Japan Practice
Overview
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Japan Practice
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Overview
The Pillsbury Difference
Pillsbury has built a preeminent Japan practice by nurturing relationships of mutual trust
with the Japanese business people we represent. Based in firm offices in Tokyo, London,
Abu Dhabi, San Francisco, New York, Houston, Los Angeles and Washington, DC, the
Japan practice is largely dedicated to assisting Japanese companies and their affiliates
outside of Japan. Our understanding of Japanese business philosophy, culture and
decision-making systems allow us to provide focused and effective legal services to major
Japanese banks, trading firms and manufacturers in industries as diverse as consumer
products, industrial machinery, energy and project finance, pharmaceuticals and
technology.
Pillsbury helps clients establish their businesses in the U.S.
and around the world, including acquisition and sale of assets,
joint ventures, strategic alliances and licensing. Also, Pillsbury
assists Japanese companies from the earliest stages in
expanding their business and operating abroad, and the firm is
involved in building distribution networks in markets around
the world. In litigation, taking into consideration that legal
procedure in the U.S. is unfamiliar to many of our Japanese
clients, we make it possible to conduct necessary risk
management and reach cost-effective and advantageous
results by providing clients with appropriate briefings and
discussing strategies at each stage. Pillsbury has capabilities
for efficiently and effectively handling any discovery process
involving Japanese documents and Japanese witnesses.
International Capabilities. Pillsbury’s Tokyo, Abu Dhabi, London, Shanghai, Beijing and
U.S. offices comprise a fully integrated network that advises clients doing business around
the globe. Our recent international recognition includes:
• 2014 Chambers Global Guide ranked 10 practices and 24 Pillsbury
attorneys as among the world’s top lawyers.
• 2014 Chambers UK ranks Pillsbury’s Outsourcing and Information
Technology practices among the UK’s finest.
• According to an in-house counsel survey of Fortune 500 companies
by Corporate Counsel, Pillsbury was named a “go-to firm” in four
areas: Corporate, Intellectual Property, Litigation
and Securities.
• In 2014, the International Financial Law Review (IFLR) named
Pillsbury’s Insolvency & Restructuring practice to the IFLR 1000.
• The 2014 International M&A Advisor Awards named Pillsbury as a
winner for “Corporate/Strategic Acquisition of the Year” in the Over
$100mm to $1 Billion category.
• In 2013, Pillsbury’s integrated Energy team was named a Silver
Award winner for Project Finance, Infrastructure & Energy by the
International Legal Alliance at their annual summit in Paris.
• The International Association of Outsourcing Professionals (IAOP)
named Pillsbury to the 2014 list of “World’s Best Outsourcing
Advisors.”
• A survey by Interactive Age ranked Pillsbury among the top three
law firms in the U.S. advising on video game law and other interactive entertainment.
• 2012 Trade Finance Journal Awards for Excellence voted Pillsbury
as “Best Global Export Credit Agency/Development Finance
Law Firm.”
• 2011 Chambers Asia Pacific recognized Pillsbury as one of the lead-
ing international Venture Capital Practices.
• In 2010, Trade Finance named Pillsbury’s International Trade law
practice as one of the top two in the “Best Trade Firm in North
America” category.
• China Business Law Journal ranked our China team’s work among
the “Top 10 China Private Equity Exit Deals” in 2012.
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Japan Practice
Our Japan Practice Capabilities
Corporate & Securities
Pillsbury represents international corporations, including
Japanese companies, in connection with incorporation of
subsidiaries, M&A, venture capital, strategic alliances and
securities trading. Pillsbury has approximately 220 corporatefocused attorneys handling matters in various legal areas
such as financing, stock investment, corporate governance
and compliance.
The firm provides comprehensive legal services including antitrust, employment, employee benefits, environment, government contracts, intellectual property, real estate, regulation
and tax. Pillsbury attorneys handle matters through a full
understanding of our clients’ strategic goals and a flexible
and far-sighted approach, which is made possible by close
communication with clients.
Litigation
Pillsbury represents Japanese clients in business litigation in
the U.S. and other regions. A number of our attorneys are
fluent in Japanese. Our Japanese clients include major banks,
trading firms and manufacturers in various industries such as
electronics, heavy industry, sports equipment, chemicals,
food, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, semiconductors and
office tools. Pillsbury understands corporate culture in Japan,
values the trust relationships we have with our clients, and
always seeks the best results in representing Japanese
companies.
Energy & Infrastructure Projects
Pillsbury’s Energy & Infrastructure Projects lawyers have deep
experience advising international and Japanese companies on
complex, cross-border matters through a pragmatic,
commercial approach. Our lawyers advise on energy and
infrastructure projects across a range of sectors including
transport, power, water, LNG, chemical and petrochemicals,
and in a range of upstream and downstream energy work,
including acquisitions and disposals, Joint Operating
Agreements, EPC/construction, farmout agreements, PSCs
and concession agreements, and gas and LNG sale and
purchase agreements.
Overview
Intellectual Property
Our Intellectual Property group offers extensive services,
including intellectual property litigation; application for patents,
trademarks and copyrights; licensing and technology transfer;
protection of trade secrets; appraisal of intellectual property
and competitiveness reviews; and matters at the U.S. Patent
and Trademark Office and the U.S. Customs Service. In the
Tokyo office, a Pillsbury partner who works primarily on
intellectual property issues and a Japanese patent attorney
offer prompt and detailed legal services in connection with
procedures at the Japan Patent Office and intellectual property
litigation matters.
Intellectual Property Litigation
Pillsbury’s Intellectual Property Litigation practice is ranked in
the top 10 in the United States, and we have won historic IP
decisions thanks to creative strategies. Pillsbury has handled
intellectual property litigation before the U.S. Supreme Court
and federal courts in all jurisdictions, including the regional
federal appellate courts and the Court of Appeals for the Federal
Circuit. Pillsbury also has extensive experience in procedures at
the International Trade Commission, U.S. Customs Service,
alternative dispute resolution tribunals and ICAAN.
Intellectual Property Audits and Strategic Planning
Even a company with extensive experience in intellectual
property needs to conduct an independent audit regarding its
own intellectual property. The purpose is to establish strategies
to maximize income from the intellectual property and minimize
unproductive disputes through preventive legal strategies.
Patent Prosecution
The firm has earned its spot as a leader for legal services
related to patent applications. We handle, on average, more
than 2,500 applications every year and obtain more than 1,200
patents for clients.
Our Japan Practice and Tokyo office have strong relations with
top Japanese patent firms and, for decades, have managed
Japan patent prosecutions and handled numerous U.S. and
worldwide patenting for Japanese and U.S. companies in the
electronics, chemicals and other industries.
Trademarks
Pillsbury’s International Trademarks team handles marks for
companies large and small, emerging and established, around
the world, in every industry. Our attorneys know how to apply
trademark law to meet clients’ needs and solve problems in
practical and commercially realistic ways. We manage our
team to give clients the best, quickest and most economical
service while providing customized service with experienced
trademark lawyers and legal assistants dedicated to each
client. Pillsbury has handled more than 14,000 trademark
registrations and offers on-target advice regarding laws in this
complex area.
Copyrights
New technologies continue to dramatically redefine the
traditional boundaries of copyright law. Pillsbury’s copyright
law team works with clients to protect marks and creative
materials and leverage them to the fullest advantage. We
advise the preparers, authors, prospective acquirers and
owners of copyright rights on preparing and publishing original
and derivative works, particularly regarding literary works,
ornamental, industrial and graphic designs, and
computer software.
Licensing and Technology Transfer
Pillsbury structures systematic licensing programs to
maximize revenues from intellectual property and minimize
risks from investment in capital-intensive activities. To do so,
we use the negotiating skills gained through our experience
with licensing services.
Biotechnology
We are an established leader in providing comprehensive legal
services to protect biotechnology and new products based on
biotechnology. Pillsbury represents government research
institutes, emerging biotechnology companies, existing major
companies (including their biotechnology divisions and
subsidiaries specializing in biotechnology), universities and
private research institutes.
Digital Devices and Media
Pillsbury lawyers have knowledge of both legal and digital
technology areas, which makes it possible to avoid failures
that happen when attorneys understand only the law and
engineers and programmers understand only technology. Our
attorneys hold degrees in electric engineering and computer
science. They understand not only hardware and software
technologies, but also the business practices unique to the
industry. Through synergy of this knowledge and experience,
Pillsbury provides practical service in all aspects of applicable
law, technology and business.
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Japan Practice
Representative Matters
for Our Japan Practice
Intellectual Property
• Represented a Japanese consumer
electronics company in a patent
infringement case. Secured a
favorable settlement for our client.
Corporate & Securities
• Represented a Japanese trading
company in an Indonesian liquefied
natural gas project.
