Lawyer on Air

Hosted by Catherine O'Connell

BusinessInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

119

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

About the show

I’m Catherine, the host of Lawyer on Air, the #1 podcast for legal careers in Japan. In each episode, I bring you award-winning insights and inspirational inside stories about working in law as a woman in Japan. Whether you’re dreaming of a career here or already practicing, this is your go-to guide for finding your place in Japan’s legal landscape. We’ll dive into what hiring managers look for, emerging trends in the legal market, what it takes to earn a seat on a Japanese corporate board, and how to thrive personally and professionally.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 7, 2026Episode 238 min

Part 2: The CLO, the GC and Governance Beyond the Legal Function with Natsue Ishida

Part two of the conversation with Natsue Ishida dives into the intricacies of governance in Japan and how you can come across opportunities to do pro bono work that expand your area of expertise. Don’t miss the beautiful reading of a poem that has had a big impact on Natsue at the end of the episode. If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Head over to Apple Podcasts to leave a review and we’d love it if you would leave us a message here!In this episode you’ll hear:The difference between Chief Legal Officer (CLO) and General Counsel (GC)Managing what’s best for the company and respecting the founder Finding unique ways to contribute to the governance community in Japan and globallyWhat Natsue would say to her younger self Her favourite book and poemAbout NatsueNatsue is a seasoned General Counsel and senior executive with over 20 years of international experience advising senior management, Boards of Directors, and Audit Committees across Asia, North America, and Europe. She brings extensive expertise in legal strategy, IP, compliance, risk management, corporate governance, global subsidiary management, M&A, and data privacy.Her career spans highly regulated industries—including financial services, medical devices, automotive, and gaming—where she has consistently guided organisations through complex regulatory landscapes while shaping strong cultures of compliance and ethical leadership.Natsue is a widely recognised award winning thought leader, deeply committed to advancing excellence within the legal profession.On the weekends, she enjoys rock climbing (shower climbing in the summer). She would like to do more photography (medium format film photo printing), maybe when she retires, if the technology still exists!Connect with NatsueLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theflyingcat/ LinksPart 1: ⁠https://www.catherineoconnelllaw.com/podcast/season-12-ep2-natsue-ishida⁠ Global Council for Responsible AI https://gcrai.ai/ Connect with Catherine LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/oconnellcatherine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyeronair

May 31, 2026Episode 249 min

Helping Japan Shine: The Personal Mission Driving Natsue Ishida’s Career in Law & Governance

Natsue Ishida shares her journey from sociology student to general counsel and executive officer advising boards, across many well known global companies. This is part one of a two part conversation filled with literal lightning moments, unconventional career choices, and profound leadership lessons. You will learn lessons from each stage of Natsue’s career and what it means to be an officer of the law inside an organisation.If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Head over to Apple Podcasts to leave a review and we’d love it if you would leave us a message here!In this episode you’ll hear:How Natsue’s personal mission that has guided her careerThe importance of focusing on the experience you'll get from a jobWhy taking on responsibilities outside your normal expertise builds supporters for legal and complianceHow Natsue changed the trajectory of her career in the moment she said "I'll do it" to a role she wasn’t offered! Her favourite movies and other fun facts About NatsueNatsue is a seasoned General Counsel and senior executive with over 20 years of international experience advising senior management, Boards of Directors, and Audit Committees across Asia, North America, and Europe. She brings extensive expertise in legal strategy, IP, compliance, risk management, corporate governance, global subsidiary management, M&A, and data privacy.Her career spans highly regulated industries—including financial services, medical devices, automotive, and gaming—where she has consistently guided organisations through complex regulatory landscapes while shaping strong cultures of compliance and ethical leadership.Natsue is a widely recognised award winning thought leader, deeply committed to advancing excellence within the legal profession.On the weekends, she enjoys rock climbing (shower climbing in the summer). She would like to do more photography (medium format film photo printing), maybe when she retires, if the technology still exists!Connect with NatsueLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theflyingcat/ LinksTender Bar: https://tabelog.com/en/tokyo/A1301/A130101/13259123/ Roger and Me: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098213/ In the Name of the Father: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107207/ Connect with Catherine LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/oconnellcatherine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyeronair

