Japan

Founded in 1902, YUASA AND HARA is a leading Japanese law, patent and accounting firm offering
comprehensive legal and accounting services. The firm has four divisions: Patent Division, Law Division, Trademark and Design Division, and Accounting Division. Each of these divisions is staffed by teams of dedicated professionals having exceptional qualifications, expertise, and experience.

Patent Division offers a full range of intellectual property services in the preparation & prosecution of applications, oppositions, and trials, as well as in licensing, and litigation associated with patent and utility model rights, prosecuted in cooperation with experienced Attorneys-at-law from Law Division across a broad range of technological fields.

Through its technical insight, strategic approach, and international capabilities, Patent Division has earned recognition as one of Japan’s leading patent practices in a wide range of technical field. We are committed to delivering precise analysis and reliable execution to safeguard the technological and commercial value of our clients’ innovations.

Among its most distinguished capabilities is the Life Science & Chemistry Group within the Patent Division, a team recognized for its deep scientific insight and extensive patent expertise across pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, genetic engineering, regenerative medicine, food science, and biomass-related technologies. We have successfully worked on number of high-complexity cases including patent prosecution, opposition, patent term extension for pharmaceuticals, invalidation trial, and litigation in a variety of technical field.

Firm Profile

Kyowa Patent and Law Office was established on September 1, 1908, and is a full-service IP firm with more than 110 years of history.

Organization

Kyowa’s 60 patent attorneys, including five attorneys at law and one Chinese registered foreign lawyer, harmoniously cooperate to provide services tailored to each of its clients. Kyowa has six departments (see distribution of attorneys, some concurrently serving):

• Electrical (20)
• Mechanical (18)
• Chemical (20)
• Designs and Trademarks (12)
• Litigations (5)
• Chinese Market (4)

Highly qualified attorneys

Kyowa’s attorneys are graduates from high-ranking universities and specialists with rich knowledge in their field. Most of them have previous experience working in the R&D or patent section of major Japanese companies. Some have served as examiners for the JPO. Their wide range of technical expertise enables the firm to elaborate the best strategy for the protection of its clients’ innovations in view of Japanese patent practice.

Kyowa’s managing partner, Manabu MIYAJIMA, is an attorney at law admitted to both the State Bar of California and the Dai-Ichi Tokyo Bar. Ruoling DU, partner, is a Chinese-licensed lawyer who speedily and efficiently communicates with our Chinese clients with deeper understanding of Chinese society and culture.

Litigation

Kyowa provides various services in cases of litigation, disputes, and negotiations involving advanced technologies. While it is uncommon in Japan for attorneys at law to have technical background, most of Kyowa’s attorneys at law have master’s or bachelor’s degrees in engineering, pharmaceutics or other sciences. In the case of services such as infringement litigation, opposition, appeals against trial decisions, and contract negotiations related to patents and other intellectual property, our technical-background attorneys at law work together with our patent attorneys specialized in the technology relevant to the case. Their deep understanding of the technology allows them to make persuasive arguments in patent disputes which has proven beneficial in numerous litigations.

Hiroe and Associates has been providing intellectual property legal services since Takenori Hiroe founded the firm in 1979. Takenori Hiroe graduated from Gifu University with a degree in textile engineering in 1971, and then began working in research and development at Japan Vilene Company, Ltd. in Tokyo. He obtained his patent attorney’s license in 1978, and in 1979 he returned to Gifu to open his practice.

Since then, it has grown into an organization with clients and associates all over the world. With the success of its international section attributable to the individual skills of each section member, the firm’s service continues to perform and improve. In 2011, Chairman Takenori Hiroe received a Medal of Merit award from the Emperor of Japan, personally recommended by the JPO Commissioner, for his long-time services as a patent attorney.

Led by Takenori Hiroe, the team of experienced patent attorneys, technical specialists, administrative staff, and in-house translators is globally trusted by our clients due to our precision, speed, reliability, and cost performance, and is accomplished for demonstrating a skilled legal proficiency regarding all areas of intellectual property.

The firm has been voted as one of the top patent prosecution firms in Japan by various legal publications, magazines, and is continually practicing the firm’s management philosophy "to contribute to the growth and prosperity of the clients."

