Susan H. Roos, wife of U.S. Ambassador to Japan John V. Roos, is a labor lawyer with substantial experience in defending employers in wrongful termination, sexual harassment, employment discrimination and trade secret litigation before federal and state courts. She advises and counsels employers in the area of wage and hour issues, labor relations and employment law.

She is a member of the American Bar Association, State Bar of California, and various county bar associations, and is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court and all California state and federal courts. She was formerly a trustee of the Stanford Athletic Department Board.

Ms. Roos grew up in Fargo, North Dakota, where her family owned a department store for nearly 100 years. After graduating from high school, Ms. Roos ventured west to California where she attended Stanford University, graduating with a degree in American Studies in 1978. She earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Southern California in 1982. Ms. Roos was a partner at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton, a global full-service law firm headquartered in Los Angeles, before starting her own firm in 1995.

While in Tokyo, Ms. Roos has been an active voice on supporting Women in the Workplace. She has been a featured speaker in a number of events for Keizai Doyukai, Bank of America, The American Chamber of Commerce, Leadership 111, and the Gold Symposium, among others. Most recently, Mrs. Roos was honored with Ambassador Roos as the two Persons of the Year for their significant contributions to business, commerce, and the U.S.-Japan relationship.

Ms. Roos devotes her time to the TOMODACHI Initiative, a public-private partnership that supports Japan's recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake, and invests in the next generation of Japanese and Americans in ways that strengthen cultural and economic ties. She is also an active member of The Nadeshiko Kai.

She and her husband have two children, Lauren, age 25, and David, age 20. Ms. Roos enjoys sports, gardening, shopping, fashion, television and movies. The entire family loves to snow ski, golf, and follow all Stanford athletic teams. Ms. Roos is also a big fan of the San Francisco Giants, the San Francisco 49ers and the Golden State Warriors.