Mari Hiraizumi: Redefining corporate legal leadership and board membership in global corporations

Lawyer on Air

Mari Hiraizumi is a trailblazer in Japan. Not only is she the General Counsel and Executive Director for her organisation, but has been able to take on another external board role at the same time. This is truly groundbreaking with this trio of roles! If you are an in-house legal counsel and you are aiming for a board role at another company and wondering how to do that, then this is the episode for you.

In this episode you’ll hear:

• How Mari was able to get her university degree when her family wanted her to be a housewife

• Noticing the opportunity for studying abroad and working at MOFA

• How Mari was able to get an additional board role as an in-house lawyer

• Her favourite phrase and other fun facts

About Mari

Mari Hiraizumi is the General Counsel, Head of Legal, and Executive Director ("Torishimariyaku") for GSK, a UK-based global pharmaceutical company, in Japan. Mari holds an LL.B. from Kyoto University (1997) and an LL.M. from New York University (2003). She is a licensed attorney admitted to practice in Japan (since 1999) and also in New York, USA (since 2004).

Mari began her professional career in 1999 as an associate attorney at Osaka International Law Offices. In 2002, she moved to the U.S. to study at NYU Law School. After obtaining her LL.M. from NYU, she worked for Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur, an Ohio-based law firm, as a foreign attorney for one year, providing support to Japanese car manufacturers and suppliers in the U.S. Midwest area.

Upon returning to Japan, Mari became a Deputy Director at the Social and Economic Treaties Division, International Legal Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where she supported free trade agreements with countries including Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Chile. This experience sparked her interest in working as an in-house lawyer rather than at a law firm.

In 2007, Mari transitioned to an in-house attorney role at Bayer in Japan, where she made significant contributions to developing the company's legal function. In 2019, she joined GSK, and in 2020, she became an Executive Director ("Torishimariyaku").

Since March 2022, Mari has also taken on the role as an external board member (“Torishimariyaku”) of a Japanese manufacturing corporation, Showa Aircraft Industry Co., Ltd. By doing so, she aims to be a role model for Japanese in-house counsels and contribute to multiple companies concurrently, highlighting the benefits for both companies and in-house lawyers themselves.

Mari is deeply committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I). During her time at Bayer and Boehringer Ingelheim, she led D&I projects. Currently at GSK, she sponsors the Employee Resource Group called "SPECTRUM Japan" and supports the group in engaging in joint activities with other companies in the industry to drive change in the medical industry.

In 2021, Mari was recognized for her achievements, winning the ALB Japan Law Awards as the Woman Lawyer of the Year (In-House category). This year, she received two awards at the ALB Japan Law Awards, namely, In-house Lawyer of the Year and Woman Lawyer of the Year (In-House category). Additionally, she was listed in the GC Powerlist Japan chapter in July, a Legal 500 publication that highlights the most influential in-house lawyers and legal teams in the local legal industry.

Outside of work, Mari enjoys traveling, running, hiking, and visiting hot springs (onsen). To date, she has traveled to more than 50 countries. In 2021, she obtained certification as an "Onsen Sommelier" from the Onsen Sommelier Association, a private organization. She also has a fondness for ramen noodles and other affordable yet delicious local foods.

Connect with Mari

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mari-hiraizumi-7557345/

Links

Momotenashiya Shinbashi: https://www.torioka.com/eat/

Funao Winery, Okayama https://www.funaowinery.com/

Die with Zero, https://amzn.asia/d/5clkY1E