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Haruno Suzuki (Fukatsu)

Consultant

Biography

Haruno Suzuki is a consultant in Tilleke & Gibbins’ dispute resolution department in Bangkok, on secondment from Iwata Godo, a law firm in Tokyo, Japan. She is recognized in The Best Lawyers in Japan 2026.

She brings extensive experience advising clients on a broad spectrum of legal matters, encompassing both transactional and litigation work. Her practice includes legal support for shareholders’ meetings and advisory services related to key Japanese legislation, including the Civil Code, the Companies Act, the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, the Banking Act, and the Act on the Protection of Personal Information.

At Tilleke & Gibbins, Haruno plays a key role in supporting the firm’s international litigation practice, particularly for foreign—especially Japanese—corporate clients. She collaborates closely with the firm’s Thai litigators and Japanese companies to develop effective case strategies and deliver favorable outcomes.

With her analytical acumen, responsiveness, and effective communication, Haruno has played a pivotal role in high-stakes corporate matters, including a multiyear shareholder dispute. Her strategic legal analysis and precise drafting led to favorable litigation outcomes. Her transactional experience includes legal due diligence and contract preparation for M&A and other commercial transactions. She has also worked closely with in-house legal departments, notably during her secondment to Mitsubishi Corporation, where she advised on corporate governance and M&A matters and earned high praise for her contributions.

She was admitted to practice by the Japan Federation of Bar Associations and the Dai-ichi Tokyo Bar Association.

Experience

  • Advised a listed Japanese shipping company in a multiyear shareholder dispute with an activist fund, successfully managing proxy fights and defending the client in lawsuits concerning shareholder meeting convocation and director dismissal.
  • Supported a special committee of a Japanese manufacturer in implementing a novel antitakeover measure triggered by a minority shareholder vote—an unprecedented legal strategy in Japan.
  • Successfully defended a Japanese credit company in collective lawsuits filed by over 600 individual debtors, involving complex fraud-related claims.
  • Conducted an internal investigation for a Japanese information infrastructure company into director liability arising from employee-led accounting fraud.
  • Handled domestic and cross-border M&A transactions, including legal due diligence, agreement drafting, and coordination of regulatory procedures.
ABOUT Haruno

Location

Languages

    Japanese

    English

Education

    LLM, University of Michigan Law School

    JD, Kyoto University of Law

    LLB, Osaka University

Insights

August 20, 2026
As part of its membership in Lex Mundi, Tilleke & Gibbins has released the latest edition of its Guide to Doing Business in Thailand, providing an overview of the legal, regulatory, and commercial considerations for companies establishing or expanding operations in Thailand. The 2026 edition offers practical insight into the country’s business environment, investment framework, and operational requirements. The guide covers a wide range of topics relevant to foreign and domestic investors, including: Investment incentives and promotion schemes Financial facilities and banking regulations Exchange controls and money transfers Import and export regulations Business structures and incorporation options Requirements for establishing a business Operational and compliance considerations Business cessation and insolvency procedures Employment and labor laws Taxation Immigration and visa requirements Prepared by Tilleke & Gibbins lawyers across multiple practice areas, the publication outlines key aspects of doing business in Thailand, including foreign investment restrictions, regulatory compliance obligations, corporate structures, employment requirements, and recent legal and economic developments affecting investors. The publication forms part of Lex Mundi’s Country Guides series, a global collection of jurisdiction-specific reference materials prepared by member firms around the world. Together, these guides help companies evaluate opportunities, compare regulatory environments, and plan international business activities across multiple markets. The full Guide to Doing Business in Thailand 2026 is available through the button below.
May 2, 2025
Attorneys from Tilleke & Gibbins have updated the latest edition of Doing Business in Thailand, a Q&A-style guide from Thomson Reuters Practical Law that offers an overview of key legal considerations for companies operating in jurisdictions worldwide. The contribution outlines the country’s legal and regulatory framework for foreign investment and business operations and reflects the latest legislative developments. The chapter addresses the following core topics: Legal system: Structure of the courts and the codified nature of Thai law. Foreign investment: Business restrictions under the Foreign Business Act, sector-specific regulations, exchange control rules, and investment incentives. Business vehicles: Overview of partnerships, private and public limited companies, and other legal entities. Employment: Labor protections, employment contracts, foreign worker requirements, and termination procedures. Tax: Corporate and personal income tax, indirect taxes, and tax obligations for residents and non-residents. Intellectual property: Registration and enforcement of patents, trademarks, designs, and copyrights. Data protection: Key provisions of the Personal Data Protection Act and related compliance obligations. Competition law: Regulatory framework under the Trade Competition Act. Anti-bribery and corruption: Relevant legislation and enforcement mechanisms. E-commerce and digital business: Legal regime for online transactions and digital platforms. Marketing and advertising: Consumer protection laws and regulations affecting advertising and marketing practices. Product regulation and liability: Safety standards, liability regimes, and roles of enforcement authorities. Practical Law, a legal reference resource from Thomson Reuters, publishes a range of guides for hundreds of jurisdictions and practice areas. The insurance and reinsurance guide is a valuable resource for legal practitioners, covering numerous jurisdictions worldwide. To view the latest version of the guide, please visit the Practical Law website and enroll in the free Practical Law trial to gain full access.
December 4, 2024
Thailand Legal Basics, a valuable primer for foreign investors, explores all aspects of living and doing business in Thailand. Written by specialists at Tilleke & Gibbins in Bangkok, it is the only comprehensive English-language guide to the Thai legal system with a focus on the concerns of foreign business and investment.
December 15, 2023
As part of its membership in Lex Mundi, Tilleke & Gibbins has published an updated edition of its Guide to Doing Business in Thailand for 2023. This guide outlines the key factors for starting and operating a business in the Thai market. Issues covered include: Investment incentives Financial facilities Exchange controls Import and export regulations Structures for doing business Requirements for the Establishment of a Business Operation of the Business Cessation or Termination of the Business Labor legislation, relations, and supply Tax Immigration requirements This publication is part of Lex Mundi’s Country Guides series prepared by member firms in more than 100 jurisdictions worldwide. The guides serve as a useful resource for planning international business strategy and researching new markets. The full Guide to Doing Business in Thailand is available through the button below.

