Awards & Rankings
Former Japan Practice Leader Receives Prestigious Order of the Rising Sun
Awards & Rankings
Press Contacts: Erik Cummins, Matt Hyams, Olivia Thomas
11.14.18
The government of Japan has announced that Pillsbury Managing Partner Edward Perron will receive the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, for his meritorious service toward Japan. Joining Perron on Japan’s Fall 2018 Decorations list are former Defense Secretary William Cohen, former National Security Adviser Anthony Lake, former Vice President Dick Cheney, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad, and many other leaders, scientists, educators and businesspeople from around the world.
This diplomatic conferment is one of the highest honors the Japanese government awards to those in the private sector. It recognizes Perron’s contributions to “promoting friendly relations between Japan and the United States and strengthening Japanese American communities in the United States.”
“Since my childhood, Japan, its people and its culture have enriched my life,” Perron said. “I am very fortunate to have worked with individuals and organizations, including my nearly 40-year association with the Japan America Society of Southern California, that have broadened my perspective about the important relationship between our two countries and their people. And I’m proud to have spent my career at Pillsbury, a firm that I chose to join because of its long and deep relationships with Japan and the Japanese.”
The award affirms Pillsbury’s legacy in creating strong ties between the United States and Japan. That legacy extends back to the 1920s, when innovative Pillsbury lawyers led by John C. McHose worked with major Japanese banking, shipping and trading companies. Perron has furthered those relationships in his roles as immediate past leader of the firm’s Japan practice and as chairman emeritus and current director of the Japan America Society of Southern California. In 2017, Pillsbury became the first law firm to receive the International Citizen Award from that organization.
Perron’s key Japanese clients have included Sumitomo Corp., Mitsubishi Corp. and Isuzu Motors, among others, and he served as outside general counsel to more than 20 U.S. subsidiaries of Sanyo for more than 20 years.
Pillsbury’s Japan practice provides focused and effective legal counsel to Japanese businesses largely concentrated on doing business outside of Japan. The firm serves major Japanese banks, trading firms and manufacturers in industries as diverse as consumer products, industrial machinery, energy and project finance, pharmaceuticals and technology. The practice includes lawyers who are multilingual, many of whom have worked in Japan or for Japanese companies. Deep experience, established trust and a solid understanding of Japan’s business philosophy, culture and risk-management and decision-making systems have made Pillsbury’s Japan practice lawyers successful advisors to leading Japanese businesses throughout the world.