April 26, 2026Episode 140 min

Turning Blind Spots Into Advantages: How K. Lesli Ligorner Built Her Two Decade Legal Career in Japan and across Asia

Welcome to the premier of Season 12! K. Lesli Ligorner is a partner with Morgan Lewis and shares what it takes to build a successful legal career spanning two decades across China and Japan. We hear how Lesli has mastered the art of finding flexibility within rigid statutory frameworks while leading diverse teams across cultures. If you are wondering how you will lead a team in Japan in the future, this is the episode for you.If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Head over to Apple Podcasts to leave a review and we’d love it if you would leave us a message here!In this episode you’ll hear:The high school homestay in Japan that sparked a lifelong love for Asia How blind spots others created in their minds became Lesli's competitive advantageThe nuanced dance of giving instructions across China and Japan teamsHer favourite podcast, book and other fun facts About K. Lesli LigornerLesli Ligorner is a partner with Morgan Lewis and is based in Tokyo, but splits her time between Japan and China. She relocated to Tokyo 2 years ago after spending 18 years on the ground in Beijing and Shanghai. She first came to Japan in high school and lived with host families. She then returned for her junior year of university to study at Kansai Gaidai and graduated from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec with a major in East Asian Studies. Lesli went on to work at Japanese banks in New York City before heading to law school at American University, Washington College of Law. She then worked 3 years as a litigator for the Law Department of the City of New York and then moved to private practice. In fall 2005 the opportunity came up to move to China with her law firm at the time, and her husband raised her hand for her. Six months later they were on a plane to Shanghai and never looked back.Lesli has developed a practice representing western companies in Asia in some of their most sensitive employment matters and investigations and Asian companies with employment and compliance issues in the US and Europe.Connect with Lesli LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/k-lesli-ligorner-asia-employment-investigations/ LinksMarzac 7: https://www.marzac7-nakameguro.com/ 1dL: https://ordinary-inc.com/1dl/ The Loudest Duck by Laura Liswood https://amzn.asia/d/0dSpo08S How to Fail with Elizabeth Day: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/how-to-fail-with-elizabeth-day/id1407451189 Connect with Catherine LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/oconnellcatherine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyeronair

March 29, 2026Episode 1049 min

No JD Required: Breaking Into Law Through Experience, the SQE and Sheer Determination with Mac Curtis

Macaulay (Mac) Curtis, is a New Zealand native who has just qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales through the new SQE pathway. He achieved this while working as a legal translator first for Mori Hamada & Matsumoto, then in his own legal translation company. This episode is full of gems for those who are considering taking another step forwards in their legal career. It’s now entirely possible to use real life legal work experience to help you on your way. Listen to hear more!If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Head over to Apple Podcasts to leave a review and we’d love it if you would leave us a message here!In this episode you’ll hear:Why Mac chose legal translation over interpreting and what it’s like to work in a big four firm’s translation departmentThe SQE pathway explained: qualify as a UK solicitor without attending universityWhy firms don't care about your age and what they do care aboutWhat translators must unlearn to become lawyersHis favourite book and other fun facts About MacMacaulay (Mac) is a linguist-turned-lawyer from New Zealand. Highly fluent in Japanese, he qualified as a simultaneous interpreter in Australia before going to work at Mori Hamada & Matsumoto in their in-house translation department. He later started his own legal translation business, working remotely from New Zealand as he lent his expertise to many of Japan's biggest companies and law firms. He recently qualified as a solicitor, and is now back in Japan to open a new chapter of his career as a lawyer in Tokyo.Connect with Mac LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/macaulay-curtis/ LinksHow to win friends and influence people: https://amzn.asia/d/0iqkBUut SQE: https://www.law.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/sqe/ Connect with Catherine LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/oconnellcatherine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyeronair

March 15, 2026Episode 938 min

Be the conductor of your own law career: Lessons in life, law and leadership with Keiko Uchida