RYUKA IP Law Firm is led by IP professionals with diverse backgrounds in many technical fields and expertise in a variety of jurisdictions. Our key practice areas include patents, trademarks, copyrights, licensing, designs, utility models, and litigation, with areas of technical specialty in electronics, telecommunications, software, optics, mechanical engineering, semiconductors, electronic materials, and chemicals. Ryuka’s visualization and consulting experts support inventors in the realization of their ideas and our talented patent attorneys and other IP practitioners work with professionalism to keep our clients’ valuable assets safe. Our clients can always expect a prompt response, and we have always demonstrated professionalism to meet our clients’ needs and expectations. 

Our client list is extensive and varied, including well-established domestic and international companies, smaller startup organizations, and individual inventors. We aim to provide universally high quality service to all companies, regardless of their size or status, in an effort to contribute to the realization of their full business potential. Clients range from hands-on companies that research and develop ideas, to international law firms for whom we open doors to the Japanese IP system. The quality of our client list and the strength of our client relationships attest to the quality and dedication of our staff.

RYUKA currently has 109 employees, of which 35 are attorneys.

Founded in 1986, SOEI Patent and Law Firm is a leading Japanese legal practice specializing exclusively in intellectual property (IP) law. With a steadily growing team now comprising 315 members—including 119 patent attorneys (Benrishi) and 4 attorneys-at-law—SOEI offers a full range of IP legal services tailored to clients doing business in Japan.

SOEI’s practice covers all major areas of IP, including patents, designs, trademarks, and copyrights. Our patent team handles a broad array of technical fields such as electronics, mechanics, chemistry, software, and biotechnology. This enables us to manage even highly complex innovations with technical depth and legal precision.

In addition to prosecution, SOEI has significant expertise in enforcement. Our litigation team, led by a former Chief Judge of the Intellectual Property High Court of Japan, provides strategic and effective representation in disputes such as infringement litigation, invalidation trials, and appeals.

SOEI is also known for the reliability and accuracy of its administrative operations. Our seasoned staff ensures that all procedures—from filings and renewals to formality checks and translations—are completed precisely and on time. Clients can count on our internal systems and dedicated teams to minimize risk and avoid costly errors.

We also place great importance on clear and timely communication. Our professionals are trained to respond promptly and proactively, ensuring smooth collaboration across time zones. We value close relationships with our clients and strive to anticipate their needs.

Committed to excellence, responsiveness, and dependable execution, SOEI remains a trusted partner for securing and defending intellectual property rights in Japan’s complex legal landscape.

ITOH Patent Attorney Corporation (hereinafter “ITOH”), established in 1967, specializes in all IP matters. Located in the center of Tokyo, ITOH comprises 300 staff members, including 65 Japanese patent attorneys (three of whom have passed the US Patent Bar exam), an attorney at law (of counsel), 4 US patent attorneys, 5 Chinese patent attorneys, 2 Korean patent attorneys, 50 patent engineers and 160 administrative staff members.

In recent years, as Japan has been concentrating on strengthening IP rights to increase the country’s prosperity and as the world’s IP systems have become more harmonized, the global protection of intellectual property has become much more important. In the midst of this change, all members of ITOH continue to strive to offer high-quality and prompt services that completely satisfy our international clients’ needs.

In 2024, as well as in previous years, ITOH was ranked as one of the top 3 IP firms in terms of number of Japanese patent filings.

With respect to patents, ITOH has specialized knowledge in all technical fields, with a focus on artificial intelligence (including machine learning), the Internet of Things, quantum computing, information processing, image processing, fintech, materials-informatics, telecommunications (5G, beyond 5G), digital healthcare, biotechnology, automatic control systems, semiconductors, medical, materials, materials-informatics, chemistry and others.

ITOH also has great expertise in designs and trademarks. One team at the firm handles design issues exclusively, while another handles trademark cases exclusively.

Since its inception, ITOH has handled not only domestic applications, but also a lot of applications filed by Japan-based clients in other countries across the globe. ITOH’s policy is to have all foreign specifications in English, Chinese and Korean prepared by its in-house patent attorneys and technical specialists, who have extensive knowledge and experience of international patent practices.

