Freshfields founded and continues to promote the LGBTQ+ Lawyers and Allies Network (LLAN), an LGBTQ+ not-for-profit organisation that aims to promote LGBTQ+ equality in Japan, specifically focusing on same-sex marriage.
LLAN was founded in 2015 to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights in Japan. LLAN has since grown to become one of the most active non-profit organisations in Japan. To date, LLAN has organised around 100 events, including the Annual Equality Gala, which, as one of the biggest legal and LGBTQ+ events, brings together inspiring international guests.
Among the many LLAN events and projects initiated and led by Freshfields staff (including support from Freshfields Tokyo current and former Office Managing Partners Takeshi Nakao, Ed Cole, Asia Senior Partner Georgia Dawson and others in Hong Kong), the pro bono legal support provided to draft the LLAN Foreign Law Report on Marriage Equality stands out. The report, covering 11 jurisdictions where marriage equality prevailed, was drafted over a year by 52 lawyers from 10 law firms, including 12 lawyers from four Freshfields offices.
In August 2019, relying heavily on the report, the Japanese Federation of Bar Associations (JFBA) declared that denial of marriage equality constituted a serious violation of the Japanese Constitution and recommended the Japanese Government extend marriage rights to same-sex couples.
Freshfields also took a leading role in drafting the Viewpoint on Marriage Equality, launching it with five Chambers of Commerce in Japan at the annual LLAN Equality Gala in 2018. The Viewpoint now has over 100 additional endorsers.
The LLAN (and Freshfields’ wider LGBTQ+ initiatives) continue to gather momentum. LLAN now coordinates Asia-wide video conferences with high-profile guests like actor, author, and activist George Takei (who spoke about the importance of allies) and renowned gay rights advocate Evan Wolfson (who spoke about moving towards equal marriage in Asia).
The sixth annual LLAN Equality Gala took place virtually in November 2021, bringing together politicians, activists, athletes and supporters from across the world, to share experiences campaigning for improved equality laws.
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