Japan

Top-tier intellectual property specialist firm Abe Ikubo & Katayama is particularly known for its life sciences and pharmaceutical expertise. The firm also has considerable experience in the electronic and telecommunications fields. Its litigation team is active in representing both local and foreign companies in all kinds of IP infringement disputes. Managing partner Eiji Katayama is one of the most respected patent litigators in Japan. Hiroshi Kobayashi, Mami Hino and Junichi Kitahara are other key practitioners to note at the firm with outstanding capability in the fields of chemistry, pharmaceuticals, technology and telecommunications and machinery. In a notable intellectual property dispute, the firm represented Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) in a pharmaceutical patent litigation against competitor Sawai.

Client feedback

"They effectively managed patent invalidity trials to deliver desired outcomes for clients, considering the clients' business needs, a broad spectrum of IP-related laws, and the latest patent practices." – Intellectual property

Mami Hino

"Mami possesses extensive knowledge and experience in both patent litigation and regulatory practices. She is passionate about delivering optimal results and proactively builds strong relationships with her clients to gain a deeper understanding of their needs."

Shimako Kato

"Shimako is a wonderful person to work with and is incredibly experienced in both technical and legal aspects. She is an absolutely outstanding patent attorney."

Full-service law firm Anderson Mori & Tomotsune offers a range of dispute resolution services covering both domestic and international disputes. The firm is particularly active in commercial disputes including arbitration, contractual and data privacy disputes.

The dispute resolution team is led by Hiroki Wakabayashi. Wakabayashi is particularly active representing financial institutions and major corporations on commercial and labour disputes Yoshikazu Iwase and Yasufumi Shiroyama are key IP litigators at the firm.

In a notable commercial and transactions case, the firm represented Suruga Bank in a mass mediation lawsuit initiated by around 400 debtors, which was filed with the Tokyo District Court. Through effective mediation, Suruga Bank was able to offset the share house loans, totalling approximately ¥60 billion ($39 million), with the settlement payments made to the debtors. Additionally, the outstanding loans were assigned to third-party investment funds. On the same day, the debtors satisfied their loan obligations by providing real property as payment in kind.

The rest of the clients the firm advised in the past 12 months are confidential.

In January 2023, the firm promoted Shunsuke Domon to partner.

Formidable dispute resolution powerhouse Herbert Smith Freehills specialises in acting for Japanese blue-chip companie, pharmaceutical giants, and technology and energy companies before various institutions including ICC and Japan Commercial Arbitration Association (JCAA). With a vast practice, it acts on most complex and high-profile commercial and regulatory matters across the region. The firm is also frequently involved in anti-corruption and fraud investigations.

David Gilmore is the managing partner at its Tokyo office as well as head of the dispute resolution team. Gilmore has over 20 years of experience in international commercial disputes and is also active in regulatory investigations. Other key figures for international arbitration include Elaine Wong and Emma Kratochvilova.

Work highlights include representing a major Japanese pharmaceutical company in JCAA arbitration proceedings for claims of breach of representation and warranty under a share purchase agreement arising out of the sale of a pharmaceutical company; advising an automotive manufacturer on a potential dispute with an Indonesian entity that has not been complying with obligations, owing to the substantial decrease in the demand for vehicles supply under the supply agreement; and advising a Japanese energy company on an arbitration arising under a 20-year power purchase agreement.

The details of the remaining clients the firm has worked with remain confidential.

In May 2022, partner Craig Shepherd relocated to Kuala Lumpur, and James Allsop got promoted to partner.

K&L’s practice in Japan provides a comprehensive and diverse array of litigation services that ranges from commercial litigation and employment arbitrations to civil and criminal litigation. The team has a track record of representing foreign and domestic Japanese corporations and conglomerates in complex commercial and employment disputes. Its litigators routinely handle high-stakes disputes for clients that operate across the telecommunications, aviation, life sciences, manufacturing, financial services and transportation industries.

The dispute team in Japan is led by partner Takahiro Hoshino, a former judge, who has in-depth experience in judicial thought processes that impact judgments.

Details of the cases the firm submitted are highly confidential but it can be seen that the firm has been busy handling requests from clients for advice on various types of newly enacted legislation with regard to Covid-19 that are aimed at creating a more flexible, fair and efficient working environment, ensuring employees can remain safe and healthy and attempting to change the business environment in Japan.

Nobuki Wada

“Deep understanding of the client's work rules and situation, providing great solution to labour-related issues.”

Best known for global outbound disputes, King & Spalding offers genuine expertise in both English and commonwealth law and US law disputes for its Japanese clients. The firm is especially renowned for its strength in international arbitrations and cross-border disputes in the energy, construction and automotive sectors. Clients often appreciate its sharp strategy and strong grasp of market conditions.

Christopher Bailey is one of the leading litigators in the market who leads the firm’s global disputes practice in Tokyo. He is valued for his expertise in regulatory, construction and energy matters.

Global ‘white-shoe’ law firm Mayer Brown opened its office in Tokyo in 2018 at the request of its Japanese clients. Its Japan practice regularly acts as international counsel on Japan-related transactions, sometimes working in collaboration with Japanese law firms. Among its Japan-based clients are financial institutions, insurance companies, shipping and freight transportation companies, steel manufacturers and utility companies, as well as multinational conglomerates involved in trading, energy, mining, information technology, transportation and other infrastructure, life sciences and real estate. Rupert Burrows is the managing partner of the firm's Tokyo office.

The details of all cases the firm has worked on during the research period are confidential.

Client feedback

“Mayer Brown did well on advising legal interpretation/analysis of insurance claim by applying the facts in the construction.” – Construction

Rupert Burrows

“Good communications skills.”