ITOH can accurately translate English, Chinese and Korean language specifications into Japanese for filing and prosecuting patent applications in order to secure enforceable patent rights in Japan. ITOH’s patent attorneys and technical specialists are fully versed and knowledgeable in Japanese patent prosecution, enforcement procedures and practices.

With a team of experts who can handle all technical fields, are always up to date on the latest developments in laws and regulations and can draw on knowledge gained through over 58 years of experience, ITOH is equipped to draft and prosecute effective patent applications in order to ensure enforceable patent rights in Japan. As a rule, ITOH conducts interviews with inventors in order to gain a full understanding of their inventions and accurately determine the objectives of clients.

Eight of ITOH’s patent attorneys have previously worked as examiners at the Japanese Patent Office (JPO), giving great insight into the JPO’s practice. In addition, ITOH strategically conducts interviews with JPO examiners so as to avoid file wrapper estoppel issues. Furthermore, another eight of ITOH’s patent attorneys have previously worked in the IP departments of leading Japanese companies such as Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Toshiba, Fujitsu, Hitachi, and others. This in turn gives ITOH the edge in terms of understanding the IP strategies of companies.

Using their extensive experience and thorough legal and technical knowledge gained over the years, the practitioners at ITOH handle not only patent applications, but also trials before the JPO, lawsuits before the IP High Court against JPO appeal decisions, infringement litigation and expert opinions.

With extensive global reach and deep local expertise, we offer an unparalleled
blend of skills to help our clients navigate the complexities and seize the
opportunities of doing business in Singapore and across the Asia Pacific region. Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow, a joint law venture between Baker McKenzie and
Wong & Leow LLC, stands at the forefront of legal excellence.

We have the capabilities to offer comprehensive advice on both domestic
Singapore law and intricate cross-border issues, ensuring our clients receive
holistic and seamless legal support. As the preferred counsel for numerous
companies leveraging Singapore as a strategic hub for their regional operations,
our lawyers excel in managing multijurisdictional transactions and mitigating
cross-border risks with precision.

Our Singapore office is seamlessly integrated into a global network,
providing on-the-ground expertise across ASEAN countries and access to
Baker McKenzie’s expansive international network. This unique positioning
enables us to adeptly support the diverse domestic and international needs
of our clients, delivering tailored solutions that drive success in a dynamic
global market.

Hogan Lovells’ Tokyo office opened in 1990 and is today one of the most established legal practices in Japan. Our team of lawyers draws on over three decades of experience representing both Japanese clients with overseas interests and international companies with commercial interests in Japan.

Our Tokyo-based team of international and Japanese-qualified (bengoshi) lawyers are multilingual and multicultural. With approximately 40 lawyers (including both bengoshi partners and international law partners qualified in multiple jurisdictions such as England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, and California), we provide domestic and international clients with a broad offering of legal services in relation to outbound and inbound matters.

Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP is one of the world’s largest full-service IP firms. With offices in the United States, Asia and Europe, the firm practices European, German, UK, and US IP law. In addition to all aspects of patent, trademark, and copyright law, including counseling, prosecution, licensing, and litigation, Finnegan provides counseling and litigation services in advertising, privacy, and a wide spectrum of additional IP-adjacent commercial matters, including trade secrets, international trade, the Internet, e-commerce, government contracts, antitrust, and unfair competition. A comprehensive approach to clients’ IP needs and Finnegan’s mega-boutique size underpins its year-to-year, decade-to-decade preeminence in IP litigation and trials across all industries and tribunals.

With Finnegan’s practice centered on intellectual property, the firm can create economies of scale and focus all resources on providing the best tools and teams for clients. Approximately 300 of Finnegan’s legal professionals hold degrees in scientific disciplines (75+ hold PhDs), and the majority are also registered to practise before the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), European Patent Office (EPO), the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA), the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO), or the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).