Awards & Rankings

September 30, 2026
Tilleke & Gibbins has been named a finalist in two categories at the IFLR and International Tax Review (ITR) Asia-Pacific Awards 2026. The firm is shortlisted for Thailand National Firm of the Year at the IFLR Asia-Pacific Awards, which recognize innovative cross-border transactions and the firms, teams, and transactions shaping the region’s legal and financial landscape. Tilleke & Gibbins is also shortlisted for Thailand Tax Firm of the Year at the ITR Asia-Pacific Tax Awards. The awards recognize leading firms and practitioners across the region for their work in direct tax, indirect tax, tax disputes, and transfer pricing. The winners will be announced at a joint awards ceremony on November 12, 2026, at the Ritz-Carlton in Hong Kong. For more information, please see the full shortlists for the IFLR Asia-Pacific Awards 2026 and the ITR Asia-Pacific Awards 2026.
September 23, 2026
Tilleke & Gibbins has received eight nominations for the Managing IP Asia-Pacific Awards 2026, recognizing the strength of the firm’s intellectual property practice across Southeast Asia. The firm has been shortlisted in the following categories: Asia-Pacific Firm of the Year (Domestic) Cambodia Firm of the Year Indonesia Firm of the Year Thailand Patent Firm of the Year Thailand Trademark Firm of the Year Vietnam Patent Firm of the Year Vietnam Trademark Firm of the Year In addition, Darani Vachanavuttivong, managing partner and managing director of the firm’s intellectual property practice, has been shortlisted for Asia-Pacific Practitioner of the Year (General Law Firms). The eight nominations reflect the continued recognition of Tilleke & Gibbins’ regional capabilities in intellectual property protection, commercialization, and enforcement. The winners will be announced at a ceremony in Kuala Lumpur on November 5, 2026. For more information, please see the full Managing IP Asia-Pacific Awards 2026 shortlist.
September 23, 2026
Tilleke & Gibbins has received 14 nominations for the Asialaw Awards 2026. The nominations span jurisdiction-level, practice-area, and individual categories across the region. At the jurisdiction level, Tilleke & Gibbins has been shortlisted in three categories: Cambodia Firm of the Year Laos Firm of the Year Thailand Firm of the Year The firm has also been shortlisted for four regional practice awards: Aviation and Shipping Firm of the Year Corporate and M&A Firm of the Year Dispute Resolution Firm of the Year Technology and Telecommunications Firm of the Year Seven individual nominations recognize lawyers from the firm’s offices in Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam: Prisna Sungwanna, Laos Female Lawyer of the Year Pimvimol Vipamaneerut, Thailand Female Lawyer of the Year Tram Ngoc Bich Nguyen, Vietnam Female Lawyer of the Year John Frangos, Aviation and Shipping Lawyer of the Year, Dispute Resolution Lawyer of the Year Pongpalin Chantrapirom, Dispute Resolution Rising Star of the Year Chusert Supasitthumrong, Labour and Employment Lawyer of the Year The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in Kuala Lumpur on November 5, 2026. For more information on the Asialaw Awards 2025 and to browse a full list of the nominees, please visit the Asialaw website.
September 18, 2026
Tilleke & Gibbins has once again been recognized in the ALB Asia M&A Rankings 2026, earning Tier 2 rankings for its corporate and M&A practices in both Thailand and Vietnam. This marks the firm’s thirteenth consecutive year of recognition in the annual rankings. Published by Asian Legal Business (ALB), the rankings identify leading M&A law firms across Asia based on the volume, complexity, and scale of their work; their presence across the region and within individual jurisdictions; and strategic developments such as key hires and practice-group expansion. ALB, owned by Thomson Reuters, is a leading source of information for legal professionals active in the region. The continued recognition of Tilleke & Gibbins in Thailand and Vietnam reflects the firm’s longstanding capabilities in advising clients on significant transactions in these key Southeast Asian markets. To learn more about the ALB M&A rankings, and to browse the full rankings, please see the September 2026 issue of ALB.

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