One among Japan’s ‘Big Four’ law firms, Mori Hamada’s dispute resolution team boasts 45 partners and more than 50 other qualified attorneys. The team is experienced in handling the full range of domestic and cross-border disputes, notably active in corporate, employment and real estate disputes. The firm has a strong presence in East Asia with offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore, Bangkok, Yangon and Jakarta. Mugi Sekido and Kana Manabe are key figures in the team. Sekido is highly respected for his commercial litigation expertise. Yutaka Miyoshi is a notable IP litigator. In commercial litigation, the firm represented Toshiba Corporation in a high-profile shareholders' litigation stemming from significant accounting irregularities.

Morrison & Foerster has the largest dispute resolution team in Japan among international firms, with more than 30 dedicated litigators on the ground. The firm is particularly strong in intellectual property and commercial disputes, including international arbitration, construction and consumer class action disputes. It also has internal investigation expertise covering product mislabelling, construction defects and white-collar crime.

One of the firm’s key individuals is Louise Stoupe, who has particular strength in international arbitration and litigation. She is known to represent some of the biggest technology companies in the world in their complex commercial disputes. Robert Hollingshead and Max Olson are well-known IP practitioners. Other names to note include Chie Yakura and Yukihiro Terazawa.

In the life sciences sector, the firm successfully represented Chugai Pharmaceutical, one of Japan’s leading research-based pharmaceutical companies with strengths in biotechnology products, in its multibillion-dollar patent case against Alexion Pharmaceuticals over infringement of Chugai’s technology for recycling antibodies, a key advancement in antibody medications. The $775 million settlement reflects one of the biggest amounts awarded in a pharma-related patent case in recent years.

Key clients of the firm include Fujitsu America, Fujitsu Semiconductor, Rakuten Mobile and Socionext.

In January 2023, the firm promoted Tomoki Kodama to partner.

Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu is widely renowned for its expertise in handling complex cross-jurisdictional disputes. The highly skilled litigation team has a wealth of experience in handling antitrust, general commercial, employment, intellectual property, product liability and consumer affairs disputes. The firm is singled out for its expertise in international arbitration. Norimitsu Arai and Hisaya Kimura are key commercial disputes lawyers in the team, while Yoshimi Ohara is recommended for her work in international arbitration. In a landmark litigation stemming from the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant disaster, the firm is representing Tokyo Electric Power Company in a high-stakes shareholders' derivative lawsuit.

Client feedback

Yoshimi Ohara

“Very experienced in the field of international arbitration and give practical advice to clients.”

Nishimura & Asahi offers unparalleled strength in a range of dispute resolution areas including financial disputes, general commercial and product liability. The firm often receives instructions from domestic and foreign corporations in the automotive, pharmaceuticals, insurance, financial institutions and electronics sectors. In particular, the firm is a front-runner in international arbitration, with a practice led by Hiroyuki Tezuka and Akihiro Hironaka. Yutaro Kawabata and Lars Markert are also noteworthy international arbitration practitioners. In a significant environmental health litigation, the firm is representing a Japanese automotive company facing complex tort claims relating to diesel engine emissions.

Oh-Ebashi LPC & Partners is the largest law firm in Osaka and offers a broad range of dispute resolution services covering corporation litigation, consumer protection and product liability, antitrust, and intellectual property disputes and international arbitration. 

Commercial disputes lawyer Shiro Kuniya, competition and antitrust specialist Tetsuya Nagasawa and IP litigator Takamitsu Shigetomi are key figures of the team.

O’Melveny & Myers is active in both domestic and international litigation and arbitration as well as criminal investigations. With 15 years’ practice experience in the country, the firm has a solid track record before the Supreme Court of Japan, including in mass consumer litigation, banking and commercial disputes as well as IP-related disputes.

Yoji Maeda is a key partner at the firm with broad experience across commercial litigation and employment matters. Counsel Hiroko Nihei is another lawyer to note, who has a particular focus on international commercial arbitration and contentious IP cases.

All cases the firm has worked on during the research period are highly confidential.

Intellectual property firm Shusaku Yamamoto brings expertise in patent, trademark, and copyright litigation. The firm handles IP matters across multiple Japanese cities and an international office in Nanjing, focusing on prosecution, advisory, and enforcement services. Their practice covers diverse sectors including automotive, biotechnology, fintech, and emerging technologies, with particular experience in managing cross-jurisdictional IP disputes and providing counsel to clients navigating complex legal challenges. Kensaku Yamamoto, the firm's owner, specialises in intellectual property litigation, bringing extensive experience in managing complex commercial disputes across technology-driven industries. His practice concentrates on patent, trademark, and design litigation, with a particular emphasis on appellate proceedings and technology-related contractual matters.

Since its founding in 1990, TMI Associates has built a reputation in dispute resolution particularly in matters related to IP. Clients seek the firm for its service in infringement lawsuits, invalidation trials, the appeals processes, import suspensions and temporary injunctive relief. Sector expertise includes machinery, semiconductors, biotechnology, medicine, communication and technology.   

Among its 50 IP attorneys, Mitsuko Miyagawa stands out for her work in trade mark and copyright litigation. Additionally, Mitsue Aizawa is a key individual for commercial disputes.  

One of the oldest law firms in Japan, Yuasa & Hara specialises in patent and trade mark litigation. Nearly 50 patent attorneys assist clients in the chemical, mechanical and electronics sectors. Kozo Yabe is singled out as a key contact. 

The firm’s cross border disputes work is facilitated by its membership in Terralex, an international law firm network with 140 members across 100 countries. The firm is also a member of Unilaw, an international law firm network with an active presence in Europe.