The posting, in Airbnb's own words
archived Sep 11, 2026Airbnb was born in 2007 when two hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to over 5 million hosts who have welcomed over 2 billion guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe. Every day, hosts offer unique stays and experiences that make it possible for guests to connect with communities in a more authentic way.
The Community You Will Join:
Airbnb’s Legal team embodies the company’s innovative, forward-thinking spirit. At the frontier of the sharing economy, Airbnb is breaking new ground in matters of policy, law, and government relations. Where some see obstacles, we see the opportunity to find creative, practical solutions, right at the cutting edge. Our adventurous, fast-moving legal team is committed to building a team of talented, collaborative and self-motivated legal professionals across the globe who believe in Airbnb’s mission and leading as a 21st century company.
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The Difference You Will Make:
We are in search of an Associate Legal Counsel for Japan.This role reports to the Associate General Counsel - Northeast Asia and serves as legal partner to many other teams outside Legal. Collaboration will be a key attribute as this role will work very closely with the other members of the legal team both in the region and globally. This role needs to be based in Japan. Any location in Japan is welcomed. Living in Tokyo or the greater Kanto area, with the ability to commute to the Tokyo office, is a plus. Candidates based elsewhere in Japan will need to travel to the Tokyo office roughly once or twice a month, as needed.
A Typical Day:
Act as an effective and trusted partner to the fast-paced and high-performing Airbnb team. Deliver clear, effective and practical legal advice to the various business functions. These include business development, public policy, marketing and communications. Legal advice includes regulatory matters, consumer protection, competition, marketing, employment, privacy, dispute resolution, and law enforcement. Be adept in making sensible legal risk assessments which consider practical solutions to mitigate legal risk whilst keeping business priorities at the forefront.
Your Expertise:
Qualification in Japan (as bengoshi) is a must. Native-level command of Japanese (written and spoken) is a must. Business-level English (written and spoken) is essential. High scores in standardized tests (TOEIC/TOEFL) is a plus. Minimum 2years post-qualification experience - In-house (including secondment from a law firm) in an MNC and/or start-up is a plus. Consistently delivers creative, thoughtful and business-oriented results that appropriately balance growth and risk. Tech-forward mindset with a proactive willingness to leverage AI tools to optimize legal productivity. Team player, highly collaborative with excellent communication and listening skills. Proactive owner who takes initiative while navigating competing priorities in a fast-paced environment. Empathetic, caring and humble. Occasional travel may be required: domestic travel to the Tokyo office roughly once or twice a month for candidates based outside the Kanto area, and international travel typically once a year for a few days. We give full consideration to individual circumstances and family commitments