What does it take to transform from a technical legal expert into a strategic conductor of organisational change? Keiko Uchida, Head of Legal and Compliance at Roche Diagnostics Japan, shares her journey to leadership from playing the figurative “violin in an orchestra” to becoming “the conductor.”Discover what it means to move from solving one case with 100 pieces of evidence to solving 100 questions with almost none, and why doubling productivity in Japanese companies has become Keiko Uchida’s driving purpose.If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Head over to Apple Podcasts to leave a review and we’d love it if you would leave us a message here!In this episode you’ll hear:The powerful conversation that shifted her entire career trajectoryWhy being a housewife became her greatest strength rather than a setbackHow Keiko is building a regional legal network across APAC Her favourite book and other fun facts About KeikoKeiko Uchida is the Head of Legal & Compliance at Roche Diagnostics K.K., where she sits on the leadership team as a direct report to the CEO and oversees legal affairs, compliance, data privacy, corporate governance, and risk management across the organisation.Since joining Roche in 2022, Keiko has played a pivotal regional leadership role, earning the “Change Maker of the Year 2024” award for APAC in recognition of her impact in building a high-performing, collaborative legal network across the region, as well as driving market-focused partnerships between legal, security, and commercial operations teams. One of her team members was also recognised as VIP of the Year 2024 within Roche Diagnostics Japan — a reflection of her strength as a people leader.Before Roche, Keiko served as Corporate Officer, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer, and Data Privacy Officer at AXA General Insurance Co., Ltd., where she led legal and compliance transformation initiatives during a period of organisational change. She previously held senior legal and corporate secretary roles within AXA, and earlier in her career practiced as a lawyer in private practice after completing her legal training in Japan.Keiko’s career is uniquely cross-sector, with earlier professional experience in financial institutions including J.P. Morgan and Shinsei Trust Bank, as well as academic work as an Assistant Professor at a research center of The University of Tokyo. She later returned to the University of Tokyo to complete her J.D., following a Master’s degree in law from Kyoto University.Recognised on the Legal 500 GC Powerlist Japan 2023, a panelist at GC Summit 2024, and co-author of a practical legal handbook on contract law published in 2023, Keiko is known for blending deep legal expertise with organisational leadership and strategic thinking.Her professional passion lies in balancing opportunity and risk while building high-performing organizations, and outside of work she enjoys traveling and exploring new cultures.Connect with KeikoLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keiko-uchida-3bab7a30/ LinksHow to Win Friends and Influence People: https://amzn.asia/d/09azrBtm Connect with Catherine LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/oconnellcatherine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyeronair

March 1, 2026Episode 849 min

Shape Your Own Mold: How a Turkish Energy Lawyer Found Her Place in Japan with D. Didem Tari

What do you do when everyone tells you it's impossible? D. Didem Tari is a Turkish lawyer who refused to let jurisdiction, language barriers, or naysayers stop her from building a legal career in Japan. Now working as a legal advisor at Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), Didem shares her remarkable journey from 13 years in an Ankara boutique firm to finding her dream role in Tokyo. This is a story about shaping your own mold when you don't fit the typical template and proving that passion combined with persistence can overcome any barrier.If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Head over to Apple Podcasts to leave a review and we’d love it if you would leave us a message here!In this episode you will hear:How witnessing legal injustices at the age of 8 and 13, shaped Didem's decision to become the lawyer her family neededThe "after this, after this" trap that kept Didem in one place for 13 years and how she finally broke free to make her dream come trueWhy the doubts of naysayers were the biggest challengeThe breakthrough moment at a Women in Law Japan event that shifted Didem from thinking "it's possible" to visualising "it's happening"About DidemD. Didem Tarı is a Turkiye-registered lawyer and currently serves as a Legal Advisor at TEPCO’s Overseas Business Office, where she contributes to the company’s international expansion and strategic partnerships. She joined TEPCO in April 2024, bringing more than 14 years of legal experience across the energy and aviation industries.Prior to joining TEPCO, Didem developed a broad and internationally oriented career at a boutique law firm in Ankara, advising a global portfolio of clientele - from emerging enterprises to large multinational holdings - on complex legal matters. Her core areas of expertise include energy law (with a particular focus on renewables), aviation law, corporate and commercial law, and cross-border contracts.Admitted to the Ankara Bar in 2009, she holds an LL.M. in Public International Law from Ankara University Faculty of Law. She is also the author of The Legal Status of the Southern Kurile Islands, a work reflecting her longstanding interest in international legal issues. To further strengthen her decade-long specialisation in aviation, she completed a BB.A. in Aviation Management, integrating legal, technical, and operational perspectives within the field.Didem proudly represented Turkiye in the prestigious Ship for World Youth (SWY) program, and has remained active in international volunteer initiatives, taking on leadership and coordination responsibilities in collaboration with IYEO, the Cabinet Office of Japan, and JICA.In her spare time, she is passionate about scuba diving, Ashtanga yoga, and traveling.Connect with DidemLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/d-didem-tari/ LinksThe Mosque Cafe, Shimokitazawa : http://mosquecoffee.com In the Name of Identity: https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/Name-Identity-Violence-Need-Belong/dp/1611453240 European Journal of International Law Podcast: https://www.ejiltalk.org/ejil-the-podcast-page/ Yuyuの日本語のポッドキャストhttps://www.youtube.com/@yuyunihongopodcast Women in Law Japan: https://womeninlawjapan.org /Connect with Catherine LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/oconnellcatherine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyeronair

