Boasting a highly experienced team of litigators and patent lawyers, Abe, Ikubo & Katayama offers expertise in both IP infringement litigation and procurement, with a strong knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry. The team is co-led by Eiji Katayama, an expert on patent litigation, and Hiroshi Kobayashi, whose experience in the chemical and pharma sectors has led to further development and client acquisition in the area of patent prosecution. They are joined by Junichi Kitahara, who strengthens the practice with his impressive track record of patent enforcement along with Makoto Hattori, who focuses on patent and trade secret litigation. Lastly, Mami Hino's practice focuses on patent invalidity trials and IP High Court appeals.

Headquartered in Tokyo, Anderson Mori & Tomotsune boasts a full-service IP practice, comprising practitioners with a deep knowledge of IP licensing and transactions. Alongside strong industry experience in electronics and telecommunications, the team is also noted for its expertise in trade mark, entertainment disputes and copyright. Industry veteran Yasufumi Shiroyama co-leads the practice alongside a prodigious team of IP experts which include Yoshikazu Iwase, well known for his litigation experience in patent infringement trials and revocation suits, and Akihito Nakamachi, a bilingual and bicultural attorney who has served as partner in both the United States and Japan. Wataru Shimizu focuses on technology transfer agreements, compliance and IP management, whereas Miki Goto leverages his academic background in science and engineering to advise on complex litigation, patent disputes and data privacy issues. Other co-leads include Masayuki Yamanouchi, who specializes in patent infringement issues in the pharmaceutical sector and Nobuto Shirane, who handles IT system development disputes and software licensing.

Headquartered in Tokyo with a broad international scope, Mori Hamada & Matsumoto is recognized for its comprehensive IP service and depth of experience with infringement cases involving patents, designs, trade marks, copyrights and invalidation trials. Recent expansion of the practice into China, involving local IP prosecutions and contentious matters, exemplifies the firm’s globalist outlook whilst maintaining its impressive client roster of domestic cross-sector companies. Yutaka Miyoshi, who has broad experience in complex, cross-border IP litigation, co-leads the team with Yoshifumi Onodera, who leverages his academic background in chemistry and biology to take lead on disputes requiring a high level of technical expertise. They are joined by Atsushi Okada, who handles disputes and transactions across a broad range of fields, and Tetsushi Kamimura, a specialist in disputes and copyright infringement cases in entertainment, TV broadcasting and internet-related technologies. Hideaki Kuwahara is notable for his expertise in IT-related disputes and handles IP litigation.

Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu offers a broad spectrum of expertise in IP litigation and transactional matters such as due diligence, R&D agreements, AI and big data across a range of industries. The practice is strengthened by the considerable expertise of Shunji Matsuda, as well as Kenji Tosaki, who handles IP infringement litigations and IP invalidation litigations before the IP High Court, the Supreme Court, District Courts and Japan Patent Office. They are joined by Keiji Tonomura, who specialises in cross-border IP transactions with a particular focus on the TMT industry and emergent technologies. Another associate of note is Masashi Chusho.

Nishimura & Asahi takes an interdisciplinary approach to provide insight and strategic advice on a range of IP matters from new forms of financial transactions to disputes involving multiple territories. Besides its extensive experience in the entertainment industry, the firm is developing a growing body of expertise in cutting edge technologies such as driverless cars and artificial intelligence. The team is co-led by Yoshiyuki Miyashita, a noted expert in IP transactions and dispute resolutions and Hitomi Iwase, who heads the trade mark division and advises across a wide range of sectors. Satoshi Niki leads on business transactions arising from the acquisition of technology and intellectual property rights, and Makiko Takabe bolsters the practice with her esteemed record of litigation and judicial experience. Also of note is Makoto Shiotani, who acts on behalf of national and multinational companies on IP portfolios and strategies. Finally, Gai Matsushita covers a wide range of IP infringement litigation and non-contentious matters, whilst Yoko Kasai specialises in licensing and patent litigation.

Comprising a large and highly decorated team of IP specialists, TMI Associates‘ well-regarded IP practice spans patents, utility models, designs, trade marks and copyrights. With particular expertise in the media and entertainment industry, the team is co-led by Katsuro Tanaka, a leading figure in IP law and brand protection, and senior partner Tomohiro Tohyama. Mitsuko (Mimi) Miyagawa is a renowned specialist in brand protection with over 30 years of experience in IP litigation. Makoto Okada advises on patent infringement litigation and invalidation trials, whilst Hiroshi Nemoto focuses on pre-litigation counselling and patent-related trials. In addition, Tomoo Shibano is a noted specialist in IP, privacy and data protection; Seiro Hatano covers contentious works regarding trade marks and unfair competition; and Katsuyuki Inagaki strengthens the practice with considerable expertise in the fields of intellectual property, media and entertainment, and IT laws.

With a particular industry expertise in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, KUBOTA is well placed to handle contentious work in the areas of patents, infringement matters, trade marks, portfolio management. The practice is also well versed in patent infringement litigation in the pharmaceutical sector. Founder and industry veteran, Eiichiro Kubota, leads the team, which also comprises Kiyoko Nakaoka, who is widely recognised for her technical expertise and experience in high-end litigation. Emiko Yano plays a key role in the team’s life science practice and Yusuke Inui specialises in trade mark litigation. Rika Yamazaki and Tomoko Honami are other associates of note.

With an expanding international network, Oh-Ebashi LPC & Partners is home to a full-service IP offering covering unfair competition, licensing, and dispute resolution as well as other transactions. Industry veteran Shigetoshi Hirano specialises in cross-border IP disputes and has in-depth knowledge of entertainment law. He is joined by practice head Takamitsu Shigetomi, a noted practitioner in the field of IP licensing and infringement, and Toshiya Furusho, who handles patent litigations in the fields of mechanical engineering and biotechnology.

With a large network of offices and an experienced team of IP litigators, Shusaku Yamamoto Patent Law Offices is well placed to provide advice across a wide range of sectors. The team is led by Kensaku Yamamoto, who has overseen international expansion in Asia and leverages his considerable experience in the pharmaceutical sector.

A well-rounded firm, Hiroe & Associates provides a full range of IP services encompassing patents, design and trade marks. The team is co-led by Takenori Hiroe, an expert in IP rights disputes; Masanori Hiroe, who specialises in trade mark application appeals and cancellation trials; and Satoshi Hashimoto, who focuses on patent applications.

Formed in 2020 and working across a broad range of industries, ZeLo, a Foreign Law Joint Enterprise, specialises in providing innovative and new businesses advice on IP strategy, licensing, portfolio management, WIPO failings and patents. The team is led by Takahiro Aoki, a noted specialist on patent litigations, invalidation searches and prosecutions.