I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all the very best for the year.

With the aim of becoming a “Top Global Firm from Japan,” we have built a team of lawyers with diverse backgrounds at our Tokyo office and are further developing a worldwide network of affiliated law firms to provide legal services to our clients wherever they conduct business.

The Firm continued to invest aggressively in human resources last year with the hiring of three laterals and three recently qualified attorneys who completed their legal training in April/December 2022. As of January 2023, we have a total of 23 attorneys, including both Japanese and non-Japanese attorneys.

We would like to introduce the six new team members.

Members (Practice areas)

・Naoko Ishihara　Attorney at Law admitted in Japan and California (Intellectual Property Law, Litigation and Arbitration (Domestic and International), Corporate, Antitrust, Compliance and Internal Fraud Investigations, Startup and Venture Law) 　For more than a decade at a major U.S. law firm, Naoko represented domestic and foreign companies in a range of general corporate and cross-border transactions, including intellectual property (IP) transactions, IP strategies and strategic business alliances, M&A, start-up transactions, and venture capital investments. She also advised and represented companies in commercial disputes (including IP disputes) before domestic and foreign tribunals. 　Her current practices include counseling clients on licensing, commercial transactions, and regulatory matters before government agencies, and handling international and civil litigation involving IP rights, antitrust law, unfair competition, computer-related transactions, E-commerce, and entertainment. In recent years, she has also advised clients on disputes in the areas of online commerce and consumer protection legislation in Japan. 　With the addition of Naoko, we have further diversified our practices in the areas of IP-related disputes and in-house support, including for start-ups and E-commerce companies. We are excited to have Naoko onboard. ・Yoshitomo Matsuura　Attorney at Law admitted in Japan (Corporate and M&A (Overseas and Domestic), Antitrust and Competition Law) 　Yoshitomo joined the Firm in January 2023. Prior to joining the Firm, Yoshitomo worked at a major international law firm, where he represented domestic and foreign companies in various corporate legal matters, including domestic and global M&A, organizational restructuring, and competition law-related matters. He also worked in the legal department of one of the largest worldwide general trading companies, where he was involved in various matters, including domestic and international commercial transactions, M&A, joint ventures, and organizational restructuring. Yoshitomo hopes to utilize his experience as both outside and in-hours counsel to provide advice that truly serves the interests of the Firm’s clients. 　Given Yoshitomo’s unique experience with a law firm and major global corporation, we have bolstered our practices in domestic and international commercial transactions, M&A, dispute resolution, and competition law. ・Satoshi Fukuhara　Attorney at Law admitted in Japan (Corporate and M&A (Overseas), Litigation, Compliance, Startup and Venture Law, Bankruptcy and Civil Rehabilitation) 　Before joining the Firm, Satoshi gained extensive experience in a range of practices while at a Japanese full-service firm, including M&A, acquisition finance, general corporate, data privacy (e.g., Personal Information Protection Law, GDPR), domestic and international litigation, regulatory compliance, bankruptcy and civil rehabilitation. 　Satoshi strengthens our capabilities in M&A, corporate matters, and disputes. ・Yuki Kimura　Attorney at Law admitted in Japan 　Yuki was admitted to the bar in April 2022, and her practice focuses on M&A, as well as corporate and regulatory law and disputes both domestically and internationally. Yuki spent approximately nine years at an immersive English cram school (All English Method), and with her experience working with others to overcome differences in language and backgrounds, looks forward to supporting clients both in Japan and abroad. 　We are excited to have Yuki join our team. ・Ryo Unosawa　Attorney at Law admitted in Japan 　Ryo U. was admitted to the bar in December 2022. He hopes to become an innovative lawyer who can provide high value and original solutions for the Firm’s clients so that they can maximize their full potential in creating a better society. 　We look forward to Ryo U’s future contributions as an up-and-coming lawyer. ・Ryo Yamada　Attorney at Law admitted in Japan 　Ryo Y. was admitted to the bar in December 2022. Through his experiences as an exchange student at the University of Ottawa, internships at law firms and NPOs, and legal training (including in-house legal training), he felt that corporations have the power to enrich society through realizing their corporate philosophy. As an attorney, he hopes to do his best to contribute to client successes and the realization of their ideals. 　We are excited to have Ryo Y. join us as a newly minted attorney.

We are committed to further strengthening our team to provide clients with even better legal services in the coming year.