Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP > Tokyo, Japan > Firm Profile

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP Offices

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
IZUMI GARDEN TOWER, 28TH FLOOR
1-6-1 ROPPONGI, MINATO-KU
TOKYO 106-6028
Japan
Visit website 81 3 3224 2900 81 3 3224 2901

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:

Haruka Matsumoto; Masao Fujino

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:

Masao Fujino; Anri Nakamoto

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:

Kane Huang

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 Email 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

Staff Figures

Number of lawyers at this office : 20
in this country : 20
worldwide : 1,100

Languages

Chinese
English
Japanese