Stephen Givens has spent his professional career based in Tokyo structuring, negotiating and closing cross-border acquisitions and other corporate transactions, on behalf of both Japanese and foreign clients. 

He was the partner-in-charge of the Tokyo office of a major US law firm before establishing an independent practice. 

For foreign clients he offers transaction-specific representation as well as ongoing management of legal, contractual, regulatory, compliance and policy matters that arise in the course of establishing and operating a business in Japan.

He undertakes special assignments for clients confronting unexpected management and legal problems, including disruptions in senior management, restructurings, turnarounds, employee misconduct, and official investigations. 

He regularly advises foreign funds and institutional investors in connection with shareholder proposals, proxy contests and other corporate governance matters with their Japanese portfolio companies.

Raised and educated in Tokyo, he has been practicing law in Tokyo since 1987. He was a graduate student in the Law Faculty of Kyoto University and graduated from Harvard Law School.