MEIKYO LAW OFFICE | FOOTBALL

OUR MEMBERS

We work closely with players, clubs, coaches, football agents, and other stakeholders in the football industry, providing support in complex domestic and international disputes and contractual matters.

Our team brings together lawyers with diverse backgrounds, including practical experience in international sports disputes, graduates of the FIFA Executive Programme, former judges, and FIFA Football Agent (FIFA-licensed), enabling us to collaborate effectively and deliver the most appropriate resolution for each case.

PROFILES(in Japanese alphabetical order)

ATTORNEYS

Takahito Igami

Attorney at law in Japan

Takahito Igami

Attorney at law in Japan

Akitoshi Maeda

Attorney at law in Japan

Akitoshi Maeda

Attorney at law in Japan

Yuki Mabuchi

Attorney at law in Japan

Yuki Mabuchi

Attorney at law in Japan

  • Professional Background
    • 2006 Graduated from the School of Health and Physical Education, University of Tsukuba
    • 2008 Completed the Master’s Program, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba
    • 2008 Passed the Japan Football Association Certified Players’ Agent Examination
    • 2019 Passed the Bar Examination; 2020 Registered as an attorney (Daini Tokyo Bar Association)
    • 2021 Established Imagent Law Office
    • 2023 Obtained the FIFA Football Agent (FIFA-licensed) (Legacy Path)
    • 2025 Joined Meikyo Law Office (Legal Professional Corporation)
  • Selected Activities / Affiliations
    • Board Member, Japan Sports Law Association
    • Chair, Research Committee on Sports Contracts, Japan Sports Law Association
    • Part-time lecturer in sports law (Chuo University, Keio University, and others)
    • Committee member for various sports organizations (Japan Deaf Badminton Association, Japan Para Canoe Federation, etc.)
    • Candidate Arbitrator / Mediator / Advisor, Japan Sports Arbitration Agency
  • Selected Publications
    • “Sports Betting: Law and Policy” (co-author)
    • “THE FIFA REGULATIONS ON WORKING WITH INTERMEDIARIES IMPLEMENTATION…” (co-author)
    • “Study on FIFA Players’ Agents” Annual Report of the Japan Sports Law Association, No. 15
    • “Regulation of Agents in Professional Sports – Regulatory Principles and Implications for Asian Countries” Annual Report of the Japan Sports Law Association, No. 17
    • Numerous other domestic and international publications on sports law
  • Lectures / Presentations
    • Japan Sports Law Association / Asian Sports Law Association
    • Delivered numerous lectures on sports law and sports business at Chuo University, Keio University, Hannan University, SANNO University, and others
View Full Profile

Yuki Mabuchi

Attorney at law in Japan

  • Professional Background
    • 2006
      Graduated from the School of Health and Physical Education, University of Tsukuba
    • 2008
      Completed the Master’s Program in Sports Sciences, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba
    • 2008
      Joined a Tokyo-based law firm
    • 2008
      Passed the JFA Certified Player Agent Examination
    • 2015
      Founded Imagent Inc.
    • 2016
      Completed the Legal Training Program, Graduate School of Law, Seikei University
    • 2019
      Passed the National Bar Examination
    • 2020
      Registered as an attorney (Dai-ni Tokyo Bar Association)
    • 2020
      Joined a Tokyo-based law firm
    • 2021
      Established Imagent Law Office
    • 2023
      Obtained FIFA Football Agent (FIFA-licensed)
    • 2025
      Joined Meikyo Law Office (as Attorney-at-Law)
  • Professional Activities / Affiliations
    • Member, Japan Sports Law Association (since 2006)
    • Chair, Research Committee on Sports Contracts, Japan Sports Law Association (2023-2025)
    • Board Member, Japan Sports Law Association (since 2026)
    • Part-time Lecturer, Heisei International University, Department of Law, Sports Welfare Policy Course (2010–2011 “Sports and Law”)
    • Part-time Lecturer, Chuo University Faculty of Law (2012 “Health and Sports Science B – Sports Law”)
    • Committee Member, Compliance Committee, Japan Deaf Badminton Association (since 2021)
    • Committee Member, Investigation Committee, Japan Para Table Tennis Association (2021–2022)
    • FIFA Executive Programme in Football Agency, 1st Edition (2022–2023)
    • Committee Member, National Team Staff Selection Committee, Japan Para Canoe Federation (since 2025)
    • Arbitrator / Mediator / Advisor Candidate, Japan Sports Arbitration Agency (since 2025)
  • Publications / Academic Papers
    ■ Books
    • “Sports Betting: Law and Policy”, Chapter 29, Sports Betting and the Law in Japan (Co-author) (published by T. M. C. Asser Press)
    • “THE FIFA REGULATIONS ON WORKING WITH INTERMEDIARIES IMPLEMENTATION AT NATIONAL LEVEL II EDITION”, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF FIFA REGULATIONS – COUNTRY REPORTS; JAPAN, SECTION II (Co-author) (published by International Law and Policy Centre)
    • Sports Policy Studies, edited by Kenji Saito et al., Part II (Practice), Chapter 9, Section 5: “Policies on Information and Intellectual Property in the Sports Industry” (Co-author, Seibundo Publishing)

    ■ Papers
    • “Research on FIFA Players’ Agents” (Japan Sports Law Association Annual Report, No. 15, 2008)
    • “Sports Betting and the Law in Japan” (The International Sports Law Journal, 2009/1-2, Co-author)
    • “Regulation of Agents in Professional Sports – Regulatory Principles and Implications for Asian Countries” (Japan Sports Law Association Annual Report, No. 17, 2010)
  • Lectures / Presentations
    2007
    • Japan Sports Law Association 15th Annual Conference “Research on FIFA Players’ Agents”

