Tokyo court gives lawyer suspended sentence over Momuri referrals
In short
The Tokyo District Court on Oct 7 sentenced Satō Hideki, 49, representative of the Tokyo law firm Miyabi, to two years in prison suspended for three years and fined the firm 2 million yen for accepting paid brokerage of legal affairs in violation of the Attorneys Act. The court found he took referrals from Albatross, the operator of the resignation service “Momuri,” and disguised more than 1.46 million yen in referral fees as outsourcing fees. The judge said the case could harm society's trust in lawyers, but granted the suspension after considering his stated intention to close the business.
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The Tokyo District Court on Oct 7 sentenced Satō Hideki, 49, the representative of the Tokyo law firm Miyabi, to two years in prison suspended for three years and fined the firm 2 million yen as prosecutors had sought, over charges including accepting paid brokerage of legal affairs in violation of the Attorneys Act. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
According to the ruling, between around May 2024 and February 2025 the defendant took referrals from Albatross, the operator of the resignation service “Momuri,” of clients who needed a lawyer to negotiate with their employers, and processed referral fees transferred to Albatross's account under false names. The court said the referrals came from the company's former president, who has been convicted on the same charge with the verdict finalized, and others. [ 1 , 4 ]
Judge Murata Chikako noted that the defendant had received as many as 89 referrals in about nine months and said the case “could harm society's trust in lawyers.” She also called the disguising of more than 1.46 million yen in referral fees as outsourcing fees “clever and malicious.” The court attached the suspended sentence after taking into account, among other things, his stated intention to close the business. [ 1 , 4 ]
NHK reported that the court said the defendant “prioritized his own profit and made light of compliance with laws.” Prosecutors had sought two years in prison, and the fine imposed on the law firm matched their request. The documents do not record any appeal plans or comment from the defendant, his representatives or Albatross. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The ruling applies the Attorneys Act to the practice of paid job-quitting services passing clients who need a lawyer to a law firm, an arrangement the court said could damage public trust in the legal profession. The operator's former president has already been convicted on the same charge, according to the ruling, indicating prosecutors have pursued both sides of the referral arrangement. The documents do not describe any wider regulatory response.
Key facts
- The Tokyo District Court on Oct 7 sentenced Satō Hideki, 49, representative of the law firm Miyabi in Minato Ward, Tokyo, to two years in prison suspended for three years. [ 1 , 4 ]
- The court fined the law firm 2 million yen, the amount prosecutors had sought. [ 1 , 4 ]
- He was convicted of violating the Attorneys Act and related charges for accepting paid brokerage of legal affairs, including referrals from the resignation service operator “Momuri.” [ 1 , 4 ]
- The court found he received 89 referrals in about nine months. [ 1 , 4 ]
- Referral fees totaling more than 1.46 million yen paid to the Momuri side were disguised as outsourcing fees, the court said. [ 1 , 4 ]
- The ruling said the referrals came from Albatross, the operating company, including its former president, who has been convicted on the same charge with the verdict finalized. [ 1 , 4 ]
- The referrals concerned clients who needed a lawyer for negotiations with their employers between around May 2024 and February 2025. [ 1 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Tokyo District Court on Oct 7 handed Satō Hideki, 49, representative of the law firm Miyabi, a suspended prison sentence over charges including violating the Attorneys Act for accepting paid brokerage of legal affairs. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- The judge said the defendant had received 89 referrals in about nine months and that the case could harm society's trust in lawyers. [ 1 , 4 ]
- The court said more than 1.46 million yen in referral fees paid to the Momuri side were disguised as outsourcing fees, describing this as “clever and malicious.” [ 1 , 4 ]
- The court granted the suspended sentence after considering, among other things, the defendant's stated intention to close the business. [ 1 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the defendant or the law firm will appeal the ruling. No outlet reported a planned appeal.
- Which business the defendant said he intended to close. The ruling cites his stated intention to close the business as a reason for the suspended sentence, but the documents do not identify it.
- Any comment from the defendant, his representatives or Albatross. No outlet carried a response from any party to the case.