Baker & McKenzie GJBJ Tokyo Aoyama Aoki Koma Law Office has hired Japanese ministry of foreign affairs senior official Junko Suetomi as counsel – to expand its cross-border dispute resolution capabilities with an “insider’s” viewpoint.

Suetomi worked for the ministry of foreign affairs as a senior official in the Economics Bureau in the WTO dispute settlement division before joining Baker & McKenzie. Prior to that, she spent time working for a global law firm in Washington DC and New York. She has also lectured at various universities in Japan.

Suetomi will be a member of Baker & McKenzie’s international trade & commerce group. Her appointment will further the firm’s expansion strategy in the international trade and commerce field, with a focus on cross-border dispute resolution issues. She will advise primarily on issues pertaining to international trade and commerce disputes as well as antitrust corporate matters.

Suetomi was admitted to practice law in Japan as a bengoshi in 2000. She is also a registered attorney with the New York State Bar since 2006. Her focus areas of practice include international trade and commerce laws and regulations – specifically WTO and bilateral trade dispute settlements. She also has experience handling general civil and criminal litigation, antitrust, bankruptcy and general corporate issues.ALB

Other related stories:

• Baker & McKenzie elects new managing partner, Australia (2 Jul 2010)
• Baker & McKenzie, Linklaters, Clifford Chance lead finalist count ... (29 Jul 2010)
• Baker & McKenzie strengthens Asia practice with new partners (6 Jul 2010)