The Legal 500

Mori Hamada & Matsumoto’s dispute resolution practice draws admiring glances for its ‘very experienced lawyers, dignified case management and excellent client service’. Although the caseload has a strong IP slant, the firm also has experience across commercial litigation, tax disputes and criminal defence matters. Notable highlights included successfully representing Sony Corporation in a copyright and trade secret infringement case in the Tokyo District Court, filed by a Taiwanese company. Mugi Sekido is recommended for domestic and regulatory work, corporate specialist Harumichi Uchida is strong on the international side, and Shanghai-based Yoshio Iteya has an excellent track record in cases involving China.

At Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu, team head Jun Naitoh is considered ‘among the leading litigation partners in Japan’ and is particularly recommended for regulatory advice. On the international side, Hisaya Kimura is strong on commercial litigation, arbitration and employment issues, and Ryoichi Mimura is highly-regarded for IP litigation following a 30-year stint as a judge. Clients include manufacturing companies, IT companies and even private entities for tax litigation. Among the firm’s recent highlights, it represented a financial institution in pension-related litigation.

Nishimura & Asahi’s practice is led by international trade specialist Hiroyuki Tezuka. The firm fields a notable niche in financial services-related litigation but has experience across the full gamut of civil and commercial litigation, including environmental law, tax litigation and shareholder disputes. In early 2011, Hiroshi Kimeda and Akihiro Hironaka successfully represented a Japanese trading company in a $423.5m civil litigation filed by an affiliate company of a US-headquartered investment bank. IP litigation is also a strong area, and Eiichi Fukushima and Hiroshi Suga recently won a patent infringement case in the IP High Court.

Anderson Mori & Tomotsune secured a number of high-profile financial services-related instructions over the past twelve months cementing its reputation as ‘the “go-to” firm for banking and finance work’. Hiroki Wakabayashi specialises in advising both domestic and multinational financial institutions and audit corporations on a broad range of commercial disputes, and Yoshimasa Furuta is a ‘great all-rounder’ with a strong international arbitration practice and a solid corporate client list. The firm successfully defended a financial institution in a ¥2bn claim arising from a terminated derivatives transaction.

Abe, Wada & Watanabe’s client list is strong on the telecommunications and technology side, ensuring a steady flow of IP-related disputes. However, the firm is also experienced across contentious employment matters, commercial litigation and product liability, with Yoshiki Abe and Hiromi Watanabe both recommended. Recent cases include advising on the competition issues arising from a company executive moving to a rival company.

Atsumi & Sakai’s contentious construction practice saw a steady flow of cases over the past year; notably Miho Niunoya advised on several cases relating to product liability in manufacturing plants. Toyoki Emoto is also very experienced and advises on bankruptcy matters, commercial litigation and professional negligence actions.

Hashidate Law Office is a ‘safe pair of hands for domestic work’ but also handles cross-border litigation in the commercial, bankruptcy and civil fields. Clients include department stores, hotel syndicates and technology manufacturers. Specialist litigation partner Takahiro Mikami is recommended.

Hibiya Park Law Offices’ corporate and banking prowess is well-matched on the contentious side, and it is highly recommended for finance litigation. Hideaki Kubori retains a strong reputation locally for his ‘high levels of professionalism and efficiency’.

The ‘entrepreneurial’ Iwata Godo has a ‘forward-looking practice’ with a good reputation for advising on class actions, environmental issues and claims arising from new financial products. Motohiko Ebihara is well-regarded for his experience representing power companies on environmental issues, and Takayuki Umase specialises in advising banks and trust companies on matters spanning complex financial litigation through to debt collection.

Kojima Law Offices advises on the full range of contract disputes, IP issues and employment issues and is also recommended for its commitment to alternative dispute resolution. The prolific Naoki Idei is highly recommended, particularly for professional negligence and product liability claims.

Matsuo & Kosugi attracts praise for the ‘expert knowledge’ of Tasuku Matsuo – considered an ‘absolute leader in the field of bankruptcy law’. Clients are drawn from the banking, manufacturing and telecommunication sectors and the firm advises across IP issues, creditors’ claims and commercial litigation.

At Miyake & Yamazaki, Akira Yamada recently returned from his stint at the firm’s Bangkok office and is highly recommended for international litigation and bankruptcy matters. On the IP side, JunichiYamazaki is highly regarded for contentious matters.

In addition to its strong IP practice, TMI Associates specialises in insolvency matters and it also receives a regular flow of instructions relating to commercial litigation and private client issues. Kunio Namekata is recommended.

Herbert Smith’s ‘responsiveness, ability to quickly grasp the core of the case and client-friendliness is excellent’. ‘The team is well-organised and highly motivated and accordingly provides top-quality services’. Construction and IP remain areas of particular focus, and the firm has extensive experience in both litigation and international arbitration. The firm is representing a major Japanese trading company in relation to ongoing multiple regulatory issues, investigations and overseas litigation arising out of international commodity trading. Managing partner Peter Godwin’s ‘insight into dispute resolution as well as human nature underlying the dispute is excellent. He can quickly grasp the core of the problem and the real needs of the client and provide pertinent advice’. ‘Though Gavin Margetson is young, his thought to the issues is deep and client-oriented. He thinks practically about what is the best solution to fix the disputes’. Dominic Roughton, David Gilmore and Emma Kratochvilova are also recommended.

