Headquartered in Tokyo with a broad international scope, Mori Hamada & Matsumoto is recognized for its comprehensive IP service and depth of experience with infringement cases involving patents, designs, trade marks, copyrights and invalidation trials. Recent expansion of the practice into China, involving local IP prosecutions and contentious matters, exemplifies the firm’s globalist outlook whilst maintaining its impressive client roster of domestic cross-sector companies. Yutaka Miyoshi, who has broad experience in complex, cross-border IP litigation, co-leads the team with Yoshifumi Onodera, who leverages his academic background in chemistry and biology to take lead on disputes requiring a high level of technical expertise. They are joined by Atsushi Okada, who handles disputes and transactions across a broad range of fields, and Tetsushi Kamimura, a specialist in disputes and copyright infringement cases in entertainment, TV broadcasting and internet-related technologies. Hideaki Kuwahara is notable for his expertise in IT-related disputes and handles IP litigation.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'Profound business approach when it comes to handling of legal matters, which is sometimes difficult to find in Japan.'
  • 'Yoshi Onodera is very proactive, business driven and flexible. Very reliable performance.'
  • 'MHM produces regular newsletters informing its clients on the latest developments in the areas of new technologies such as AI and metaverse, Web3, following activities by the government and summarizing key points.'
  • 'MHM lawyers have provided flexible support service depending on the budget and level of importance, complexity of the matters on case-by-case basis, according to our needs/requests. MHM lawyers have made themselves available despite tight schedule in times of need.'

Key clients

  • Shiseido Company, Limited
  • Pan Pacific International Holdings Corporation
  • Kowa Company, Ltd.

Lawyers

Rising stars: Bengoshi
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Leading individuals: Bengoshi
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Yutaka Miyoshi, Yoshifumi Onodera, Atsushi Okada

Other key lawyers

Tetsushi Kamimura, Hideaki Kuwahara