With more than 60 years’ IP experience, Finnegan’s global IP enforcement, litigation, and trials practice is comprised of over 250 litigators, including career trial attorneys. The firm handles hundreds of cases and proceedings across all forms of US IP litigation, German patent litigation, and European patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret litigation in courts, including US district courts, the US International Trade Commission (ITC), the USPTO’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the US Supreme Court, German regional civil courts, UK courts, and the Unified Patent Court. As one of the first firms to file a petition and subsequently argue a post-grant review of a covered business method case following the implementation of the America Invents Act, Finnegan is one of the busiest law firms representing petitioners and patent owners in patent office invalidity proceedings in the U.S. and Europe, including ex parte reexaminations, inter partes and post-grant reviews, nullity proceedings, oppositions, and third-party observations. The firm files approximately 2,500 US and 1,000 foreign patent applications annually.

Finnegan’s trademark practice, renowned for its experience, sophistication, creativity and depth, is comprehensive and follows the life of a mark from selection, clearance, prosecution and maintenance to portfolio management, trademark audits, licensing, watch disputes and litigation. The firm’s trademark clients include start-ups, small and medium-sized companies, as well as Fortune 100 companies. The range of industries represented includes sports and fitness, food and beverage, consumer products, mechanical, manufacturing, clean energy and renewables, entertainment, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, financial services, publishing, the Internet, software, computers and telecommunications, and automotive.

Surveys conducted by legal and business publications consistently rank Finnegan as one of the leading IP law practices in the world. The firm is ranked in the United States for litigation and non-contentious patent and trademark work by publications including Managing Intellectual Property and The Legal 500, which have ranked Finnegan as a top-tier firm in nearly every significant IP category for nearly two decades. The publications cite the firm’s winning record, technical expertise and deep bench of talent in all aspects of IP litigation, including trials, appeals and proceedings at global patent offices, and ITC investigations.

Representative engagements

•    Obtained a $240 million jury verdict for client Promptu in a patent infringement lawsuit against Comcast. The jury found that Comcast willfully infringed Promptu’s patents covering voice recognition technology for TV. 

•    Secured a significant victory for client US Synthetic Corporation (USS) with a precedential decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) overturning an unfavorable 35 U.S.C. § 101 eligibility ruling from the International Trade Commission (ITC).

•    Finnegan represents Subaru in multiple ongoing TTAB proceedings, including cancellations and oppositions.

•    Represented Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. and its licensor The University of Western Australia in patent litigation relating to nucleic acid therapies for treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). A federal jury in the District of Delaware awarded Sarepta Therapeutics over $115 million in its patent infringement case against Nippon Shinyaku Co. Ltd. This substantial verdict upholds the validity of Sarepta’s groundbreaking exon-skipping treatment, and the underlying work at the University of Western Australia.

•    Oversees the comprehensive trademark and copyright portfolio for the EMMY and EMMY Award Statuettes on behalf of The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, handling all aspects of prosecution and enforcement. This work includes negotiating and drafting license agreements with authorized statuette manufacturers and sponsors, collaborating with Customs and Border Protection to prevent unauthorized imports, conducting due diligence on potential international partners, and managing U.S. and foreign trademark applications, prosecution, and oppositions.

•    Managing the global prosecution of AstraZeneca’s portfolio for Beyfortus® (nirsevimab), the recently FDA-approved extended half-life monoclonal antibody (mAb) aiming to protect all infants entering their first RSV season, when they are at highest risk for severe RSV disease.

From our offices in strategic hubs of commerce, law, and government across North America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, we work with clients ranging from established, global Fortune 100 companies to enterprising startups.

Our team of more than 2,200 lawyers and legal professionals provides comprehensive corporate, transactional, litigation, and regulatory services in major industries, including energy, financial services, healthcare, life sciences, retail and ecommerce, sports, technology, and transportation. We focus on both immediate and long-term goals with our clients, helping them address and anticipate challenges across vast and rapidly changing landscapes.

We approach every representation with an equal commitment to first understanding, and then efficiently and effectively advancing, the interests of our clients and arriving at the best results. If a client has a question, we’ll immediately find the person in our global network with the answer. If there’s a shift in the legal landscape, we’re on top of it, and our clients will be too.

Founded in 1873, we stand on the shoulders of more than 150 years of achievement, but we never rest on our reputation.

