Greenberg Traurig expanded its presence in Asia with the appointment of prominent global trade lawyer Junko Suetomi as a shareholder in the firm’s Tokyo office. The move reflects the firm’s ongoing investment in top legal talent across the region as it continues to build its international trade, customs, antitrust, and litigation capabilities. Junko joins from Baker McKenzie, bringing extensive multidisciplinary experience advising the Japanese government, practicing in the United States, and counseling clients on sanctions regimes that affect markets worldwide.
Her arrival comes amid continued growth across Greenberg Traurig’s Asia platform. The firm has established an investment funds team in Singapore, with a strategy centered on recruiting and empowering local talent, as well as fostering collaboration among its more than 3,000 lawyers across 51 offices worldwide. Junko joins a Tokyo office that has expanded significantly since opening a decade ago and is now recognized as one of the leading legal groups in Japan.
Her practice spans commercial and trade law, WTO disputes, civil and criminal litigation, antitrust, bankruptcy, and corporate matters. She advises clients on trade remedies, customs matters, antitrust compliance, and conflicts with government agencies. And her clients include government institutions, financial organizations, technology companies, manufacturers, professional services firms, and energy companies. She also routinely counsels businesses on sanctions programs affecting Russia, Iran, and Myanmar and helps companies navigate inbound and outbound trade regulations amid global supply chain complexity.
Junko’s early-career role advising the WTO Dispute Settlement Division of Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Economic Bureau was a formative experience, giving her an unprecedented view of international dispute resolution frameworks. She later worked in major global law firms in Washington, D.C., New York, and Tokyo, strengthening her knowledge of U.S. trade and regulatory systems.
At Greenberg Traurig, she will continue her work in global trade while expanding into the emerging field of commercial arbitration in Japan. Arbitration has historically been limited in the country, but Junko noted growing interest among clients seeking alternatives to litigation. She plans to help advance this field by leveraging the firm’s extensive global dispute resolution practice.
Her move to Greenberg Traurig also marks a return to the firm where she previously interned in the New York office. She cited the firm’s reputation across Asia for giving lawyers freedom to operate across practices and regions, with no internal barriers, as a key reason for rejoining.
KEY QUOTES:
“Greenberg Traurig’s driving goal in Tokyo and throughout Asia has been to attract top-tier talent that exhibits legal excellence to ensure we continue to meet and exceed client expectations. Junko’s wide-ranging experience is the perfect embodiment of that mission. She has served her clients honorably, developed critical relationships throughout Japan, and has become one of the most trusted voices on sanctions, international trade regulations, and the intricacies of global trade. We are privileged to welcome her to the firm.”
Koji Ishikawa, Managing Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig Tokyo
“Junko’s unique experience will open up new possibilities for our clients and provide Greenberg Traurig with an invaluable resource in the critical Japanese market. We have built an international team of trade lawyers across the firm who understand their local markets and work collaboratively to bridge the gaps between distant regions. Junko represents a monumental addition to that team.”
Richard A. Edlin, Vice Chair, Greenberg Traurig
“Companies that trade in the global market are facing challenges on all fronts, from tariffs and trade wars to political instability and regional conflicts. I’m constantly analyzing how those problems affect the global supply chain and providing legal guidance to my clients on how to navigate them.”
“There’s room to explore and to grow that field and I want to be a hub for that practice. The timing is perfect now that I’m joining Greenberg Traurig, because I can tap into the firm’s prodigious disputes resolution practice that is already operating worldwide. That will help me serve clients by responding to their evolving needs.”
Junko Suetomi, Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig Tokyo
