Etsuko Ueda

Etsuko Ueda

Private Notary | International Tax Law | Cross-Border Transactions | U.S.–Japan Legal Specialist

Etsuko Ueda is a distinguished partner at Díaz & Jonson Attorneys at Law, with over 20 years of international legal experience in tax law, international compliance, and notarial practice. She is licensed both as a tax attorney and a Private Notary in the State of Florida, with a strong academic and professional foundation rooted in both Japan and the United States.

Born and raised in Kyoto, Japan, Etsuko studied law in her home country before continuing her legal career in the United States. Her unique background allows her to provide legal counsel across complex cross-border tax matters, international estate planning, and global regulatory compliance for clients ranging from multinational corporations to high-net-worth individuals.

Etsuko is known for her precision, discretion, and deep cultural intelligence, making her particularly sought after by international clients, especially those with business or family interests in both Asia and the U.S.

Education

  • Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), Kyoto University Faculty of Law – Kyoto, Japan

  • Master of Laws (LL.M.) in International Taxation, University of Florida Levin College of Law

  • Juris Doctor (J.D.), Nova Southeastern University – Shepard Broad College of Law

  • Certified Notary Public, State of Florida

Bar Admissions & Certifications

  • Licensed Attorney – Florida Bar

  • Registered Tax Return Preparer (IRS)

  • Certified Notary Public – Florida Department of State

  • Member, Florida Bar Tax Section

  • Fluent in Japanese and English

Practice Areas

1. Tax Law

  • Domestic and international tax planning for businesses and individuals

  • Tax structuring for foreign-owned U.S. corporations and startups

  • IRS audits, offers in compromise, and penalty negotiations

  • Expatriate tax compliance and reporting (FBAR, FATCA)

  • Cross-border inheritance and gift tax strategy

2. International Estate Planning

  • Structuring of multinational estates and succession plans

  • Drafting of U.S. wills and international trusts

  • Coordination with Japanese and Asian legal counsel for dual-jurisdiction estates

  • Notarial certifications for wills, powers of attorney, and estate documents

3. Private Notary Services

  • Authentication of legal documents for international use

  • Drafting and certifying business contracts, declarations, and affidavits

  • Legalization for consulates and embassies

  • Real estate notarizations for foreign buyers

4. Corporate Structuring & Cross-Border Transactions

  • Incorporation and compliance of foreign subsidiaries in the U.S.

  • Legal counsel for Japanese and Asian investors entering U.S. markets

  • Support for treaty-based tax exemptions and structures

  • Strategic advisory for family businesses and wealth preservation

Career Highlights

  • Advised a Japanese multinational on U.S. tax liability reduction through treaty structuring

  • Facilitated the estate planning and asset transfer of a dual-citizen family with holdings in Tokyo and Miami

  • Represented clients in high-stakes IRS negotiations, achieving favorable settlements

  • Provided notarial and legal services in multi-million-dollar real estate transactions for foreign buyers

  • Supported the formation of over 100 U.S. entities for Japanese, Korean, and Chinese nationals

Academic & Cultural Involvement

Etsuko frequently lectures on international tax and notarial law at legal forums and is a mentor to Asian-American law students navigating dual legal systems. She is a member of the Japanese-American Bar Association (JABA) and contributes legal analysis to publications on international compliance and estate law.

Languages & Cultural Expertise

Etsuko is fluent in Japanese and English, and has built a reputation as a cultural bridge between Asia and the Americas. Her clients value not only her legal precision but also her discretion, clarity, and sensitivity to cultural nuance in business and family matters.

Personal Interests

Etsuko lives in Miami and frequently travels to Tokyo and Osaka to maintain strong professional ties. In her free time, she enjoys traditional Japanese calligraphy, ikebana (flower arranging), and international tax research. Her reputation for professionalism, calm judgment, and thorough analysis makes her a pillar of trust for clients with the most sensitive legal matters.