Dan Blocksom

About

Bilingual US-licensed attorney with 15 years of experience across US government practice and Japan-based international legal work. Brings substantive legal expertise in cross-border contracts and commercial agreements, with particular strength in identifying and managing differences in legal assumptions, risk allocation, negotiation approaches, and business expectations. Currently Of Counsel at S&W International Law Offices (Osaka) and also serving in policy and academic roles in Japan. Available for of counsel, senior advisory, or in-house roles.

Experience

• Of Counsel · S&W International Law Offices08-01-2021

  • Review and advise on complex cross-border commercial agreements, including master service agreements and joint venture agreements, between Japanese and foreign parties. • Provide Japanese-English contract translation and legal interpretation for cross-border transactions, including resolving issues arising from differing legal and contractual conventions. • Advise on Western contracting norms, liability frameworks, and dispute resolution expectations to support informed negotiation with foreign counterparties. • Conduct legal research for business owners and supervising attorneys. • Previously taught associates Western contracting norms and contract review.

• Civil Government Practice · Various Idaho Jurisdictions2011 – 2022

  Canyon County, Civil Deputy Attorney (2012–2014, 2018–2021) | Boise County, Prosecuting Attorney (2016–2018) | Blocksom Law PLLC, Owner (2021–2022) | Canyon County, Criminal Deputy (2011–2012) • Drafted and negotiated government contracts, including technology services, professional services, and telephony agreements across multiple county jurisdictions. Handled the procurement process and contract negotiation for a $1 million+ software agreement with Motorola for sheriff’s office dispatch system and a $200k+ software agreement with Hyland for county IT department. • Advised elected officials and department heads on public records law compliance, procurement regulations, employment matters, land use, and general county administration. Advised county officials on land use code revisions, mass gathering ordinance revision, and applications for conditional use permits. • Served as appointed Boise County Prosecuting Attorney on a contract basis; managed staff and provided civil and criminal legal coverage. • Litigated commercial property assessment disputes (including food manufacturing plants and self-storage facilities), indigent medical care reimbursement matters, and criminal cases. • Developed and delivered legal training to county employees on ethics, use of force policy, anti-retaliation law, and administrative hearing procedures.

• Government and Policy Associate · ZOE Japan05-01-2024

  • Conduct legal policy research for a nonprofit organization combating child sexual exploitation and human trafficking in Japan, focusing on criminal law, CSAM, police investigation procedures, and child guidance center protocols. • Drafted model legislation addressing gaps in Japan’s CSAM criminalization and enforcement framework. • Developed legal training materials for hotline staff operators to identify elements of criminal conduct in caller-reported scenarios, drawing on Japanese penal code provisions and post-2023 statutory updates.

• Professor & Guidance Counselor · Kyoto International University (KIU)04-01-2021

  • Teach undergraduate courses in Business Law, Economics, Cross-Cultural Negotiation, and Criminal Justice. • Advise students on university applications, credit transfers, and career planning across US, Japanese, and international institutions. • Supported cross-border legal and institutional coordination for property acquisition matters and a partnership with Southeastern University, including review of partnership and articulation agreements, and resolution of academic and administrative compatibility issues. • Drafted and coordinated documentation for an unconventional ¥100 million philanthropic and property-related arrangement involving Japanese and international stakeholders, working in coordination with Japanese counsel through finalization.

• Criminal Deputy Prosecutor · Canyon County06-01-2011 – 07-01-2012

  • Tried jury and bench trials, argued motions, and negotiated resolutions with defense counsel across a range of criminal matters.

• Government Affairs Associate · Idaho Association of Counties09-01-2014 – 09-01-2016

  • Lobbied the Idaho legislature and executive agencies on behalf of 44 county governments; drafted legislation and negotiated policy proposals across stakeholder groups. • Testified before legislative committees; prepared and delivered legal and legislative updates to county officials statewide. • Supervised policy staff from December 2015.

• Teaching Assistant · Stanford University, Public Policy Department01-01-2009 – 06-30-2011

  • Taught weekly sections across economics and public policy courses; independently delivered writing instruction for writing-in-the-major courses in 2009 and 2010. • Received 2010–2011 Gores Excellence in Teaching Award, a university-wide honor recognizing outstanding graduate teaching.

Education

• Stanford Law SchoolJD
• Stanford UniversityBA, Economics (BA) / Secondary Major in Public Policy

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