Terms & Conditions

1. Definitions

• — "Ishibashi" refers to the legal practice based in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
• — "Client" refers to any person or entity who engages Ishibashi for legal services
• — "Services" refers to any legal advice, review, drafting or consultation provided by Ishibashi
• — "Site" refers to this website

2. Nature of the agreement

These Terms and Conditions apply to use of this site and, together with the engagement letter issued for each matter, to any provision of services. In the event of conflict between these terms and an engagement letter, the engagement letter takes precedence.

No engagement of services is formed merely by submitting an enquiry. An engagement is established only when both parties have agreed and signed a written engagement letter setting out the scope, fee and other relevant terms.

3. User obligations

In using this site or engaging services, you agree to:

• Provide accurate, complete and up-to-date information when submitting enquiries or instructing on a matter
• Promptly notify Ishibashi of any change in circumstances that may affect the advice given
• Comply with all applicable laws and regulations in connection with your use of the site and any services
• Refrain from providing false or misleading information in any communication
• Not attempt to circumvent any security or access control on the site

4. Age and capacity

By using this site, you confirm that you are of legal age to enter into binding agreements under the laws of Japan (18 years or older) and that you are acting in a personal or professional capacity with authority to engage services on behalf of yourself or any organisation you represent.

5. Fees and payment

• Fees for specific services are set out in the relevant engagement letter
• Fixed fees are agreed and confirmed in writing before work commences
• Invoices are payable within 14 days of the invoice date unless otherwise agreed
• All fees are stated in Japanese yen (JPY) and are exclusive of consumption tax unless stated otherwise
• Ishibashi reserves the right to suspend or terminate an engagement where invoices remain unpaid beyond the agreed payment period

6. Confidentiality

Ishibashi treats all client information as confidential and does not disclose it to third parties except:

• Where required by law, court order or regulatory authority
• With your prior written consent
• To the extent necessary for the performance of services (e.g. engaging specialist counsel)

7. Disclaimer of warranties

The information on this site is provided in good faith but without warranty of any kind. In particular:

• General information on this site does not constitute legal advice and may not reflect the most current state of the law
• Ishibashi does not warrant that the site will be error-free, uninterrupted or free from viruses
• Legal outcomes depend on facts, circumstances and judicial discretion that cannot be predicted with certainty

8. Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by Japanese law:

• Ishibashi's liability arising out of or in connection with any matter is limited to the fees paid by the client for the relevant engagement
• Ishibashi is not liable for indirect, consequential or incidental loss, including loss of profit, even if advised of the possibility of such loss
• Nothing in these terms limits liability for gross negligence, wilful misconduct or fraud

9. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Ishibashi from any claims, losses, damages or expenses (including reasonable legal costs) arising out of your use of the site in breach of these terms, or from any false or misleading information provided in connection with an engagement.

10. Force majeure

Ishibashi is not liable for any failure or delay in performance of its obligations to the extent caused by events outside its reasonable control, including natural disasters, government action, civil unrest, or failure of third-party systems.

11. Dispute resolution

In the event of a dispute, the parties agree to first seek resolution through good-faith discussion. If no resolution is reached within 30 days, either party may escalate the matter to mediation or, if necessary, to the courts.

These terms are governed by the laws of Japan. Any disputes not resolved by mediation shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Tokyo District Court.

12. Severability

If any provision of these terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid under applicable law, that provision shall be limited or removed to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

13. Changes to these terms

We reserve the right to modify these terms at any time. The date at the top of this page indicates the most recent update. Changes do not affect engagements already agreed under a signed engagement letter.