Meet

Dr. Heath A. Havey is a recognized expert in Japanese law, history and culture. Working as a translator, interpreter, law professor and international lawyer in Japan, he has been closely involved with all things related to Japan since 1991. As author and editor of the leading treatise on Japanese employment law in English, he literally wrote the book on Japan employment laws.

Putting himself through school by Japanese interpretation and translation of a book, Heath graduated with a degree in Japanese in 1995, received his doctorate in 1998. He was educated at law schools in both the US and Japan.

Heath spent many years at the most prestigious international law firm in the world, specializing in comparative Japan and US employment law. During this time, he became licensed as a gaikokuho jimu bengoshi (foreign lawyer licensed in Japan). He is also licensed in the states of California and Nevada in the United States, and in numerous federal jurisdictions.

After 20 years in private practice, Heath spent five years at e-Commerce giant Amazon, where he helmed all Japan and South Korea employment law operations with a workforce that exploded to over 75,000 during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this position, he handled all aspects of employment law and coordinated with Japanese attorneys in such areas as discrimination, harassment, discipline and termination, wage and hour requirements, union laws, workers’ compensation, leave and benefits, localization of global employment policies, and any other matter touching on employment in Japan or South Korea. He advised a team of over 125 human resources personnel, VPs and business leaders, and project leads throughout the world on best practices and unique solutions often overlooked by the Japanese.

Heath taught as a law professor in Tokyo and edited the leading Japan employment law treatise published by Wolters Klewer until 2019. With the ability to assist in both Japanese and his native English, and to bring a Western cultural perspective and US legal mindset to the table, many clients have praised how invaluable he has been in assisting in multinational deals, resolving cross-border disputes and problems, and bringing people from disparate backgrounds together.