We are an IP Litigation powerhouse for technology, life sciences and health technology in patents, trade secrets and commercial litigation with unparalleled trial success at all levels at each forum and venue. Our approach integrates our practices to provide businesses with comprehensive intellectual property protections. Our litigation expertise and experience also gives us an edge in advising our clients on the likely outcomes of litigation, including in the context of corporate acquisitions and portfolio management. Our approach, which supports “small firm” key partner attention with the “large firm” resources ensures our clients receive effective and efficient representation at every stage of the case. We are committed to helping clients structure the most comprehensive and workable enforcement and defense for all aspects of their intellectual property. 

Bench and Jury Trials at the U.S. District Courts

• We have litigated and counseled on patent and trade secrets issues across a wide range of industries, including software, hardware, electronics, chemical processes, telecommunications, consumer goods, manufacturing, sales, financial services, and pharmaceuticals.
• We are also experts in §101 invalidity challenges with a near-perfect record in district court and the Federal Circuit, pursuing and obtaining attorneys’ fees, and obtaining wins in Federal Circuit appeals.
• We are experts in the nuances of life sciences patent litigation, including Hatch-Waxman Act and biosimilars patent litigation under the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act, and the intersecting FDA regulatory regime in which these cases operate. 

PTAB Proceedings

• We have handled over 400 post-grant proceedings before the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board, on behalf of both petitioners and patent owners across a wide range of industries.
• Our attorneys have been hailed as ones who can be “trust[ed] . . . with crown jewels, and have been described as “PTAB mastermind[s],” “PTAB trial guru[s],” knowing the PTAB “like the back of [their] hands,” and “understand[ing] all the rules and subtleties of IPR proceedings better than anyone I’ve ever worked with.”
• Our attorneys worked on the first ever PTAB proceeding on the technology side and also led the first ever successful defense of a pharmaceutical patent.

ITC Section 337 Investigations

• We represent both complainants and respondents, and have been at the forefront of recent cutting-edge decisions at the ITC. 
• We have served as counsel in more than 60 Section 337 Investigations, and have appeared before each of the Presiding Administrative Law Judges (ALJs), including multiple successes before Customs in ensuring our clients’ products are not excluded from the United States. 

International Arbitrations

• We represent clients in all aspects of litigation related to arbitration, including bringing and defending motions to compel arbitration, obtaining and opposing interim and protective measures in aid of arbitration, seeking and opposing recognition of arbitral awards, seeking and opposing the annulment of arbitral awards, and disputes over the taking of evidence in the US in aid of international arbitrations and foreign litigation.
• We regularly draft, advise, and teach courses on the drafting and interpretation of arbitration and forum-selection agreements in circumstances ranging from simple two-party deals to complex commercial transactions involving multiple parties, jurisdictions, and applicable laws. We recognize that each matter is unique and strive to meet our client’s objectives in the most cost-effective manner.

Supreme Court and Appellate Review

• We have top-notch appellate capabilities and can handle an IP litigation matter from start to finish. 
• Our lawyers are skilled in the art of written and oral advocacy, as well as in simplifying technical arguments for generalist Federal Circuit judges.
• We devote our practice to the craft of conceiving and presenting argument on complex, law-intensive issues, bringing to bear our many years of experience in areas of law that cut across traditional legal disciplines, such as constitutional interpretation, damages, procedure, and jurisdiction. 

Kilpatrick is trusted counsel to the world’s most innovative companies. To serve our groundbreaking clients, we are at the forefront of client service, a leader in DE&I, and on the cutting edge of law and technology. With recognized strength in the technology sector and a full range of service offerings, we deliver practical, business-centric solutions built upon strong and enduring connections.

Kilpatrick Townsend IP Law Office opened in 2006 as the firm’s first office in Asia. Led by special counsel Hitoshi Akiba, a Japanese patent attorney and member of the New York Bar, the Tokyo office is heavily utilized by Kilpatrick Townsend attorneys advising Asia-based and U.S. clients with interests in Japan and throughout Asia. The Tokyo office focuses on patent counseling for clients in a broad range of industries, working for U.S. businesses entering Japan and other Asian markets and for Japanese clients with intellectual property issues in the U.S.

