Dominic Sharman

Professional Summary

Dominic Sharman is a member of the Dispute Resolution group at Baker McKenzie’s Tokyo office.

Having trained and qualified in the UK, Dominic moved to Japan to practice law in 2014, working for a prominent law firm in Tokyo before moving to Baker McKenzie in 2017.

Dominic is a member of Baker McKenzie’s Healthcare & Life Sciences, Technology, Media & Telecoms and Energy, Mining & Infrastructure Industry Groups.

Practice Focus

Dominic’s practice covers a broad range of advisory and contentious work with both Japan-related and international aspects, including international arbitration under the rules of various arbitral institutions, cross border litigation in both the courts of England & Wales and Japan, and compliance-related matters.

Dominic advises and represents clients spanning several industries, with a particular focus on healthcare and life sciences and energy, mining and infrastructure.

Representative Clients, Cases or Matters

Arbitration and ADR

• Represented a major Japanese corporation in an arbitration under the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) rules (seated in Singapore) arising out of a joint venture agreement pertaining to a production operation in Myanmar.
• Represented foreign owned members of a Japanese company in an International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) arbitration (seated in Tokyo) with respect to a power generation facility in Japan.
• Represented a major Japanese pharmaceutical corporation in an International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) arbitration (seated in New York) pertaining to a claim for breaches of a share purchase and transfer agreement.
• Represented a major Japanese chemical corporation in an arbitration under the Japan Commercial Arbitration Association (JCAA) rules (seated in Japan) arising out of a distribution agreement with a European counterparty.
• Represented a major global pharmaceutical company in an International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) arbitration (seated in Paris) arising from a development and commercialization agreement.
• Represented a Japanese commercial vehicle sales company in a Japan Commercial Arbitration Association (JCAA) arbitration (seated in Tokyo) with a Southeast Asian party arising out of multiple sales agreements.
• Represented a major global solar power company in a Japan Commercial Arbitration Association (JCAA) arbitration (seated in Tokyo) with a European party regarding the construction of a power- generation facility in Japan.
• Represented a Japanese commercial vehicle sales company in the first reported successful application for recognition and enforcement of a foreign arbitral award in Myanmar.
• Represented a major Japanese shipping company in an arbitration under the American Arbitration Association (International Centre for Dispute Resolution)(ICDR-AAA) rules (seated in Tokyo) arising out of a number of shipbuilding contracts.
• Represented a Japanese employer consortium in a potential arbitration with an EPC contractor regarding the construction of a power-generation facility in Southeast Asia.
• Represented a Japanese automotive parts manufacturer in a potential JCAA arbitration in connection with allegedly defective products.
• Appointed by World Rugby to a panel of lawyers tasked with handling disciplinary issues through a dispute resolution system for the 20 teams participating in the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Litigation and Advisory

• Advised and provided claim management services to a major global payment services company with respect to claims brought against it in Japan, including in the Japanese courts and other ADR processes.
• Advised a major European plant engineering group in several potential disputes with Japanese counterparties arising out of a number of construction projects in Japan.
• Advised a major US engineering company with respect to potential litigation in the Japanese courts with a Japanese counterparty related to an alleged breach of warranty claim arising out of a sale and purchase agreement.
• Represented the European subsidiary of a major Japanese manufacturing company in cross-border litigation in the Courts of England and Wales.
• Represented numerous offshore institutional investors in cross-border litigation against a major Japanese manufacturing company concerning a dispute arising from allegedly false statements made to shareholders.
• Represented a major global distribution company in cross-border litigation against a Japanese individual in relation to an alleged breach of intellectual property rights.
• Represented an American claimant in cross-border litigation against a global Japanese airline concerning a claim for alleged unjustifiable termination.
• Represented global insurance companies in relation to litigation involving complex and interconnected national and global fraud rings.

Compliance

• Assisted several major global pharmaceutical companies regarding compliance-related investigations.
• Assisted several major global manufacturing companies with the establishment of multi jurisdictional compliance, ethics and whistleblowing hotlines.

