Intellectual Property: Bengoshi | Asia-Pacific

Eiji Katayama is an eminent lawyer whose engineering background serves his patent litigation practice well.

Yoshio Kumakura is a venerable figure in the market with a longstanding practice in IP law, including patent infringement proceedings.

Seiji Ohno is a highly regarded practitioner and is praised by interviewees for his extensive experience in handling IP litigation and patent-related matters.

Yasufumi Shiroyama heads Anderson Mori & Tomotsune's intellectual property practice group and is well regarded 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.

Shunji Matsuda has a longstanding IP litigation practice, regularly acting for leading corporations in the electronics, pharmaceuticals and chemical engineering sectors.

Takamitsu Shigetomi leads the IP group at Osaka-based Oh-Ebashi and is adept at handling IP licensing and litigation mandates, particularly for life sciences and biotechnology clients.

Atsushi Okada co-heads MHM's IP practice and offers strength in the areas of IP prosecution, enforcement and licensing work for clients from a range of sectors.

Hitomi Iwase co-heads the intellectual property division at Nishimura & Asahi and also handles the full range of IP matters, including trade marks, copyright and patents. Her practice covers both contentious and transactional IP matters.

Junichi Kitahara is a well-known lawyer handling complex commercial disputes for both domestic and international clients. His practice covers the pharmaceutical and technology sectors.

Michiru Takahashi specialises in trademark-related and patent infringement matters, and is a frequent adviser to major corporates in a variety of sectors, including pharmaceuticals, technology, and food and beverages.

Shinsuke Yakura of White & Case handles both advisory and litigation work, especially regarding patents and copyrights. His clients include food and beverage, electric device and automotive manufacturers.

Yutaka Miyoshi co-heads Mori Hamada's intellectual property team. He has notable expertise in patent infringement disputes and patent assessments, as well as domain name matters.

Makoto Hattori is dual-qualified in Japan and New York and represents multinational corporates across a range of patent litigation.

Makoto Okada is a seasoned IP practitioner. He is particularly adept at handling patent litigation for clients in the electronics and media sectors.

Masahiro Samejima is one of the founding members of Uchida & Samejima Law Firm. He is a patent attorney with metallurgical engineering background and significant industry experience whose technical knowledge and expertise is often noted.

Yoshiyuki Miyashita co-heads the firm's intellectual property group and has a wide range of expertise, notably assisting clients with IP disputes as well as licensing and matters arising out of transactions.

Masayuki Yamanouchi is an up-and-coming lawyer with a strong scientific background. Highly sought after by pharmaceutical clients, he often represents clients in patent disputes, including patent linkage, invalidation and enforcement.