February 15, 2026Episode 71 hr 10 min

Building Your Legal Career with Strategic Insights from Legal Recruiter Aida Wang

Aida Wang is a top-billing legal recruiter at Just Legal who specialises in private practice placements for bengoshi (Japan-qualified lawyers). With a unique background as a professional translator and interpreter between English and Mandarin Chinese, Aida brings a fresh perspective on bridging communication gaps - not just between languages, but between lawyers and law firms.Aida shares practical advice on deal sheets, career planning, and why speaking to a recruiter from day one of your legal career journey in Japan can change your career trajectory.If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Head over to Apple Podcasts to leave a review and we’d love it if you would leave us a message here!In this episode you’ll hear:The critical importance of creating and maintaining a deal sheet from day one of your careerWhy you should speak to a recruiter early in your career, not just when you're actively lookingThe biggest misconception about Japanese bengoshi lawyers How Aida helps candidates and clients create compelling stories to help find a perfect matchAbout AidaAida Wang is a Tokyo-based legal recruiter specialising in Bengoshi (Japan-qualified lawyer) searches for private practice, with a particular focus on supporting associates and counsels as they navigate the critical transition points in their legal careers.Currently a Principal Consultant at Just Legal, Aida works with both Japanese and international law firms, recruiting Japanese Bengoshi and foreign-qualified attorneys across a wide range of practice areas. She is known for her thoughtful, relationship-driven approach and for offering market insight that goes well beyond simply filling roles. In her first quarter at Just Legal, Aida quickly made her mark as a top biller which is a reflection of her proactive mindset, deep preparation, and ability to truly understand both candidates and clients.Before moving into legal recruitment, Aida spent over a decade working as a Chinese–English freelance translator and interpreter, including roles in media, film, and news translation. This earlier career laid the foundation for what has become a defining theme of her professional life: bridging gaps - between languages, cultures, expectations, and ultimately, legal careers. Her background in interpreting gives her a rare ability to listen carefully, read between the lines, and translate what lawyers want into what the market is really asking for.Aida holds a Bachelor’s degree from National Chengchi University in Taiwan, along with a Master’s degree in Interpreting and Translation from the University of Bath in the UK. She has also completed Japanese language studies at Keio University. Having lived and worked in Taiwan, the Bahamas, the United States, the UK, and Japan, she brings a genuinely global perspective to her work. She is a native speaker of Mandarin and English, with business-level Japanese, and regularly supports cross-border legal careers in the Japanese market.Through her conversations with Bengoshi across multiple practice areas, Aida frequently hears one recurring challenge: how to develop clients and bring in work before holding a partner title. This insight shapes much of her advisory work with senior associates who are thinking carefully about long-term career sustainability, visibility, and progression within private practice.Outside of work, Aida enjoys cooking and crafting with her eight-year-old son, a creative counterbalance to her professional life that reflects the same curiosity and care she brings to her career.Connect with AidaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hsinyuaidawang/ Just Legal: https://www.justsearchgroup.com/justlegal/consultants/aida-wang LinksAfternoon Tea: https://www.afternoon-tea.net/ Connect with Catherine LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/oconnellcatherine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyeronair

