Meet Erika Sunaoka

Erika Sunaoka is a law clerk at Nazzaro, bringing a globally rooted legal background and a strong focus on corporate and environmental laws.

Erika has spent over a decade navigating complex legal and business strategies across Japan, the U.S., and the Asia Pacific. She was an in-house counsel at a top-tier Japanese conglomerate, and her past roles include managing international M&A deals, forestry and renewable energy projects, and multimillion-dollar real estate transactions.

With two JDs under her belt—one from Seattle University and another from Waseda Law School in Tokyo, Japan—Erika is now pursuing her U.S. bar license. At Seattle University, Erika serves as a Research & Technical Editor at the Seattle Journal for Social Justice. Her dedication to serving the community shone through her volunteer work at a legal clinic, Communities Rise, which offers support to small businesses and non-profit organizations. She is excited to contribute her experience to the firm's work while deepening her practice in American law.

In her downtime, you’ll likely find her at a yoga studio, exploring cultural destinations, or playing with her puppy, Mochi.