💻 Attorney × AWS Engineer

Legal clarity for the
digital economy.

I am a Japanese attorney and a certified AWS engineer. I understand your technology stack, your contracts, and your compliance obligations — because I have worked on both sides of the table. Whether you are a startup, a SaaS company, or an enterprise navigating Japan's regulatory landscape, I speak your language.

AWS Certified APPI / Privacy Law SaaS Contracts Cybersecurity Law IP & Software
15+Years Legal Experience
AWSCertified Engineer
2 LanguagesJP / EN
First VisitAlways Free

A lawyer who actually understands your technology.

I am Naoki Hoshino, a Japanese attorney (弁護士) registered with the 第二東京弁護士会 (Daini Tokyo Bar Association) and a certified AWS engineer. My background spans both legal practice and hands-on cloud infrastructure work.

Most technology companies in Japan struggle to find legal counsel who can read a system architecture diagram, understand what a data processing agreement actually means in practice, or advise on the legal implications of a specific API design. I can do all of that.

This practice is dedicated to IT companies, software developers, SaaS providers, and tech-forward enterprises operating in or entering Japan. I help you build legally sound products and businesses — without the translation overhead between legal and engineering.

Talk to the Attorney

星野 直輝 — Naoki Hoshino

Attorney at Law / AWS Certified Engineer

  • Registered with the Japan Federation of Bar Associations
  • 第二東京弁護士会 (Daini Tokyo Bar Association)
  • AWS Certified Solutions Architect
  • Specialist in IT Law & Data Privacy (APPI)
  • Software & SaaS Contract Practice
  • Cybersecurity & Incident Response Law

Legal services built for the tech industry

From startup formation to enterprise compliance — legal counsel that understands your stack

// Data Privacy & Compliance

// Contracts & Transactions

SaaS & Cloud Service Agreements

SaaS・クラウド契約

Generic contract templates do not work for SaaS. I draft and review agreements that reflect how your product actually works — uptime, data ownership, API usage, and all.

  • SaaS subscription agreements
  • Terms of service & acceptable use policies
  • API licensing agreements
  • Cloud infrastructure contracts (AWS, GCP, Azure)
  • SLA drafting & negotiation

Software Development & Outsourcing Contracts

システム開発・委託契約

Poorly drafted development contracts are the source of most IT disputes in Japan. I help you define scope, IP ownership, and liability clearly before work begins.

  • System development agreements
  • Offshore & nearshore outsourcing contracts
  • IP ownership & work-for-hire clauses
  • Acceptance testing & warranty terms
  • Dispute resolution clauses

Startup & Venture Legal Support

スタートアップ法務

From incorporation to Series A, I provide practical legal support for tech startups in Japan — without the enterprise law firm price tag.

  • Company formation (KK / GK)
  • Founder agreements & equity splits
  • Investment agreement review (J-KISS, etc.)
  • Employee stock option (SO) plans
  • Term sheet & VC negotiation support

// Intellectual Property & Disputes

Software IP & Copyright

ソフトウェアの知的財産

Software copyright in Japan has nuances that general IP attorneys often miss. I advise on ownership, licensing, and enforcement with technical precision.

  • Software copyright registration & protection
  • Open source license compliance
  • IP assignment agreements
  • Trade secret protection
  • Copyright infringement response

IT Disputes & Litigation

ITトラブル・訴訟

When IT projects go wrong, the disputes are technical and legal at the same time. I represent clients in system development disputes, data breach claims, and software licensing conflicts.

  • System development dispute resolution
  • Data breach liability claims
  • Software license infringement
  • IT contract termination disputes
  • Mediation & arbitration

AI & Emerging Technology Law

AI・新技術の法務

AI regulation in Japan is evolving rapidly. I help companies building or deploying AI systems understand their legal obligations and manage risk proactively.

  • AI product liability assessment
  • Training data licensing & copyright
  • AI governance policy drafting
  • Regulatory compliance monitoring
  • AI contract clauses & warranties

From first contact to resolution

01

Get in Touch

Reach out by email or the contact form. Describe your situation in as much technical detail as you like — I will understand it.

02

Free First Consultation

30 minutes online or by phone, free of charge. We discuss your situation and I give you an honest assessment.

03

Proposal & Scope

I provide a clear scope of work and transparent fee estimate. No surprises.

04

Engagement

Once the retainer agreement is signed, we get to work. I integrate with your team's workflow — Slack, email, or whatever works for you.

Let's talk tech law.

The first consultation is free — 30 minutes, no obligation. I consult in Japanese and English. Feel free to include technical context in your message. The more detail, the better.

  • 〒179-0073 東京都練馬区4-39-11-507
  • Weekdays 9:00–18:00 (remote consultations available)

Important: Submitting this form does not create an attorney-client relationship. No legal advice is provided until a formal retainer agreement is signed. All information shared is kept strictly confidential under attorney-client privilege.

Your information is kept strictly confidential and used only to respond to your inquiry. It will never be shared with third parties.

Privacy Policy & Personal Information Handling

legald Tech (リーガル・ディ テック) handles personal information in accordance with Japan's Act on the Protection of Personal Information (個人情報の保護に関する法律, APPI) and the ethical obligations of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.

// 1. Personal Information We Collect

When you use the contact form on this website, we collect: your name, email address, company name (if provided), phone number (if provided), and the content of your inquiry, which may include sensitive business or legal information.

// 2. Purpose of Use

Your personal information is used solely to respond to your inquiry, arrange a consultation, provide legal services under a formal retainer agreement, and comply with legal obligations applicable to attorneys in Japan. It will not be used for marketing without your explicit consent.

// 3. Third-Party Disclosure & Services

We do not sell or share your personal information with third parties except where required by law or necessary to provide legal services on your behalf (with your prior consent).

Third-party services used on this website: Google Fonts (Google LLC, USA) for typefaces; Vercel (Vercel Inc., USA) for hosting; Web3Forms for contact form processing and email delivery; Google Analytics (Google LLC, USA) for anonymous site usage statistics (only if you consent to cookies). Your IP address is anonymized before transmission to Google Analytics. These services operate under their own privacy policies and applicable data transfer frameworks.

// 4. Cookies & Analytics

This website uses Google Analytics 4 to understand how visitors use the site. Analytics cookies are only set after you give consent via the cookie banner. No personally identifiable information is sent to Google Analytics. You may withdraw consent at any time by clearing your browser cookies.

// 5. Security

All form submissions are transmitted over encrypted HTTPS connections. We take appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access or disclosure.

// 6. Retention

Personal information collected through the contact form is retained only for as long as necessary to respond to your inquiry or, if an attorney-client relationship is established, for the duration required by applicable law and bar association rules.

// 7. Your Rights (APPI)

Under Japan's Act on the Protection of Personal Information, you have the right to request disclosure, correction, deletion, or suspension of use of your personal information. To exercise these rights, please contact us using the form below.

// 8. No Attorney-Client Relationship

Submitting the contact form or sending an email does not create an attorney-client relationship. No legal advice is provided until a formal retainer agreement (委任契約) has been signed by both parties.

// 9. Contact for Privacy Inquiries

リーガル・ディ テック — legald Tech
〒179-0073 東京都練馬区4-39-11-507

Last updated: May 2026