50 Leaders in Law - Volume 1

Finding lawyers who also possess the qualities of a true leader is often said to be difficult in Japan. But the reality is — such leaders do exist.

At Just Legal, we’re launching a project to meet and highlight 50 leaders in Japan’s legal community. Today, I’m pleased to introduce Robyn Nadler, the Representative Director of Payoneer Japan.

Robyn is a qualified Australian lawyer who began her career in Big Law at global firms — and what stands out is not the titles she has held, but her ability to move seamlessly between legal, compliance, regulatory, and leadership roles. Being a representative director is simply one chapter in a broader career built on capability, judgment, and adaptability.

“Leadership isn’t a title. It’s the ability to bring clarity in complex situations and help people move in the same direction,” says Robyn.

Having spent many years in Japan and fully fluent in Japanese, Robyn has earned a strong market reputation for her understanding of the Japanese regulatory landscape — especially the mindset and behaviors of financial regulators. This is a rare set of skills. 

“Japan’s regulatory environment isn’t just about rules — it’s about understanding how regulators think. Once you understand that mindset, the whole landscape becomes far more navigable.”

Her progression from transactional lawyer to compliance lead, to guiding a regulated financial entity reflects a professional who grows with every environment.

Ruth Porat of Google noted once that lawyers are often the strongest cross-functional communicators — able to translate between risk, business, operations, and regulation. Robyn is a textbook example of that in practice. 

“Lawyers can translate between departments in a way few others can — risk, operations, product, compliance. The value comes from connecting dots that usually stay separate.”

Robyn, thank you for taking the time in your busy schedule — your insights are much appreciated, and will continue to inspire the next generation of legal leaders.