Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP > Tokyo, Japan > Firm Profile
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP Offices
IZUMI GARDEN TOWER, 28TH FLOOR
1-6-1 ROPPONGI, MINATO-KU
TOKYO 106-6028
Japan
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings
Japan > Dispute resolution: International firms and joint ventures Tier 2
Led by Shinsuke Yakura who has notable strength in data protection and cybersecurity disputes, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP is well-versed in international arbitration, cross-border litigation, copyright infringement, and white-collar crime. The team’s broad expertise also encompasses global compliance issues, whistleblowing cases, and cross-border cartel investigations. Senior associate Haruka Matsumoto is a key contact for fraud investigations, while Masao Fujino is recommended for IP disputes.Practice head(s):
Shinsuke Yakura
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘They understand the client’s situation very well, and this leads to a well-balanced conclusion.’
Key clients
Canon Medical System Corporation
Morinaga Milk Industry
NEC Corporation
NEGRATIN JAPAN
Sanei International
Shibaura Machine Co.
Specialized Bicycle Components Inc.
Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation
Toyota Motor Corporation
WeWork Japan GK
Japan > Intellectual property: International firms and joint ventures Tier 2
Well versed in representing domestic and international clients before Japan’s IP High Court, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP specialises in patent disputes, copyright, trade mark actions and trade secret actions. The practice is led by Shinsuke Yakura, a dual-qualified (US and Japan) IP practitioner, who is highly regarded for his cross-border experience. He is supported by senior associates Masao Fujino, who specializes in patent infringement disputes and trade secrets, and Anri Nakamoto, who is highly regarded for contentious and non-contentious IP matters.Practice head(s):
Shinsuke Yakura
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
FUJIFILM Business Innovation (formerly Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.)
Morinaga Milk Industries Co., Ltd
JVC Kenwood Corporation
NEC Corporation
Toshiba Corporation
Sharp NEC Display Solutions of America, Inc.
Toyota Motor Corporation
Tractable Inc
Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting
Work highlights
Japan > Labour and employment: International firms and joint ventures Tier 2
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP is able to provide Japanese law advice to international clients, and is highlighted for its knowledge of the technology industry while handling work across a variety of sectors. Practice head Yumiko Ohta is ‘excellent at both non-contentious and contentious matters’ and ‘has strong labour and employment expertise both in Japan and the US’. Senior associate Kane Huang is also able to advise on a range of employment matters domestically and internationally.Practice head(s):
Yumiko Ohta
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Yumiko Ohta understands our business and our company culture and has leveraged such understanding when giving us advice. She is very responsive and approachable. She is excellent at both non-contentious and contentious matters.’
‘Orrick Japan is a group of global legal professionals and they can cover a wide variety of topics. Their expertise in the technology industry is a plus.’
‘Yumiko Ohta has very unique skills and experience. She has strong labour and employment expertise both in Japan and the US. Japan has a very unique labour law compared to other countries. Therefore, strong expertise and experience both in Japan and the US is unique.’
Japan > Projects and energy: International firms and joint ventures Tier 2
Its focus on renewable energy makes the team at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP a one-stop-shop for clients looking to enter the renewables sector. The firm advises on the full life cycle of various renewable energy projects, from wind farms and solar power plants to biomass projects. With over 18 years’ experience in the renewables field, Minako Wakabayashi took over as practice head after Yoichi Katayama retired from the firm in March 2023. Wakabayashi leads the energy team in its work in corporate PPAs and M&A transactions, which are recent growth areas within the sector. While Yuko Inui brings expertise in inbound renewable energy projects, the group has also seen an increasing number of outbound deals, advising Japanese clients on renewables projects and related transactions outside of Japan. Southeast Asia has been a particular new focus area for the practice that has seen it collaborating with the team in Singapore on various energy transactions, including corporate PPA deals.Practice head(s):
Minako Wakabayashi
Other key lawyers:
Yuko Inui; Andrew Hughes; Kentaro Shoji
Key clients
Amp Energy
Pattern Energy Group LP
Daiwa Energy & Infrastructure Co. Ltd.
Infrastrutture SpA and Hergo Japan Energy
iAccess Energy GmbH
Invenergy Japan
Shizen Energy Inc.
Osaka Gas
Pacifico Energy
Green Power Investment Corporation
Work highlights
- Advised Daiwa Energy & Infrastructure Co. Ltd. on its entry into the US renewables market with more than 1.0 GWac of solar and 2.5 GWh of BESS projects.