January 12, 2026Episode 61 hr 0 min

Pushing Doors Open: Catherine O'Connell on Strategic Patience, Governance, and Giving Back

Guest Host Yoko Oshima leads this episode’s interview with host Catherine O’Connell as Lawyer on Air reaches the milestone of 5 years on air and 100 guests. Catherine shares her remarkable journey from a shy New Zealand teenager to an award-winning lawyer, podcast host, and board member at companies like Toyota and Fujitsu.You will hear about the pivotal moments that shaped her career, and why she believes courage must come before confidence. If you love listening to LOA and want to know more about Catherine, this is the episode for you.If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Head over to Apple Podcasts to leave a review and we’d love it if you would leave us a message here!In this episode you’ll hear:How Catherine's childhood curiosity and shyness coexist with the confidence she's built over decades in JapanThe Japanese lawyers who inspired her career transition and the mentor who saw her potential before she didWhy she's stayed in Japan for 23 years despite initially planning “max two years”, and the concept of "strategic patience"The high-stakes investigation moment when Catherine realised that THIS was why she became a lawyerHer favourite restaurant and other fun facts About CatherineCatherine O’Connell is a bilingual New Zealand lawyer and the Principal & Founder of Catherine O’Connell Law, the first foreign female–founded law firm in Tokyo. An award-winning practitioner, she has been recognised as Foreign Lawyer of the Year (2022), Boutique Law Firm of the Year (2023), and Entrepreneur of the Year (2020) for her leadership and innovation.Catherine served as an Independent Audit & Supervisory Board Member of Toyota Motor Corporation (2023–2025) and currently serves as an Outside Audit & Supervisory Board Member of Fujitsu Limited (since 2022). Through these appointments she became the first non-Japanese female in Japanese corporate history to serve in such roles on these two blue-chip corporate boards. Her governance work is defined by cross-cultural fluency, bilingual communication, and a capacity to translate complex legal, compliance, and risk issues into clear board-level insight.Drawing on more than 20 years’ experience in senior in-house legal counsel roles at Molex, Panasonic, Olympus, Mitsubishi Motors, alongside private practice experience at Hogan Lovells, and Anderson Lloyd, Catherine now advises boards, CEOs, and C-suite executives on governance, cross-border leadership, and boardroom mindset. Her C-suite mentoring programmes help executives understand how boards think and decide, enabling stronger alignment and strategic clarity.Catherine hosts the award-winning Lawyer on Air podcast and co-hosts Jandals in Japan, celebrating cross-border success stories. She is Vice-Chair Emerita of the Australia & New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Japan, Co-Chair of the Legal Services & IP Committee at the ACCJ, and Past President and Advisory Board Member of Women in Law Japan.Connect with YokoLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yoko-oshima-36a7396/ LinksHotel Indigo Tokyo Shibuya Unpausable play list: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3aCekQmbR0CYMxzdkhzFqN?si=BrfZXnH_Soq8SIazs5M_AQWakanui Restaurant: https://www.wakanui.jp/grill_dining_bar_tokyo/en/index.html Connect with Catherine LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/oconnellcatherine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyeronair

December 21, 2025Episode 252 min

Don't Stop Believing: One Lawyer's Journey Through Loss, Grief, Leadership, and Gender Equity

