Koichiro (Ko) Sato is one of the few attorneys in the United States with significant experience practicing both Japanese and U.S. complex litigation and dispute resolution. His practice focuses on litigation, international arbitration, and insolvency matters, with considerable experience representing clients in cross-border commercial and intellectual property matters.
Fluent in both Japanese and English, Ko’s bicultural background—having been born in Japan and spending his formative years in Canada—enables him to bridge legal and cultural differences seamlessly. In addition to his focus areas, he has extensive experience serving as outside general counsel (komon bengoshi) for international companies, addressing a broad range of legal issues that Japanese businesses encounter when operating globally.
He is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (MCIArb) and has acted as counsel under various arbitration rules, including those of the ICC, UNCITRAL, and the Japan Commercial Arbitration Association (JCAA). He has also advised both creditors and debtors in complex in-court bankruptcies and out-of-court restructurings involving multinational stakeholders.
Prior to joining the firm, Ko practiced law as a bengoshi at a prominent law firm in Tokyo. After earning his LL.M. at Stanford Law School, he joined Masuda Funai as a Visiting Foreign Attorney, gaining further exposure to U.S. legal matters. Before his legal career, he worked as an audit professional in Tokyo at a “Big Four” accounting and professional services firm, having passed the CPA examination (Kōnin Kaikeishi Shiken) in Japan in 2008.
Ko is admitted to practice law in California and New York and is also a Solicitor in England and Wales. His extensive litigation and arbitration experience, international credentials, and deep understanding of both Japanese and U.S. legal systems make him a trusted advisor for Japanese companies facing legal challenges in the U.S.