Date Posted:

2026-03-30

Country:

Japan

Location:

Japan Otis Headquarters: Tokyo Sumitomo Twin Building East 13F, 2-27-1 Shinkawa, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0033 JAPAN

SENIOR LEGAL COUNSEL / SENIOR LEGAL MANAGER

 

Function:         Legal & Compliance

Entity:              Nippon Otis Elevator Company

Location:          Tokyo, Japan

Reporting to:   Director, Legal & Compliance

 

Basic Purpose of the Position:

 

Under the supervision of the Director, Legal & Compliance, this role is responsible for providing senior‑level legal support across all major business functions of Otis Japan. The position acts as a strategic business partner to management and a key interface with APAC and WHQ Legal, supporting strategic commercial transactions, regulatory matters, dispute management, and other business‑critical projects.

 

Areas of Focus:

 

Sales & Marketing

Product and Service Safety

Supply Chain and Procurement

Business Development and Strategic Projects

Finance‑related transactions

Regulatory matters

Intellectual Property

Antitrust and Competition Law

Anti‑corruption / Third‑Party Risk Management

Privacy and Data Protection

International Trade Compliance

 

Key Responsibilities:

 

On a typical day, the Senior Legal Counsel will:

Act as a trusted legal advisor to senior management and business leaders on high‑impact, time‑sensitive matters.

Draft, review, and negotiate commercial contracts, including:

Strategic customer and supplier agreements

Technology, licensing, and data‑related agreements

Lead or substantially support strategic projects that require close coordination with APAC and WHQ Legal.

Provide practical, solution‑oriented advice on Japanese regulatory issues affecting operations.

Manage and oversee litigation and disputes, including coordination with outside counsel and internal stakeholders.

Prepare clear, executive‑level legal updates and reports for senior management on material risks and key matters.

Design, implement, and continuously improve local legal policies, processes, and controls.

Support the Legal & Compliance function in compliance initiatives and training, in close coordination with ethics and compliance stakeholders.

Supervise and mentor more junior legal team members on defined matters.

Manage relationships with external counsel, ensuring quality, efficiency, and cost discipline.

Perform other duties as assigned in support of Legal & Compliance objectives.

 

Qualifications:

 

Minimum 5+ years of post‑qualification experience at a top‑tier law firm and/or multinational corporation, preferably in manufacturing, construction, infrastructure, or industrial sectors.

Strong grounding in Japanese law, with the ability to handle complex, cross‑functional matters independently.

Japan bar admission preferred; foreign bar admission (e.g., NY) a plus.

Native‑level Japanese and professional‑level English (written and spoken).

Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a matrixed, multinational environment.

 

Required Competencies:

 

IMAGINATION: Innovate through new ways of working and smart risk-taking to build competitive advantage

COLLABORATION: Understand broader goals, defer own objectives to maximize Otis results

EMPATHY: Prioritize customer experience; think broadly and take decisive action to improve delivery

INCLUSION: Actively seek out and value ideas and opinions from others who are different from you

EMPOWERMENT: Develop talent through autonomy, trust, and resources – allow room for failure

PACE: Lead with energy and speed; set high expectations and take personal ownership

 

 

[END]

If you live in a city, chances are we will give you a lift or play a role in keeping you moving every day. 

Otis is the world’s leading elevator and escalator manufacturing, installation, and service company. We move 2.4 billion people every day and maintain approximately 2.4 million customer units worldwide, the industry's largest Service portfolio.  

You may recognize our products in some of the world’s most famous landmarks including the Eiffel Tower, Empire State Building, Burj Khalifa and the Petronas Twin Towers! We are 72,000 people strong, including engineers, digital technology experts, sales, and functional specialists, as well as factory and field technicians, all committed to meeting the diverse needs of our customers and passengers in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. We are proud to be a diverse, global team with a proven legacy of innovation that continues to be the bedrock of a fast-moving, high-performance company.  

When you join Otis, you become part of an innovative global industry leader with a resilient business model. You’ll belong to a diverse, trusted, and caring community where your contributions, and the skills and capabilities you’ll gain working alongside the best and brightest, keep us connected and on the cutting edge.  

We provide opportunities, training, and resources, that build leadership and capabilities in Sales, Field, Engineering and Major Projects and our Employee Scholar Program is a notable point of pride, through which Otis sponsors colleagues to pursue degrees or certification programs.   

Today, our focus more than ever is on people. As a global, people-powered company, we put people – passengers, customers, and colleagues – at the center of everything we do.  We are guided by our values that we call our Three Absolutes – prioritizing Safety, Ethics, Quality in all that we do. If you would like to learn more about environmental, social and governance (ESG) at Otis click here.  

Become a part of the Otis team and help us #Buildwhatsnext! 

Otis is An Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age, or any other protected class according to applicable law. To request an accommodation in completing an employment application due to a special need or a disability, please contact us at careers@otis.com.

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