- Advised Infrastrutture SpA on the sale of 100% share of Hergo Japan Energy Corporation to AEJ Hayama Wind GK.
- Advised Pattern Energy and Green Power Investment Corporation in connection with the development of a 79.8 MW onshore wind project called “Fukaura,” being developed in Aomori Prefecture, Japan.
Japan > Real estate and construction: International firms and joint ventures Tier 2
Japan > Corporate and M&A: International firms and joint ventures Tier 3
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP’s M&A and private equity team specialises in cross-border venture financing transactions, with many start-ups within its client base and a particular focus on the life sciences sector. Hiroki Sugita leads the practice and is commended by clients for his ‘very practical and business-oriented approach‘, and brings expertise in venture capital investments and joint ventures. Other areas the practice assists clients with includes domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, corporate litigation, and asset transfers.Practice head(s):
Hiroki Sugita
Testimonials
‘Strong ability to bridge Japanese legal issues with international business expectations.’
‘Hiroki Sugita has a very practical and business-oriented approach.’
Key clients
Anique
Baidu
Celesta Capital
LUCA Science Inc.
Kyash Inc.
Liquid, Inc.
Toyota Motor Corporation
Tokyo Boeki Holdings Corporation
UTokyo Innovation Platform
WeWork Japan GK
Zeon Corporation
Happiness Capital
Work highlights
- Advised Baidu on its sale of ceiling light projector business held by its Japanese wholly-owned subsidiary popln, Inc. to XGIMI Technology.
- Advised Zeon Corporation on the acquisition by its US subsidiary Zeon Specialty Materials Inc. of Edge Embossing, Inc.
- Assisted LUCA Science Inc. in the development of a novel class of mitochondria biopharmaceutical agents, in its $30.3m Series B financing.
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP > Firm Profile
The firm: Orrick is focused on serving clients in the technology and innovation, energy and infrastructure, and finance sectors globally. Founded more than 150 years ago, today the firm has 1,400+ lawyers focusing on key markets across the United States, Europe, and Asia. Its team of lawyers in Asia work seamlessly with its global team to provide the best and most responsive legal solutions for clients.
For over two decades, the firm’s lawyers in Tokyo have handled many of Japan’s cutting-edge domestic and cross-border transactions. With U.S. and Japanese law capabilities, the Tokyo team provide clients with comprehensive support in both languages and jurisdictions. As a result, Orrick is a preferred advisor to local and international companies with inbound and outbound business activities that require sophisticated cross-border legal solutions.
Areas of practice
Technology and innovation:Leading Japan-based and multinational tech companies, private equity and venture capital firms turn to us for growth and investment strategies. We represent major Japanese and multinational companies, on inbound and outbound M&A, sales of closely held companies, corporate venture investments, IP and data strategies, and other strategic alliances. Our tech sector experience – automotive technology and mobility, e-commerce, life sciences, and fintech – helps support the fast-growing and disruptive tech market, with our client base including some of the biggest Japanese tech companies.
Corporate: Our lawyers in Japan provide clients with a unique combination of practical business experience and well-proven legal knowledge in key client industries. Our approach gives us a better understanding of our clients’ needs and their business goals, enabling us to provide them with superior legal services on transactional matters and valuable input with respect to strategic planning. This often includes identifying potential sources of financing and partners for strategic alliances and joint ventures. We advise clients in the areas of mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic alliances, emerging companies and venture capital, technology transactions and general corporate representation.
Energy and infrastructure: The Orrick Japan team has long been at the forefront of the Asia renewable energy market with close ties to energy regulatory bodies and specialist renewable energy experience in solar, wind and biomass matters. Orrick has one of the leading global offshore wind platforms and teams in Asia working closely with our US and European teams on cross-border projects. We are a preferred advisor to local and international companies with inbound and outbound business activities that require sophisticated cross-border legal solutions.
Intellectual property: We assist multinationals in all aspects of IP in Japan, the US and beyond. Tokyo-based IP lawyers are known for handling complex disputes in Japanese courts with experience handling disputes involving the representation of plaintiffs and defendants in patent, copyright and trademark actions, as well as unfair competition and trade secret actions.
Litigation and dispute resolution: We offer companies one of the leading litigation platforms – including litigators who have experience understanding the unique risks and considerations Japan-based clients facing disputes around the world. We represent clients in commercial litigation, product liability, trade secrets misappropriation, intellectual property and regulatory investigations. We have a renowned international arbitration practice that represents clients and sovereign states before all major arbitral institutions.
