Kazuko Sawada
Master of Laws
日本語版はこちら
Ms. Sawada's current position is Senior Vice President at the Global Business & Alternative Investment Headquarters of ORIX Corporation. We talked to her about her experiences of balancing work, home life and study over the four years she spent studying for a Master of Laws (LL.M.) at the Temple University School of Law.
Tell us about the content of your work.
As the head of the legal team for the overseas investment unit I am responsible for all legal matters directly relating to overseas investment in my department. In specific terms we verify, correct and approve all contracts relating to the work of the aviation, shipping, corporate finance, business development, marketing and operations management teams, to ensure that they have been compiled in accordance with the content of the written proposals approved by the investment and financing committees. We are also responsible for negotiations and consultations with executive officers, sales and marketing personnel and lawyers.
Was it always your aim to have a career in legal affairs?
Although I graduated with a degree in law from university, after graduation I decided I wanted to study design, and I studied clothing design at the Kuwasawa Design School and interior design at the Caro Interior Design Institute. In my late twenties I decided to follow my dream of becoming a stage artist and spent one year studying drama in the Master's degree program at San Francisco State University. During that time I had various experiences through part-time jobs in local theaters and also in costume design and lighting. However, upon getting married I decided to leave the world of performance art, which includes a great deal of work in the evening and late at night. I returned to the world of law as it provided a job that would enable me to balance my life bringing up two young daughters. I completed a paralegal course and got a job as a clerk in the litigation department of the San Francisco offices of Baker & McKenzie. From then on I acquired various experiences through work as a paralegal at a number of law firms in the United States.
Although you started your legal career in a law office, you are now employed by a business corporation.
Yes, that's true. After returning home to Japan in 1992 to nurse my mother, I spent a number of years working in the offices of an overseas law firm, but I wanted to learn how business projects are actually created and put together in companies. I also wanted to learn about other practical matters after a project has been put together, and so I changed jobs, moving to a business corporation with the aim of honing my skills. After working at a number of companies, including BNP Paribas Securities Co., Ltd., ING Securities, ABN Amro Securities, Citadel Investment Group (Asia) Ltd., and Cerberus Japan KK, I joined ORIX Corporation in 2006. Since then I have been consistently involved in legal affairs, mainly engaged in transaction lawyer-type work (working with sales and marketing from the project compilation stage, through to the formulation of contracts and the closing of the deal).
Why did you seek to acquire an LL.M.?
While living in America I really wanted to acquire an LL.M. and qualify as a lawyer. However, various circumstances prevented me from doing this and the only choice I had was to complete a paralegal course, which can be finished in a short period of time. As my children had grown and found jobs of their own, I decided that for work purposes I would need the equivalent knowledge of a practicing lawyer at the very least, and so I returned to graduate school. That I was happily able to acquire an LL.M. is something that is very important for me.
What did you find most difficult in the course of your studies towards gaining an LL.M.?
My main worry was whether my old brain would be able to keep up with my young and energetic fellow students! But I have always liked to maintain a keen and enquiring character, and as the lectures were interesting and held my interest, as time passed I would like to think that the other students didn't bother so much about my age. My busy schedule meant that I could not devote enough of my time to home life and for a time my daughters were against me studying, but in the end all my family supported me through to graduation.
Has gaining an LL.M. brought about any changes to your working life?
More than anything it has given me confidence. In my daily work I am always required to make decisions, and thanks to the firm grounding the LL.M. has given me I am now more comfortable making these decisions with strong resolve and confidence. Given the unflinching nature of my decisions, the sales and marketing department has sent me further requests causing my work load to increase, so I sometimes feel that I have put the noose around my own neck!
Tell us about your dreams and aspirations.
I have lived a full and rewarding life up to now and before I die I would like to repay in some form those people who have supported me along the way (although there are some people who have already passed away), and also assist the people who have been affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake. My dream is to think about how I can do that, in whatever form it may take, and actually set about doing it.
