The Legal 500

‘ Herbert Smith is well known for having an incredible dispute resolution practice - it’s just something it does exceptionally well’, say clients. Moreover, the group has continued to grow, adding three associates to its ranks and winning work for several blue-chip clients including Accenture, IBM, Sojitz and Deloitte. Peter Godwin heads the team and is ‘the person you always want to have working for you on difficult disputes’. He led on two high-stakes ICC arbitrations for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in 2008, relating to the construction of power plants in the UK. Dominic Roughton and the ‘excellent trial lawyer’ David Gilmore are both leading partners in cross-border disputes.

Morrison & Foerster Ito & Mitomi has unmatched depth in its dispute resolution practice because of the cumulative experience of its nine partners and its collection of IP litigation specialists. The team balances a swathe of work for US corporates with a particularly strong showing advising Japanese clients, such as Nikon, Fujitsu, Hitachi and Yamaha, on litigation in the US. The ‘reliable’ and ‘pragmatic’ Mark Danis advised Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment in a trade secret case in California, a matter that stands out from a plethora of work for Asian technology companies facing litigation in the US marketplace. Department chair Max Olson is highly respected for his patent litigation expertise, while Craig Celniker is ‘simply outstanding as a litigator’. Peter Stern excels at IP-related litigation, while the team has also brought over from the San Francisco office partner Jack Londen, who combines patent and commercial litigation expertise.

Co-chaired by Yoshiaki Muto and Haig Oghigian, Baker & McKenzie GJBJ Tokyo Aoyama Aoki Koma Law Office has a 25-strong team comprising a rich mix of bengoshi and foreign-qualified litigation and arbitration-focused lawyers. The team frequently ‘gets the right results in complex arbitrations’ and, in 2009, Oghigian represented PPG Industries on a $90m ICC arbitration. The practice is ‘organised and structured to give the client a very personal service’. It has complemented a flow of outbound litigation cases with an array of mandates sourced from its international network.

White & Case LLP- White & Case Law Offices (Registered Association) has an exceptionally broad spread of litigation and arbitration capabilities, and is able to provide a wealth of local and international law specialists. ‘Pre-eminent attorney’ and practice head Robert Grondine ‘focuses very intently on what’s best for his client and gives total dedication’, while David Case is renowned for his strong IP and product liability expertise. The appointment of Joy Fuyuno from Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker has further boosted the antitrust element of the practice, with the presence of ‘impressive trial lawyer’ Yuji Ogiwara remaining key to a large and wide-reaching bengoshi practice.

Jim Jamison’s relocation in early 2009 to Clifford Chance Law Office’s Tokyo office to head its litigation group has greatly advanced its capabilities. The group’s five partners ‘are completely amazing as lawyers and great individuals to work with’, and provide a full dispute resolution service for an array of international and Japanese clients.

While it lacks the critical mass of some of its peers, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s Tokyo practice excels in its area of focus: employment litigation and antitrust matters. Kazuki Okada is the partner in the team and displays ‘incredible skill and judgement’, and also boasts ‘a really impressive track record that inspires confidence’. In 2008/09, Okada advised Morgan Stanley, Shinsei Bank, Hartford Life and Bloomberg on employment litigation matters.

Well known for IP-related litigation, Lovells Horitsu Jimusho Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo is able to handle a wide range of patent, trade mark and copyright disputes thanks to ‘a commitment to knowing the subject matter inside-out and putting together the right team to get the job done’. Eiichiro Kubota leads a group of bengoshi that had a strong year acting for foreign and Japanese corporates on cross-border IP disputes.

IP is a central pillar of Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker’s ‘very capable’ disputes practice, although the group, particularly key contact Yoshihiro Takatori, has generated an eclectic mix of work in 2008/09. Cross-border disputes are a particular strength of the group and several highlight cases include US Supreme Court roles. For example, it is defending Quanta Computer on its right to use purchased computer chips without paying royalties.

Closely interlinked with its leading insolvency practice, Bingham McCutchen Murase, Sakai Mimura Aizawa - Foreign Law Joint Enterprise is the outfit of choice for Japanese and international companies seeking representation on bankruptcy-related disputes. Mitsue Aizawa is recommended.

Jones Day acts for a host of international companies on the JCAA arbitration cases, as well as frequently handling IP-related disputes, both in Japan and for Japanese companies in the US. Scott Jones has ‘a complete set of knowledge and skills to handle difficult arbitrations’, while Shinya Watanabe has a valuable employment disputes component to his practice.

O’Melveny & Myers Gaikokuho Kyodojigyo Horitsujimusho’s Yoji Maeda has had a strong year advising prominent Japanese and international clients, such as Citibank Japan and GE International, on high-stakes litigation. Clients say the team is ‘brilliant even in the toughest situations’.