The verdict in three sentences
An international arbitration firm in Tokyo writes for two very different readers: in-house legal teams of Japanese groups facing a dispute abroad, and foreign counsel looking for a partner in Japan. The site has to convince both, with an English version written by a native speaker and an equally rigorous Japanese version, which matches Premium at USD 8,900, the Kolonell multilingual tier. Against local quotes of USD 20,000 to 67,000, the issue is not only price but control of the migration and internal sign-off.
Symptoms of a site that weakens the firm
In-house legal teams and boards choose an arbitration firm on partner reputation, experience with seats and institutions (ICC, SIAC, HKIAC, LCIA, ICSID, and in Japan the JCAA or the JIDRC center), sector depth and the ability to argue in English. Several symptoms reveal a site that is falling behind:
- The English version is a literal translation of the Japanese, with awkward phrasing that worries counsel in London or New York.
- Partner profiles state neither working languages nor foreign qualifications, although the distinction between Japanese attorneys and registered foreign lawyers (gaikokuho jimu bengoshi) matters to the client.
- The news section stopped 18 months ago.
- The site is slow on mobile and fails basic accessibility checks.
- The privacy policy does not mention the APPI, although the form collects personal data.
In Japan, the Act on the Protection of Personal Information (APPI), overseen by the Personal Information Protection Commission (PPC), governs data collection and transfers. Lawyer advertising is also subject to the rules of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations and local bar associations: no misleading statements or unverifiable comparisons. This is not legal advice.
The budget, line by line
Local amounts are a 2026 ballpark based on typical Tokyo agency quotes and public agency rate pages, converted approximately at JPY 150 to USD 1.
| Budget line | Tokyo freelancer | Mid-sized local agency | Premium local agency | Kolonell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Site build or redesign | JPY 0.6 to 1.5 M, about USD 4,000 to 10,000 | JPY 3 to 10 M, about USD 20,000 to 67,000 | JPY 15 to 40 M, about USD 100,000 to 267,000 | USD 2,900 to 8,900 depending on tier |
| Native English copywriting | rarely included | often subcontracted | included | included |
| Japanese version | included | included | included | Premium tier, languages set in the quote |
| Dedicated project manager | no | yes, Tokyo office hours | yes | yes, reachable in your time zone |
| Quoted timeline | 8 to 12 weeks | 12 to 20 weeks | 16 to 30 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks, 4 to 6 for Premium |
| Post-launch support | varies | 1 to 3 months | negotiated | 3 months included |
| Maintenance afterward | JPY 30,000 to 80,000 per month (market assumption) | JPY 80,000 to 250,000 per month (market assumption) | by contract | on quote |
The Kolonell grid is fixed: Starter at USD 2,900, Growth at USD 4,900, Premium at USD 8,900. Premium is the multilingual tier, here in Japanese and English, with languages set in the quote. Secure client areas, integration with a matter management system or CRM and any custom development are on quote. Details are on the international offer.
The redesign risk register
| Risk | Likelihood in a law firm | Impact | Countermeasure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lost visibility on partner names | High if URLs change | A client checking a partner lands on a 404 page | URL inventory, 301 redirects, Search Console monitoring |
| Incomplete migration of publications | Medium | Articles and legal briefings lost | Exhaustive content list before export |
| Content not approved by partners | High | 4 to 8 week delay | One partner owner, dated review rounds |
| Wording that breaches advertising rules | Medium | Professional conduct exposure | Compliance review before go-live |
| Form with no APPI notice | Medium | Unmanaged data collection | Suitable collection notice and consent |
| Downtime during the switch | Low | Site unavailable for a few hours | Weekend switch, rollback ready |
No matter or client should be named without written consent. Many Tokyo firms prefer to describe sectors and types of proceedings rather than named cases.
Tokyo agency or remote studio: when to choose local?
A local agency makes sense if your management committee expects in-person meetings in Japanese at every step, if you need photos and videos of partners shot in your Marunouchi or Toranomon offices, or if the site must integrate with internal systems maintained by a Japanese vendor. It is also preferable when the firm's procurement process requires a domestic supplier. In other cases, a remote studio with a project manager reachable in your time zone cuts budget and timeline sharply.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Five questions to ask before signing: who writes the English, who reviews the legal Japanese, who produces the redirect map, how many review rounds are planned, and who owns the code and the domain name.
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Kanda Rowe Partners, a 9-lawyer firm in Tokyo including 3 registered foreign lawyers, handling ICC and SIAC arbitration in energy and infrastructure. The current site has 210 URLs. The firm chooses Premium at USD 8,900, in Japanese and English. It adds a legal review of the Japanese version at USD 3,000 (market assumption) and a partner photo shoot at USD 1,200 (market assumption). Total: 8,900 + 3,000 + 1,200 = USD 13,100. A mid-sized local agency had quoted JPY 6 million, about USD 40,000: the gap is about USD 26,900. All 210 URLs are covered by the redirect map.
FAQ
What budget should we plan to redesign an arbitration firm website in Tokyo?
As a 2026 ballpark, a mid-sized local agency charges JPY 3 to 10 million, about USD 20,000 to 67,000. At Kolonell the fixed grid runs from USD 2,900 (Starter) to USD 8,900 (Premium).
Should the English version be written or translated?
Written, ideally, by a native speaker who knows arbitration vocabulary. Native English writers are included in every Kolonell tier, and Japanese falls under Premium, with languages set in the quote.
How long does the redesign take?
Kolonell delivers Premium in 4 to 6 weeks once content is ready. Local agencies often quote 12 to 20 weeks, internal approval included.
How do we avoid losing traffic on partner profiles?
By keeping or 301-redirecting every URL and monitoring Search Console for 4 to 8 weeks. Partner profiles are often the most visited pages of a law firm.
Is a client extranet included?
No, secure areas and integrations are on quote. The tiers cover the public site and 3 months of support.
Let's scope your project. A Premium redesign at USD 8,900 in Japanese and English, with a redirect map and rewritten partner profiles, can be live in 4 to 6 weeks once your content is approved. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