The Tokyo office brings the latest developments in U.S. intellectual property law to Japan via annual briefings for Japanese businesses. Through educational sessions featuring Kilpatrick Townsend attorneys, the firm’s programs provide intellectual property professionals in Japan with critical information and the tools necessary to navigate the complex U.S. system for patent protection.

History and Offices

Founded in Osaka in 1956, we are an intellectual property firm with a 70-year history. Since our establishment, we have built extensive practical experience dedicated to the field of intellectual property. With the opening of our Tokyo office in 2018 and the establishment of a presence in Shenzhen, China in 2026, we now provide a broad range of intellectual property services to companies and research institutions in Japan and abroad.

Practice Areas

Our practice covers patents, designs, trademarks and copyrights, including filing and prosecution, maintenance of rights, portfolio management, licensing, searches and analysis, and dispute and litigation support. By bringing together multilingual professionals across these fields, we provide practical IP services tailored to each client’s business and technology.

Firm Structure

Our firm has 28 Japanese patent attorneys, 2 professionals qualified as Chinese patent agents, and 
approximately 20 technical staff members. Including administrative and management personnel, our total staff exceeds 100 members. Through close collaboration between professionals and support staff, we handle a large volume of matters while addressing a wide range of client needs.

Filing Record

In Japan, we handle more than 1,000 patent applications, 300 trademark applications and 100 design applications each year. Through this substantial filing practice, we have developed practical expertise across a broad range of technologies and industries.

International Capabilities

We have built a long-standing network with overseas patent and law firms, primarily in Europe, North America and Asia. Through this network, we provide seamless support for international filings, foreign prosecution, overseas rights acquisition and contentious matters. We also continue to remain active in international IP-related activities and maintain relationships with professionals in various jurisdictions.

Use of Technology

We use patent specification drafting support tools and administrative support programs developed by an affiliated systems development company. These tools support improvements in drafting quality, standardization of descriptions, and automation and streamlining of administrative work. By doing so, we seek to improve both efficiency and quality while handling a large number of matters.

1. About the firm

Beyond Precedent. Propelling Business Forward.

MORITA & OTANI IP is a Tokyo-based intellectual property boutique established in June 2025. The firm was founded to provide partner-led IP counsel to innovation-driven companies -- and in particular, to startup founders and venture capital funds shaping Japan's next economy. Although recently formed, the firm draws on its founders' combined decades of experience advising domestic and international clients on patent prosecution, litigation and IP strategy at leading Japanese patent and law firms.

The firm's defining commitment is to seed- and early-stage engagement. At this stage, both upside and uncertainty are extraordinary; the business itself is often still taking shape, and IP questions rarely admit textbook answers. The firm embraces that complexity, working alongside founders to translate business and technical insights into commercially meaningful IP positions that move with the business. It pairs legal rigor with practical guidance: what to file, when, and where, and how each patent asset supports fundraising, partnerships, market entry and exit. The aim is to let founders make business decisions with confidence.

2. Sector focus

The firm operates across two principal technology pillars:

- Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals -- pharmaceuticals, medical devices, diagnostics, agricultural biotech and academic spin-outs.

- Information Technology and Telecommunications -- software, artificial intelligence (AI), telecommunications and connected devices.

3. Generative AI

The firm runs a generative AI workflow -- for invention capture, prior art analysis and drafting -- on dedicated on premises infrastructure, so client information never leaves the firm.

4. Startup and VC practice

A key feature of the firm is its dedicated focus on the seed-to-exit arc. The firm advises founders from the seed stage onward on building defensible IP moats calibrated to commercial milestones, fundraising rounds and exit strategy, and acts for Japanese venture capital funds on IP due diligence for portfolio companies. The firm regularly publishes and lectures on IP strategy for high-growth companies.

5. International capability

The firm's international practice is centered on outbound work for Japanese clients building global patent portfolios, with the United States and Europe as principal destinations, coordinated through a trusted network of foreign associates. The firm also acts for foreign clients seeking patent protection in Japan. English is a working language of the firm, whose members are active in the Japan Patent Attorneys Association (JPAA) and AIPPI Japan.