Cyber, privacy and data protection: Our cyber, privacy and data protection practice assist Japan-based and multinational corporations in their most critical privacy and cybersecurity projects at global and regional level. Our global reach and experience allow us to advise clients from a global regulatory perspective, adhere to differing compliance requirements, helping reconcile the varying legal requirements in multiple jurisdictions. We also work on the most demanding and urgent cybersecurity matters specific to each country and help multinational clients handle high-stakes cross-border investigations, litigation, and compliance matters.
Employment: Orrick’s employment team has a wide range of experience related to complex issues encountered by employers in Japan, particularly in the context of the interconnected global economy. We go beyond the legal requirements and resolve problems in the most commercially acceptable way, taking into account the particular needs of each client’s business. We act as global employment counsel, providing a single point of contact solution for all of the client’s employment and employee-benefits needs in all countries of operation. Clients benefit from consistent and high-quality advice delivered efficiently and economically.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Antitrust and competition | Shinsuke Yakura | syakura@orrick.com | +81 3 3224 2922 |
Corporate M&A | Hiroki Sugita | hsugita@orrick.com | +81 3 3224 2953 |
Cybersecurity and data privacy | Shinsuke Yakura | syakura@orrick.com | +81 3 3224 2922 |
Employment | Yumiko Ohta | yohta@orrick.com | +81 3 3224 2829 |
Energy and Infrastructure | Minako Wakabayashi | mwakabayashi@orrick.com | +81 3 3224 2926 |
Intellectual property | Shinsuke Yakura | syakura@orrick.com | +81 3 3224 2922 |
International arbitration | Shinsuke Yakura | syakura@orrick.com | +81 3 3224 2922 |
Dispute Resolution and International Arbitration | Shinsuke Yakura | syakura@orrick.com | +81 3 3224 2922 |
Mass torts and product liability | Shinsuke Yakura | syakura@orrick.com | +81 3 3224 2922 |
Technology start-up and venture capital representation | Hiroki Sugita | hsugita@orrick.com | +81 3 3224 2953 |
White-collar and corporate investigations | Shinsuke Yakura | syakura@orrick.com | +81 3 3224 2922 |
White-collar and Corporate Investigation | Shinsuke Yakura | syakura@orrick.com | +81 3 3224 2922 |
Lawyer Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
Masao Fujino | View Profile | ||
Kane Huang | Senior Associate | View Profile | |
John Inge | Counsel | View Profile | |
Ms Yuko Inui | Partner | View Profile | |
Anri Nakamoto | Senior Associate | View Profile | |
Yumiko Ohta | Partner | View Profile | |
Hiroki Sugita | Partner | View Profile | |
Minako Wakabayashi | Partner | View Profile | |
Mark Weeks | Senior Counsel | View Profile | |
Shinsuke Yakura | Partner | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Number of lawyers at this office : 20 in this country : 20 worldwide : 1,100Languages
Chinese English JapaneseComparative Guides
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Italy: Bribery & Corruption
Published: June 2023
Authors: Alessandro De NicolaMarco Dell’AntoniaRiccardo Caselle
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview of Bribery & Corruption laws and regulations applicable in Italy.
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Germany: TMT
Published: July 2023
Authors: Dr Christian SchröderTobias Lantwin
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview of TMT laws and regulations applicable in Germany.
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Italy: Corporate Governance
Published: March 2024
Authors: Alessandro De NicolaMarco Dell’AntoniaFederico Urbani
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview of Corporate Governance laws and regulations applicable in Italy.
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United States: Data Protection & Cybersecurity
Published: April 2024
Authors: Heather EganSulina GabaleThora JohnsonEmily S. TabatabaiShannon YavorskyBianca Giulia Ponziani
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview of Data Protection & Cybersecurity laws and regulations applicable in United States.
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United Kingdom: Data Protection & Cybersecurity
Published: April 2024
Authors: Kelly HagedornAnna O'Kelly
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview of Data Protection & Cybersecurity laws and regulations applicable in United Kingdom.
- Dispute resolution: International firms and joint ventures
- Intellectual property: International firms and joint ventures
- Labour and employment: International firms and joint ventures
- Projects and energy: International firms and joint ventures
- Real estate and construction: International firms and joint ventures