"I thought you didn't want to be a partner" - Maya Ito heard these stunning words at a meeting to discuss her firm’s view that her lack of career progression at Big Four law firm Nishimura & Asahi, was simply because she had children. Plot spoiler: she's now a partner at that same firm, she’s leading cross-border project finance deals, and all the while, she’s running an almost entirely female team. Maya shares a deeply personal story of utter loss that forever changed how she approaches every single day of her life, reveals the Japanese warrior philosophy that defines her service to clients, and also explains why monthly team lunches replaced late-night drinking sessions. If you are looking up at senior partners wondering how they got there, or simply want to know what it really takes to sustain a career in Big Law while living with no regrets, grab your headphones and get ready to get to know Maya Ito in a way you never have before.If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Head over to Apple Podcasts to leave a review and we’d love it if you would leave us a message here!In this episode you’ll hear:Parental expectations that shaped her legal career and how she overcame themA profound personal loss that became a turning point that guides her actions every dayThe "kagemusha" philosophy of lawyering as a shadow ally How Maya runs her all female team and makes time for her own life tooHer favourite podcasts, books and other fun facts About MayaMaya Ito is a partner at Nishimura & Asahi. She has extensive expertise in cross-border project financing for various natural resources, power projects, and other infrastructure projects. Her experience also extends to areas such as compliance, cross-border financial transactions, cross-border corporate transactions, and other general corporate matters.Maya has extensive experience advising international investors on cross-border renewable energy projects, as well as advising both borrowers and lenders on financing for renewable energy projects in Japan. She previously worked in the cross-border project finance team of a Japanese megabank, handling matters relating to natural resources, power and energy, and infrastructure. Maya has also provided banks, financial institutions, and other corporate clients, most of which operate their businesses globally, with compliance and regulatory advice, as well as advice on a variety of governance matters. She is actively involved in D&I projects aimed at promoting the active participation of women, and has organized numerous D&I seminars and other similar events for corporations. She is also actively involved in Climate Change related projects and has organized Climate Change seminars and events.In her free time Maya likes to play golf and she usually plays golf with her colleagues, clients and her family. Maya also has two cute toy poodles (Tarao and Ikura). The poodles’ names come from a famous Japanese Anime, “Sazae-san” and they give Maya a sense of “iyashi” (癒し) meaning “soothing and solace”.Connect with Maya LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maya-ito-278b1863/ LinksKagemusha: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kagemusha Ikikata Book: https://amzn.asia/d/ew7DMGc 　　Connect with Catherine LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/oconnellcatherine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyeronair

December 14, 2025Episode 444 min

From Law as “Plan B” to Finding Peace: Embracing Ambiguity as a Global In-House Counsel in Japan with Liting Cong

Liting Cong is Legal Counsel at ASICS, one of Japan’s most successful sportswear companies. Liting shares her journey through the lens of Japanese aesthetics, particularly the concept of wabi-sabi or embracing imperfection, impermanence, and incompleteness. If you're considering an in-house career in Japan, curious about human-centric AI, or looking for wisdom on embracing life's uncertainties, you will enjoy the metaphor Liting shares about building a beautiful garden. More on that inside this episode! If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Head over to Apple Podcasts to leave a review and we’d love it if you would leave us a message here!In this episode you’ll hear:How Japanese martial arts and dance became a source of peace and resilience during challenging timesThe evolution of in-house counsel roles beyond gatekeeping and contract reviewPractical strategies for unlearning perfectionism that Liting uses herself at workWhy ideation is a lawyer's secret weapon in the age of AILiting’s favourite book and other fun facts About LitingLiting Cong is a Legal Counsel at ASICS Corporation, where she leads global privacy, AI governance, and digital initiatives in the Legal Department. She graduated from Grinnell College in 2011, and University of Toronto Faculty of Law in 2014. She was admitted to the bar in Ontario in 2015, and in New York in 2019. Before relocating to Japan, Liting gained diverse international experience at King & Wood in Shanghai, Shin & Kim in Seoul, and Stikeman & Elliott in Toronto, and started her own practice as a sole practitioner in Toronto.In addition to her legal credentials, Liting is a data protection professional with multiple certifications from the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) for European privacy (CIPP/E), privacy program management (CIPM), and artificial intelligence governance (AIGP). With over a decade of experience living and working in Canada and Japan, Liting brings not only legal expertise but also fluency in the languages--English, Chinese, and Japanese--and a deep understanding of cross-cultural business environments. In 2018, as an avid fan of Japanese arts and culture since childhood, Liting relocated to Japan. She joined Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation in Osaka as Legal Counsel, and later SymBio Pharmaceuticals Limited in Tokyo as Legal Manager.In 2023, Liting joined ASICS Corporation in its global headquarters in Kobe. She now serves as the lead in global privacy and AI governance and managing ASICS’ digital initiatives across the globe. Liting lives in Osaka with her husband and a cat who enjoys making cameos in Teams calls and supervising all her legal work. Connect with LitingLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/litingcong/ LinksGokan: https://patisserie-gokan.co.jp/item/ The Cultural Map by Erin Meyer https://amzn.asia/d/9w9muCI Connect with Catherine LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/oconnellcatherine/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyeronair