Nishimura & Asahi takes an interdisciplinary approach to provide insight and strategic advice on a range of IP matters from new forms of financial transactions to disputes involving multiple territories. Besides its extensive experience in the entertainment industry, the firm is developing a growing body of expertise in cutting edge technologies such as driverless cars and artificial intelligence. The team is co-led by Yoshiyuki Miyashita, a noted expert in IP transactions and dispute resolutions and Hitomi Iwase, who heads the trade mark division and advises across a wide range of sectors. Satoshi Niki leads on business transactions arising from the acquisition of technology and intellectual property rights, and Makiko Takabe bolsters the practice with her esteemed record of litigation and judicial experience. Also of note is Makoto Shiotani, who acts on behalf of national and multinational companies on IP portfolios and strategies. Finally, Gai Matsushita covers a wide range of IP infringement litigation and non-contentious matters, whilst Yoko Kasai specialises in licensing and patent litigation.

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Key clients

Dentsu Inc.
The Asahi Shimbun Company
Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation
Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
Maruni Wood Industry Inc.

Work highlights

Represented Nobel Prize-winning Dr. Tasuku Honjo in Japanese patent litigation involving inventorship of patented inventions.
Acted as global lead deal counsel to Honda and advised on all aspects of our client’s establishment of a joint venture company with a US company, LG Energy Solutions.
Advised Honda on legal risks relating to its in-vehicle connected services collaboration with Google LLC.