Employee Interview: Kazuki Otobe (Image)

My seeds are Towards new things
curiosity

Kazuki Otobe

Career entry Legal Affairs Governance and Risk Management Division
Corporate Legal Department

Otobe, a licensed lawyer, leverages his experience at both domestic and foreign law firms to handle a wide range of tasks beyond legal matters, working in a more business-oriented environment.

Q1: What is your current job and what is rewarding about it?

We continue to face new challenges.

My current responsibilities are broadly divided into two areas. The first is drafting and reviewing contracts and conducting legal research. I draft and review a wide range of contracts and terms of service for Macnica 's new businesses and M&A activities. Macnica is a company that engages in numerous new businesses in areas such as autonomous driving, healthcare, AI, and agritech, in addition to semiconductors and Network business segment. Therefore, I am constantly facing new challenges as I work, which I find very rewarding.
I also have opportunities to negotiate contracts with overseas offices and support overseas investment projects in English. With a "just try it" mindset, I'm actively gaining experience while studying foreign laws and improving my English skills, and I'm working hard every day.

My second responsibility is supporting the operation of shareholder meetings and Board Director meetings. Both shareholder meetings and Board Director meetings are bodies stipulated by the Companies Act, so they must be operated in accordance with the law. Preparing for shareholder meetings requires coordination with various departments, such as management planning, accounting and finance, general affairs, and IT.
In addition, we hold numerous meetings with the president, Member of the Board, and external companies that support our operations. Because there are so many stakeholders, sharing information and coordinating can be challenging, but the opportunity to proactively move forward while communicating with many people and having a great deal of autonomy is a unique appeal of working in Macnica 's legal department. When the entire corporate department works together to successfully conclude a tense shareholders' meeting, we experience a great sense of accomplishment.

Q2: Why did you choose Macnica?

Optimizing business through legal matters

My previous job was at a law firm specializing in corporate law, where I provided legal advice to client companies as a lawyer. While my previous job was rewarding, there was an inherent distance between me and the clients when providing advice from a law firm perspective. I wanted to provide legal advice in a business setting, closer to the business side of things, so I started looking for a new job.

I chose Macnica because the employees I met during the job interview gave me the impression that they were truly passionate about their work. Furthermore, they handle a wide range of tasks, including semiconductors, networks, and new businesses, and have numerous overseas offices. This was very appealing to me because I wanted to work in various fields, including overseas projects.
Macnica has a deeply ingrained culture of delegation, and the fact that I can proactively and independently move projects forward was one of the deciding factors in my joining the company.

Since joining the company, I've found myself much closer to the business than in my previous job. At Macnica, I can review project proposals with the person in charge and discuss legal matters from the early stages of new businesses and projects, giving me opportunities to offer advice and suggestions for improvement to make the business better. Being involved in the process of how businesses take shape has led to many new discoveries and inspirations, making my work enjoyable.

Daily Schedule

8:30

go to the office

Check today's to-do list.
10:00

Online meeting with the business unit

Organizing contractual relationships related to new businesses and revising them to align with the business.
12:00

Lunch

I had lunch at a nearby restaurant with a colleague who was at the office.
13:00

Contract Review

Review and propose revisions to agency agreements with overseas suppliers, as requested by the business division.

14:00

Ibid.
15:00

Meeting regarding the operation of the general assembly

Discussions with relevant departments regarding challenges in managing the shareholders' meeting.
16:00

Regular meeting

I consulted with my supervisor about checking the progress of ongoing projects and any uncertainties regarding how to proceed.
17:30

End of Work

Sometimes I go out for a light meal with colleagues after work.

Q3: An episode that made you grow

You can acquire not only specialized knowledge but also core skills.

In managing general meetings and supporting contracts, many tasks cannot be completed solely by the legal department. Therefore, it is crucial to deepen our understanding of Macnica 's business while clearly communicating legal matters. I proactively move forward with each project, consulting with my supervisor as needed to achieve the project's goals, and coordinating with related departments and business units. As a result, I feel that my execution and completion skills are improving with each project.

I was first put in charge of managing the shareholders' meeting less than a year after joining the company. There was a lot I didn't know, but I relied on advice from my predecessor, started by contacting various departments and building relationships, and somehow managed to get through it while adjusting the schedule leading up to the day.
Through that experience, I feel that I have grown significantly as a business person, acquiring skills and knowledge beyond legal matters, such as communication and negotiation skills.

Macnica has an open and flat culture where everyone, regardless of their position, exchanges opinions on an equal footing and constantly seeks to improve business. This is a major characteristic of Macnica. The distance to management is surprisingly close, and the environment where you can easily attend general meetings and consult on business matters not only increases work efficiency but also allows you to learn about management's way of thinking.

MY VISIONFuture goals and aspirations

Macnica, each individual possesses professional expertise and constantly considers what they can do for our clients and society as a business person. I, too, want to leverage my legal expertise and work alongside businesses in a wide range of fields, both domestically and internationally.

Also, I enjoy eating delicious food with colleagues and friends, and since my weight has been increasing recently, I'm working hard on dieting in my private life!

Message

Because Macnica is constantly growing, there are many opportunities to excel. I think it's a very attractive workplace for people who want to actively participate in various tasks while coming up with their own ideas. I myself feel a sense of fulfillment and enjoyment in my work every day.

In a rapidly changing society, we continue to sow seeds at our feet, stand at the forefront of change, and always tackle the challenges that lie beyond the cutting edge. I am truly looking forward to working with all of you who join Macnica to create a bright and exciting future.