• Represented a Japanese materials
• Directed multi-year efforts by an
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company in connection with its
international supplier of fax film
acquisition of a majority interest in
rolls in trademark infringement
a concrete ready-mix business in
disputes by filing four U.S. litigations,
Southern California
involving the execution of ex
• Working with Japanese client on
parte seizure orders and extensive
establishment of a nuclear fuel supply
discovery leading to an action
joint venture and in connection with a
against the infringing manufacturer
Swiss arbitration action.
in Singapore.
• Represented a Japanese health care
Represented a Japanese chemical
company in the acquisition of the
manufacturer in connection with
seventh largest U.S. home health care
a claim for theft of trade secrets.
service provider based in California
Successfully settled the case before
using a reverse triangular merger in
the presiding judge.
acquiring all ownership interest in the
Overseeing patent litigation matters
limited partnership.
being directly handled in the U.S.
• Assisting major U.S. pharmaceutical
federal courts.
client on the sale of a Japanese
Represented a U.S. subsidiary
business unit as part of a multibillion
of a Japanese consumer product
dollar sale of a worldwide division.
company in a lawsuit involving key
• Representing client in connection with
trademarks owned by our client
the sale of a pharmaceutical product
throughout the world.
to a Japanese company.
Represented a Japanese company
• Represented Japanese petrochemical
and other defendants in a patent
manufacturers in the formation of a
and trade secret litigation relating
three-party joint venture company in
to semiconductor manufacturing
Texas with a U.S. competitor for the
equipment components.
manufacture and marketing of rubber
Represented an industrial light
additive products.
fixture company in non-infringement
• Advised a U.S. subsidiary of a
and related claim construction in
Japanese tire manufacturer in
a patent case. Obtained summary
establishing a multi-billion-dollar
judgment for our client.
credit line from a Japanese bank.
• Represented a large Japanese nuclear
energy company in connection with its
worldwide joint venture alliance with
a prominent French nuclear company.
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Litigation
• Represented a Japanese industrial
company in lawsuits and insurance
issues arising from the 2010 Gulf
oil spill.
• Represented a Japanese electronics
company in an antitrust lawsuit
involving liquid crystal display
panels.
• Resolved a dispute between a
Japanese technology company
against a major Internet search
provider by obtaining a temporary
restraining order and a preliminary
injunction.
• Represented a major Japanese
electronics manufacturer in twin
nationwide class actions claiming
more than $200 million in damages
for allegedly false representation
of the battery life of notebook
computers.
• Represented a client in a lawsuit in
Japan against former employees for
breach of fiduciary duty.
• Represented a Japanese automotive
parts manufacturer in connection
with a claim for reimbursement of
recall-related costs. Successfully
settled the matter through mediation.
Energy & Infrastructure
Projects
• Representing a Japanese
petrochemicals company in
connection with the establishment
and operation of a multibillion dollar
refining and petrochemicals plant in
Rabigh,
Saudi Arabia.
• Representing a Japanese trading
house on the development of an
LNG project in the U.S.
• Representing a Japanese oil &
gas company on an enhanced oil
recovery project in the Middle East.
• Representing a Japanese trading
house on its investment in the
chemicals sector in India.
• Representing a Japanese oil & gas
company in relation to the Macondo
Gulf of Mexico oil spill incident,
limiting its exposure in one of the
largest multi-district litigation
proceedings in history.
Overview
About Our Firm
Pillsbury is a full-service law firm with an industry focus on
energy & natural resources, financial services including
financial institutions, real estate & construction, and
technology. Based in the world’s major financial, technology
and energy centers, Pillsbury counsels clients on global
business, regulatory and litigation matters. We work in
multidisciplinary teams that allow us to understand our clients’
objectives, anticipate trends and bring a 360-degree
perspective to complex business and legal issues—helping
clients to take greater advantage of new opportunities, meet
and exceed their objectives, and better mitigate risk. This
collaborative work style helps produce the results our
clients seek.
Learn More
For more information about our Japan practice, please visit us
at www.pillsburylaw.com/japan.
Takeo Akiyama, Co-Leader
+1.212.858.1248
[email protected]
Edward A. Perron, Co-Leader
+1.213.488.7352
[email protected]
Offices
Abu Dhabi
Austin
Beijing
Houston
London
Los Angeles
Nashville
New York
Northern Virginia
Palm Beach
Sacramento
San Diego
San Diego North County
San Francisco
Shanghai
Silicon Valley
Tokyo
Washington, DC
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ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. Results depend on a number of factors unique to each matter. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
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