Morrison & Foerster Ito & Mitomi ‘has a very good and well-organised team of dispute resolution lawyers in Tokyo’. IP litigation is an area of strength, but the firm handles many different types of disputes. It is currently defending mining giant Rio Tinto against claims that it is responsible for the actions of members of the Papua New Guinea defense force after a violent takeover of the world’s largest copper mine. Other clients include AIG, Fujitsu, Hitachi, Nikon and Panasonic. ‘Especially excellent’ Max Olson ‘always thinks about what would be the best for clients’. Craig Celniker’s ‘insight into dispute resolution and strategic approach are excellent’. Jack Londen and Peter Stern are also highly experienced in this field. Yaeko Hodaka left the firm to join Baker & McKenzie GJBJ Tokyo Aoyama Aoki Koma Law Office.

Baker & McKenzie GJBJ Tokyo Aoyama Aoki Koma Law Office’s dispute resolution practice has been bolstered with the arrival of Junko Suetomi from the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Yaeko Hodaka from Morrison & Foerster Ito & Mitomi. The firm’s dispute resolution group is co-chaired by Haig Oghigian and Yoshiaki Muto. Recent highlights include representing a multinational investment bank in an alleged securities fraud case in the Tokyo District Court; a large Japanese trading company in a litigation matter over the collection of approximately $20m triggered by the disputed scope of assigned work; and a client in an ICC arbitration regarding defective products sold in Japan by US manufacturer.

Hogan Lovells Horitsu Jimusho Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo’s Tony Marshall, who splits his time between London and Tokyo, has particular expertise in advising on energy and construction-related arbitration. The firm is also well-regarded for its IP litigation practice where it has dealt with a wide range of patent, trade mark and copyright disputes. Bengoshi partner Eiichiro Kubota, alongside Lloyd Parker and Philippe Riesen advise on local and international IP disputes cases. Clients include IPS Alpha, Panasonic, Hitachi, Oakley, Kao Group and Brother Industries.

White & Case LLP- White & Case Law Offices (Registered Association) is praised for its ‘ability and enthusiasm’ and its ‘strong leadership of the partners and good teamwork’. The firm has recently represented True Religion Apparel, IHI, Rex Holdings and Aeromexico in suits heard before the Tokyo District Court, and Panasonic in US litigation matters. On the arbitration front, the group acted as counsel in an ICC arbitration relating to an oil and gas dispute in the Middle East and in a JCAA arbitration concerning a joint venture dispute. David Case leads the group that includes the talented Osamu Umejima and Yuji Ogiwara.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer handles all Japanese corporate disputes, from employment to commercial disagreements. Kazuki Okada has extensive experience in domestic litigation. His team is ‘experienced and knows Japanese practices very well’. Counsel Akiko Yamakawa is also highly recommended. The firm is currently advising an international company on bribery issues; Tesco Japan in a dispute with a landlord of a store that was closed down; and Brunei Investment Agency on a property dispute that required injunctive relief.

O’Melveny & Myers Gaikokuho Kyodojigyo Horitsujimusho’s Yoji Maeda and Scott Nonaka head up the firm’s litigation practice. Recent highlights include representing Asahi Tec Corporation in an action brought by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation in federal district court in Washington DC; Sumitomo Chemical America in a wrongful death lawsuit pending in LA Superior Court; and Japanese and international consumer finance companies in the nationwide kabarai litigation cases.

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP’s litigation group assists local and foreign companies in litigation, arbitration as well as investigations, assisting clients in litigation matters involving product liability, unfair competition, intellectual property, employment law, compliance and general commercial disputes. The firm recently expanded its practice with the arrival of a team of litigators from Paul Hastings LLP, including highly regarded head of the group Yoshihiro Takatori, who is praised for his ‘strategic thinking and communication skills’, and of counsel Shinsuke Yakura.

Yoshihiro Takatori Bingham McCutchen Murase, Sakai Mimura Aizawa - Foreign Law Joint Enterprise recently advised in a domestic litigation claiming securities and corporate law violations involving aggregated claims of hundreds of millions of dollars. The firm’s respected practitioners include former judges Toshiji Sato, Harumi Kojo and Atsushi Yamada.

Clifford Chance Law Office has suffered following the departures of the firm’s head of litigation and dispute resolution in Tokyo James Jamison, who has joined Deloitte in Hong Kong, and Atsushi Yamashita who left the firm to join K&L Gates. The firm still advises clients on disputes ranging from bribery to employment to intellectual property (particularly patent infringements) as well as more general commercial litigation and arbitration. Counsel Michelle Mizutani, Miho Mizuguchi and Hidehiko Suzuki are all experienced in this practice area.

Rika Sato’s international litigation and arbitration group at Jones Day handles a range of disputes such as labour tribunals, motions of assessment within insolvency proceedings, ADR proceedings as well as litigation. Scott Jones is an arbitration specialist, and Masatomo Suzuki is experienced in real estate disputes. Yuichiro Mori is also recommended.

Paul Hastings LLP was hit by the departure of a team of its litigators, including former practice group head Yoshihiro Takatori and Shinsuke Yakura, to Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP. However Matthew Berger, who splits his time between Palo Alto and Tokyo, continues to advise on IP disputes and special counsel Setsuko Ueno assists clients in employment disputes and union matters.