    2008
    • Chuo University Faculty of Law “Health and Sports Science II (Sports Law) – Case Studies on Football Disputes”

    2009
    • Asian Sports Law Association International Conference / Japan Sports Law Association 17th Annual Conference “Regulations on Agents in Professional Sports – Regulatory Principles and Implications for Asia”
    • Japan Sports Law Association, 9th Research Committee on Sports Contracts “International Trends in Liquidated Damages – Through the Webster and Matuzalem Cases”
    • Chuo University Faculty of Law “Health and Sports Science II (Sports Law) – Sports Business and the Agent System”

    2010
    • International Sports Law Association 16th Annual Conference “The Present Situation and Issues Concerning Sports Agents in Japan”
    • Chuo University Faculty of Law “Health and Sports Science II (Sports Law) – Sports Business and Agents”
    • Matsumoto University, Faculty of Human Health Science “Sports and Law – The Work of Football Agents”
    • Heisei International University “Sports and Law” (Sports Welfare Policy Course)

    2011
    • Chuo University Faculty of Law “Health and Sports Science II (Sports Law) – The Work of Football Agents”
    • Sanno University, Faculty of Information Management “Practical Sports Business Course – Sports Agents”
    • Matsumoto University “Sports and Law – The Work of Football Agents”
    • Heisei International University “Sports and Law”

    2012
    • Chuo University Faculty of Law “Health and Sports Science B (Sports Law) – Professional Sports II: Issues Surrounding Football, Sports Agents, Sports Dispute Resolution, and Intellectual Property Issues in Sports”

    2015
    • Sanno University “Practical Sports Business Course – Player Agents”

    2016
    • J.League Human Capital Program “The Work of Intermediaries”

    2019
    • Hannan University “Special Lecture / Sports Organization Theory – The Work of Player Agents and Athlete Management”

    2020
    • Keio University Law School “Sports Law – Legal Issues in Professional Sports”
    • Hannan University “Special Lecture / Sports Organization Theory – Player Agents and Athlete Management”
    • World Player Project Business Lecture “Sports Business from the Perspective of Agents”

    2021
    • Keio University Law School “Sports Law – Professional Sports Practice”
    • Hannan University “Sports Organization Theory – Player Agents and Athlete Management”

    2022
    • Osaka Bar Association, Sports and Entertainment Law Study Group “The Appeal of Lawyers Working at the Forefront of Sports Law”

    2023
    • Chukyo University “Sports Law – The Role of Sports Agents”
    • Sanno University “Practical Sports Business Course – Sports Agents”
    • Japan Sports Law Association 31st Annual Conference “Research on FIFA’s Football Agent Regulations and Their Introduction”

    2024
    • Keio University Law School “Sports Law – Sports Agents”

    2025
    • FIFA Executive Programme in Football Agency, 2nd Edition, 3rd Module (Paris) “Transfers in Asia”
    • Japan Sports Law Association 33rd Annual Conference “Rules Governing the International Transfer of Minors in Football”

    2026
    • Keio University Law School “Sports Law / Football Lawyer”

ADVISORS

Tsubasa Shinohara

External Academic Advisor

Tsubasa Shinohara

External Academic Advisor

  • Professional Background
    Affiliation
    Assistant Professor, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Tsukuba
    Degree
    PhD in Law(Feb, 2024, University of Lausanne)
    Master of Law(Jun, 2020, University of Lausanne)
    Master of Law(Mar, 2018, Meiji University)
    Bachelor of Law(Mar, 2016, Meiji University)

    Dr Tsubasa Shinohara is an Assistant Professor at the University of Tsukuba (Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences). He obtained a PhD in Law and Master of Law at the University of Lausanne (Switzerland) and a Master of Law and Bachelor of Law at the Meiji University (Japan). His main research interests include international human rights law (i.e., European Convention on Human Rights), especially “sports/esports and human rights”, sports/esports law, and technology and law.

    • Human Rights Officer (December 2019 - January 2026), Head of Legal Department (June 2025 - January 2026), and Academic Advisor (February 2026 - Present) at the Swiss Esports Federation
    • Specially Appointed Researcher at the Legal Research Institute, Chukyo University Advanced Joint Research Institute (April 2025 - Present)
    • Candidate for Sports Arbitrator at the Japan Sports Arbitration Agency (June 2025 - Present)
    • Advisory Board Member at the Future Lab for Academic Research in Esports (University of Agder) (June 2026 - Present)
    • Committee Member for the ISO/TC 83/WG 12 E-sports at the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) (July 2025 - Present)
    • Sports Arbitration Overseas Research Trainee at Japan Sports Arbitration Agency (January 2026 - March 2026)
    • Part-Time Lecturer at Senshu University (Faculty of Law) (April 2026 - March 2027)
    • Part-Time Lecturer at Japan Women’s University (Faculty of Integrated Arts and Social Sciences) (September 2026 - Present)
    • Visiting Professor at Sciences Po Grenoble (March 2027 - April 2027)

Marcin Radziwonka

Strategic Advisor

Marcin Radziwonka

Strategic Advisor

  • Professional Background
    • 2017 University of Strasbourg (France) and University of Maynooth (Ireland), (lic. iur.)
    • 2018 University of Aix-Marseille (France), Completed the Master’s program in Business Law
    • 2018 Fédération Française de Football (FFF), Federal Commission Officer, Training and Regulatory Affairs
    • 2019 Université of Neuchâtel (Switzerland), Research Assistant on FIFA RSTP
    • 2021 Université of Neuchâtel (Switzerland), Completed the Master’s program in Sports Law
    • 2022 CIES/FIFA Master (Switzerland), Legal Counsel & Coordinator of the Law Module of the FIFA Master