Publications, Presentations and Articles

Publications

• Co-author, “International Commercial Arbitration Practice: 21st Century Perspectives: International Commercial Arbitration Practice in Japan,” Lexis-Nexis, 2023, Language: English
• Co-author, “International Arbitration Update No. 14: Updates for Japanese companies,” Baker McKenzie Client Alert, Baker McKenzie, March 2023, Language: Japanese
• Co-author, “The Baker McKenzie International Arbitration Yearbook 2022-2023,” Juris Publishing, Inc., March 2023, Language: English
• Co-author, “International Arbitration Update No. 13: Updates for Japanese companies,” Baker McKenzie Client Alert, Baker McKenzie, October 2022, Language: Japanese
• Co-author, “Global Privilege Guide 2022,” Baker McKenzie, September 2022, Language: English
• Co-author, “Digital Transformation in Dispute Resolution: A Regional and Global Pattern,” Japan Commercial Arbitration Journal, July 2022, Language: Japanese
• Co-author, “International Arbitration Update No. 12: Virtual Hearings in Arbitration and Mediation: Trends, Protocols and Practical Tips,” Baker McKenzie Client Alert, Baker McKenzie, June 2022, Language: English and Japanese
• Co-author, “International Commercial Arbitration Practice: 21st Century Perspectives: International Commercial Arbitration Practice in Japan,” Lexis-Nexis, 2022, Language: English
• Co-author, “The Baker McKenzie International Arbitration Yearbook 2021-2022,” Juris Publishing, Inc., March 2022, Language: English
• Co-author, “The Requirement for Whistleblowing Systems under the Amended Whistleblower Protection Act,” Baker McKenzie, January 2022, Language: English
• Co-author, “International Arbitration Update No. 11: The Japan Commercial Arbitration Association introduces New Rules,” Baker McKenzie Client Alert, Baker McKenzie, September 2021, Language: English and Japanese
• Co-author, “International Commercial Arbitration Practice: 21st Century Perspectives: International Commercial Arbitration Practice in Japan,” Lexis-Nexis, 2021, Language: English
• Co-author, “The Baker McKenzie International Arbitration Yearbook 2020-2021,” Juris Publishing, Inc., March 2021, Language: English
• Co-author, “International Mediation Update: Japan,” Baker McKenzie Client Alert, Baker McKenzie, October 2020, Language: English
• Co-author, “Landmark Recognition and Enforcement of a Foreign Arbitral Award in Myanmar,” Lexology, September 2020, Language: English and Japanese
• Co-author, “Outline of the Emergency Arbitrator System and Points to Note When Using It,” Business Law Magazine, August 2020, Language: Japanese
• Co-author, “Landmark Recognition and Enforcement of a Foreign Arbitral Award in Myanmar,” Baker McKenzie Client Alert, Baker McKenzie, August 2020, Language: English and Japanese
• Co-author, “International Commercial Arbitration Practice: 21st Century Perspectives: International Commercial Arbitration Practice in Japan,” Lexis-Nexis, 2020, Language: English
• Co-author, “Force Majeure under Japanese Law,” Baker McKenzie Client Alert, Baker McKenzie, March 2020, Language: English
• Co-author, “The Baker McKenzie International Arbitration Yearbook 2019-2020,” Juris Publishing, Inc., March 2020, Language: English
• Co-author, “International Commercial Arbitration Practice: 21st Century Perspectives: International Commercial Arbitration Practice in Japan,” Lexis-Nexis, 2019, Language: English
• Co-author, “Japan: Consequences of an Arbitrator’s Failure to Disclose Relevant Facts,” Lexology, May 2019, Language: English
• Co-author, “The Baker McKenzie International Arbitration Yearbook 2018-2019,” Juris Publishing, Inc., March 2019, Language: English
• Co-author and co-editor, “Doing Business in Japan 2018,” Baker McKenzie, July 2018, Language: English
• Co-author, “International Commercial Arbitration Practice: 21st Century Perspectives: International Commercial Arbitration Practice in Japan,” Lexis-Nexis, 2018, Language: English
• Co-author, “Expedited Procedures under the JCAA Rules: Time for More Change?,” International Arbitration Law Review, April 2018, Language: English
• Co-author, “The Baker McKenzie International Arbitration Yearbook 2017-2018,” Juris Publishing, Inc., March 2018, Language: English
• Co-author, “The Use of Sealed Offers in International Arbitration,” Baker McKenzie Client Alert, Baker McKenzie, November 2017, Language: English and Japanese
• Co-author, “Merits of International Mediation,” Baker McKenzie Client Alert, Baker McKenzie, July 2017, Language: English
• Co-author, “The Baker McKenzie International Arbitration Yearbook 2016-2017,” Juris Publishing, Inc., March 2017, Language: English

Presentations

• Speaker, “Digital Transformation,” Hanoi Bar Association, March 2022, Language: English
• Speaker, “Fireside Chats,” Chartered Institute of Arbitrators – Young Members Group – Malaysia Chapter, August 2021, Language: English
• Speaker, “COVID-19: Force Majeure, Frustration and Material Adverse Change Clauses,” Japan In-house Counsel Network, October 2020, Language: English

Admissions

• Foreign Registered Lawyer (gaikokuho jimu bengoshi), Japan (2015)
• England & Wales, United Kingdom (Solicitor Advocate) (2011)
• England & Wales, United Kingdom (Solicitor) (2009)

Professional Association and Memberships

Dai-ni Tokyo Bar Association – Member

Education

• Kaplan Altior (Higher Rights of Audience – Civil and Criminal) (2011)
• Lancaster University (LLB (Hons)) (2005)

Corporate responsibility

• Judge/Arbitrator, Intercollege Negotiation Competition (sponsored by Sumitomo Group Public Affairs Authority and others), since 2020
• Contributor, Fighting Domestic Violence (Japan chapter), Global Rights for Women / Every Woman Treaty, October 2020

Languages

English
Japanese

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