bar Admissions
Japan (2018)
Professional History
- Associate, IPAX PARTNERS (Tokyo)
- Apr. 2020 – present
- Associate, local law firm (Tokyo)
- Dec. 2018 – Mar. 2020
Education
Tokyo University, Graduate Schools for Law and Politics, School of Law, J.D. (2016)
Tokyo University, Faculty of Law, LL.B. (2014)
Languages
Japanese (native), English (fluent)
Soki Sakaida
Professional Associations and Memberships
Tokyo Bar Association
Bar Admissions
Japan (2023)
Professional History
- Associate, IPAX PARTNERS(Tokyo)
- Dec. 2023 – present
Education
Tokyo University, Graduate Schools for Law and Politics, School of Law, J.D. (2021)
Chuo University, Faculty of Law, LL.B. (2019)
Languages
Japanese (native), English (fluent)