DEPARTMENT PROFILE

Anderson Mori & Tomotsune

Intellectual Property: Domestic

3 ranked lawyers

Band 1

Japan

Asia-Pacific 2022 View ranking table

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What the team is known for

Anderson Mori & Tomotsune has a flourishing team with well-honed skills in an array of IP issues, especially in relation to patent infringement disputes and invalidation actions. Also advises on a range of transactional matters such as licensing agreements and the transfer of IP rights, alongside trade secrets and customs matters. Work includes mandates for both domestic and international companies, including on cross-border mandates. Assists clients from a wide range of industries, including automotive, pharmaceutical and semiconductor. Team includes qualified patent attorneys (benrishi) who assist clients with patent filing mandates. Key clients of the firm include Toyota Motor Corporation, Mochida Pharmaceutical and Taiyo Holdings.

Strengths

One impressed client highlights that: "Anderson Mori & Tomotsune have a high level of expertise and experience in life sciences and intellectual property. Their response is quick and they're highly specialised in disputes related to intellectual property rights."

Another interviewee reports: "It's great that they have an excellent understanding of the background and technical contents relating to the IP dispute."

Work highlights

Anderson Mori & Tomotsune represented Firstface in a patent infringement lawsuit against Apple Japan with Tokyo Customs.

Notable practitioners

Miki Goto continues to attract solid recognition, particularly handling patent disputes. One satisfied client remarks: "He is capable of providing us with practical advice that takes our needs into consideration, that's why he's a very reliable lawyer for us," adding: "He's specialised in IP; however, we sometimes ask him for advice on other areas as he has a science background, which is great for companies like us."

Yasufumi Shiroyama co-heads the legal team at Anderson Mori & Tomotsune and is a well-regarded lawyer for his expertise in IP litigation, acting for a range of leading international companies. He regularly handles patent infringement disputes in district and appellate courts in Japan.

Yoshikazu Iwase is an experienced patent disputes lawyer who represents domestic and international corporations before the IP High Court, Japan Patent Office and Tokyo District Court. He also has expertise in trade mark, copyright and IP licensing matters.

Department Information

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Overview

Anderson Mori & Tomotsune’s experts work hand-in-hand to ensure that our Intellectual Property Practice Group is, and continues to be, one of the top legal professional practices in the area of intellectual property in Japan.

Our IP attorneys (bengoshi) are veterans in patent litigation and have extensive experience in IP licensing and transactions. They possess deep technical knowledge in the areas of electronics, telecommunications, computers, machinery, chemicals, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals. Our lawyers also have deep expertise in the handling of know-how, trademark, copyright, and entertainment disputes. They work closely with the firm’s specialists in other practice areas such as competition law, labor law, corporate law, cross-border transactions, bankruptcy, and pharmaceutical regulations, as required by the nature of the cases they handle.

Our patent attorneys (benrishi) specialize in the filing of patents, utility models, designs, and trademarks. These professionals are qualified to appear before the Japan Patent Office for patent prosecution proceedings and provide our clients with advice and consultations on the various aspects of Japanese intellectual property law. The members of our patent prosecution team hail from a variety of professional, technical, and academic backgrounds and are on the cutting edge of both technology and IP regulations.