ABE & PARTNERS works in wide areas of international and corporate matters with a focus on intellectual property law and international commerce. The patent litigations that ABE & PARTNERS has participated in to date, covers the fields of pharmaceuticals, chemistry, electronics and machinery, which involve advanced technology such as biotechnology, semiconductors, etc., and which are cross-border matters. Our firm has extensive experience on representing and advising multinational and domestic clients in pharmaceutical industry and is currently involved in the drastic battle between brand pharmaceutical companies and brand pharmaceutical companies and also the one between brand pharmaceutical companies and generic companies. Our firm also have experience of IP due diligence in pharma M&A between big pharma.

Mr. ABE, managing partner of ABE & PARTNERS, is currently a Guest Professor of Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine and formerly a lecturer of The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine.  He is an arbitrator in Japan and sit on various positions in Japanese medical/pharmaceutical societies.

Network Memberships: AIPLA, INTA, IBA, AIPPI

• One of the leading patent firms in Japan
• Staff of 8 former JPO examiners
• 137 patent and trademark attorneys
• 3 Japanese attorneys at law
• 3 Chinese patent attorneys
• 1 Chinese attorney at law
• 1 U.S. Attorney-at-Law (California)
• Approximately 380 technical specialists experienced in R&D and IP matters
• 7 native English speakers with technical backgrounds
• 35 doctorial holders
• 26 litigation specialists who are qualified to represent parties in court in IP infringement litigation

TMI Associates has 102 patent and trademark attorneys (benrishi) in addition to 656 attorneys at law (bengoshi). These professionals – together with over 100 paralegals and other support staff members – form a unique organizational structure that enables the firm to respond in a highly effective and efficient manner to the needs of clients across a wide variety of businesses and technologies throughout the world.

History

Since its establishment in 1990, TMI has grown rapidly and achieved its goal of becoming a full-service law firm that consistently provide valuable and comprehensive legal services of the highest calibre. The firm places great importance on exercising unparalleled legal judgement in areas including intellectual property, litigation, general corporate, corporate finance, antitrust and bankruptcy law. Intellectual property – including patents, designs and trademarks – has been an integral part of the firm’s practice since its establishment, and TMI possesses an unrivalled level of experience and achievements in this area.

Collaboration

By leveraging the close collaboration between its patent and trademark attorneys (benrishi) and IP lawyers (bengoshi), TMI offers its clients high-quality IP services that are unlike those of any other international law firm in Japan.

IP team

• 102 patent and trademark attorneys (benrishi),
• 51 electronical and mechanical attorneys,
• 30 chemical, biotechnology and pharmaceutical attorneys
• 28 trademark and design attorneys; and
• 110 IP lawyers (bengoshi).

As one of the ‘Big Five’ law firms in Japan, TMI currently has by far the largest group of benrishi, which supports the reputation of its strong IP practice in all technical fields.

IP practice

TMI’s practice covers all aspects of intellectual property, including patent and trademark prosecution, transactions (e.g., patent sales, acquisitions and licensing), litigation, pre-litigation analysis, invalidation trials and oppositions, freedom-to-operate analysis, due diligence and import suspension at Customs. The firm files approximately 5,100 trademark, 5,000 patent and 650 Design applications, both in Japan and abroad, and over 30 IP lawsuits per year.

Ability to resolve IP disputes

Our strong litigation team is made up of highly experienced IP litigation lawyers and patent/trademark attorneys with a track record of successful cases, including infringement litigation and invalidation proceedings against decisions of the Japan Patent Office. In order to strengthen its litigation practice, TMI has also recruited lawyers who were previously prominent judges, including former Supreme Court judges and a former presiding judge of the Intellectual Property High Court division.

High-quality services in related areas

• Anti-counterfeiting projects involving civil, criminal and customs procedures to prevent importation of counterfeit products
• Copyright
• Entertainment and sports law
• Protection of know-how and trade secrets
• Prevention against unfair competition
• Contract drafting
• Resolution of disputes arising from IP licensing agreements
• IP due diligence upon acquisition, merger or listing on the stock exchange
• Financing collateralized with IP rights