—お仕事の内容を教えてください。
海外投資営業部隊の法務チーム長として、所属部の直接海外投資における法務全般を担当しています。具体的には、航空機、船舶、コーポレートファイナンス、事業開発、マーケティングおよび業務管理チームで取り組む案件に関する契約書全般について、投・融資委員会で承認された稟議書の内容に則って作成されているか等の検証、修正、承認を行うほか、執行役や営業および弁護士との折衝なども担当します。
—最初から法務のキャリアを目指されたのですか?
大学は法学部を卒業したのですが、その後デザインの勉強がしたくて、桑沢デザイン研究所で服飾デザイン、カロインテリアデザイン研究所でインテリアデザインを学びました。20代後半には、舞台美術家になる夢を持ってアメリカに渡り、サンフランシスコ州立大の演劇学科修士課程に1年在学しました。その間、現地の劇場で衣装制作や照明などのアルバイトを経験しましたが、結婚を機に、夕方・夜間の作業が多い舞台美術の世界は諦めることにしたのです。2人の娘を育てながらできる仕事として、法律の世界に戻りました。パラリーガル・コースを修了し、サンフランシスコのベーカー&マッケンジー法律事務所の訴訟部門のクラークとして採用されました。その後は米国内のいくつかの法律事務所でパラリーガルとしての経験を積みました。
—法律事務所でリーガルキャリアを開始されたわけですが、今は事業会社でいらっしゃいますね。
はい。1992年に母の看護のため帰国した後も、しばらく外資系法律事務所に勤務していましたが、企業では実際に営業がどのように案件取組を構築していくのか、知りたいと思ったのです。また、その取組を実現する上での実務処理などについても勉強したくて、"武者修行"のため、事業会社へ転職しました。BNPパリバ証券、ING証券、ABNアムロ証券、シタデル・インベストメント、サーベラスジャパンを経て、現在のオリックスには2006年に入社しました。この間、一貫して法務に携わってきましたが、どちらかというとtransaction lawyerタイプ(営業と一緒に案件取組から契約書作成、クロージングまで一貫して共同で作業)の仕事に従事しています。
—なぜLLMを取得したいと思われたのですか?
本当はアメリカ在住中に、LL.M.を取得して弁護士資格をとりたかったのです。でも諸般の状況がそれを許さず、短期間で修了できるパラリーガル・コースを選ばざるを得ませんでした。いまは子供たちも社会人となり、仕事上では少なくとも現役弁護士と同等の知識を持っていなければいけないと考えて、大学院に戻りました。今回晴れてLLMを取得できたのは私にとって大きな意味があります。
—LL.M.へ向けての勉強中は、なにがいちばん大変でしたか?
ボケかけた頭で、若くてエネルギーに満ちた同級生についていけるか、ですね(笑)。でも、もともと好きなことはとことん追求する性格なので、授業が面白くて興味を持ちつづけることができましたから、いつのまにかみんなも、私の年齢は気にならなくなったのではないかな?忙しさのあまり、家庭ではいろいろなことに対して充分な配慮ができず、娘から一時反発もありましたが、卒業まで家族もよくサポートしてくれました。
—LL.M.を取得したことで、なにか仕事上の変化はありましたか?
なにより自信がつきましたね。日々の仕事では常に判断が求められますが、それが確固たる裏づけに基づいていることを自分自身が自信をもって言えるようになり、ゆとりが出てきました。私の判断が揺らがないので、営業部門からはさらに頼りにされ、仕事量も増えて、自分で自分の首を締めたかなとも思っていますが(笑)。
—澤田さんの人生の夢をお聞かせください。
今まで生きることに精一杯だったので、今日までサポートしてくださったたくさんの方々(中にはすでにお亡くなりになった方もいらっしゃいます)、また東日本大震災で被災された方々へ、何かの形で、死ぬまで恩返しや援助をしていきたいと思っています。どんな形になるにせよ、それを考え、実行していくのが私の夢です。