柳田国際法律事務所

TOPICS

Mar. 04, 2024

News : Yohei Okuda was interviewed for an article entitled ““Sexy Tanaka-san” ripples” which was published in the paper and online versions of the Nihon Keizai Shimbun on March 2, 2024.

Feb. 15, 2024

Seminar : Expert Adviser Takashi Yamamoto gave a lecture on “Reflections on my 45 Years of Practice at the Japan Fair Trade Commission” at the monthly meeting hosted by the Competition Law Forum.

Jan. 05, 2024

Publication : Misao Shimizu’s article (The Court's Decisions in Copyright Infringement Cases) was published in COPYRIGHT No. 753 (January 2024).

Jan. 05, 2024

News : Yuhei Ueno and Shu Kuroki joined Yanagida & Partners.

Dec. 06, 2023

Honors : Kazuhiro Yanagida was ranked in the 2023 Annual Survey of Leading Lawyers by Nikkei (2nd in M&A, 4th in Corporate Legal Affairs, 7th in Crisis Management and 10th in Business and Human Rights).

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Our Philosophy

Since our foundation in 1963, our firm has developed to this date while gaining recognition over the decades from a wide range of clients, including leading Japanese companies. Behind this developmental history is our philosophy, which remains unchanged since our firm’s foundation.

Our Philosophy

We will provide the highest quality legal services and will obtain a result which meets and exceeds the expectation of our clients.

We follow the fundamental principle of providing the highest quality legal services, as a result of which we meet and exceed  the expectation of our clients. In order to accomplish our  fundamental principle, we believe that it is necessary to use our insights to see through the fundamental nature of matters, take into account every relevant element in the case, and generate the best solution on a timely basis. As lawyers, we are never satisfied until our clients are satisfied, and we feel a sense of accomplishment when we see our clients’ worry-free expressions after their problems are resolved.

We strive to see through and focus on the fundamental nature of matters, and we adapt continuously for maintaining and increasing the quality of our service. We do not unnecessarily increase the size of our firm, so that we could continue to provide meticulous legal services.

In our firm, every lawyer continues to educate oneself in order to enhance the insights to see through
the fundamental nature of matters and we continue to adapt ourselves in order to maintain and improve
the quality of our service.
Additionally, we do not pursue the expansion of the firm for its sake, but rather operate our firm at an
optimal scale, so that we could continue to provide meticulous legal services.

In today’s globalized business world, companies are faced with increasingly complicated and
internationally-oriented issues and require high quality legal services to meet those challenges. We take
pride in meeting client demands with the highest quality service at reasonable costs, based on
cutting-edge expertise accumulated through handling diverse cases and by utilizing a global network of
top-class experts worldwide.

We will continue to pursue our philosophy diligently in the future, and our whole staff will work
together to meet the expectations of our clients.

Founder
Yukio Yanagida

Honors

We have listed some of the recognitions received by our firm or lawyers of our firm.

Our Firm’s Honors and Achievements

Our Firm’s Honors and Achievements

2023 Kazuhiro Yanagida 2nd in M&A
4th in Corporate Legal Affairs
7th in Crisis Management
10th in Business and Human Rights
(2023 Annual Survey of Leading Lawyers by Nikkei)
2023 Yusuke Kawashima 7th in Crisis Management
(2023 Annual Survey of Leading Lawyers by Nikkei)
2023 Yanagida & Partners 7th
(Rankings of reliable law firms by Nikkei)
2023 Takashi Yamamoto 2023 Autumn Conferment of Decorations(Cabinet Office)
Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Star
2022 Kazuhiro Yanagida 2nd in International Commerce and Economic Security
4th in Corporate Legal Affairs
(2022 Annual Survey of Leading Lawyers by Nikkei)
2022 Misao Shimizu 5th in Intellectual Property category
(2022 Annual Survey of Leading Lawyers by Nikkei)
2022 Yusuke Kawashima 5th in Antitrust and Competition Law category
(2022 Annual Survey of Leading Lawyers by Nikkei)
2022 Yanagida & Partners 7th
(Rankings of reliable law firms by Nikkei)
2021 Yanagida & Partners 7th
(Rankings of reliable law firms by Nikkei)
2021 Kazuhiro Yanagida 3rd in Corporate Legal Affairs
(2021 Annual Survey of Leading Lawyers by Nikkei)
2020 Kazuhiro Yanagida 2nd in M&A
3rd in Corporate Legal Affairs
7th in Crisis Management
(2020 Annual Survey of Leading Lawyers by Nikkei)
2020 Yusuke Kawashima 6th in M&A
(2020 Annual Survey of Leading Lawyers by Nikkei)
2020 Yanagida & Partners Equity Market Deal of the Year: Recruit Holdings’ Global Offering
(“ALB Japan Law Awards 2020” by Asian Legal Business (ALB))
2019 Kazuhiro Yanagida 5th in Corporate Legal Affairs
7th in Privacy Protection
(2019 Annual Survey of Leading Lawyers by Nikkei)
2018 Kazuhiro Yanagida 3rd in International Economic Law and Trade
5th in Corporate Legal Affairs
8th in Risk Management
(2018 Annual Survey of Leading Lawyers by Nikkei)
2018 Yusuke Kawashima 8th in Risk Management
9th in International Economic Law and Trade
(2018 Annual Survey of Leading Lawyers by Nikkei)
2017 Kazuhiro Yanagida 3rd in International Dispute and Litigation
4th in Corporate Legal Affairs
5th in Finance
(2017 Annual Survey of Leading Lawyers by Nikkei)
2016 Kazuhiro Yanagida 5th in Corporate Law
(2016 Annual Survey of Leading Lawyers by Nikkei)
2015 Kazuhiro Yanagida 4th in Corporate Law
(2015 Annual Survey of Leading Lawyers by Nikkei)
2014 Kazuhiro Yanagida 10th in Corporate Law
(2014 Annual Survey of Leading Lawyers by Nikkei)
2013 Yukio Yanagida 9th in Corporate Law
(2013 Annual Survey of Leading Lawyers by Nikkei)
2013 Kazuhiro Yanagida 9th in Corporate Law
7th in Foreign Law
(2013 Annual Survey of Leading Lawyers by Nikkei)
2012 Yukio Yanagida 8th in Foreign Law
10th in Corporate Law
(2012 Annual Survey of Leading Lawyers by Nikkei)
2012 Kazuhiro Yanagida 8th in Foreign Law
13th in Corporate Law
(2012 Annual Survey of Leading Lawyers by Nikkei)
2011 Yukio Yanagida 21st in Corporate Law
(2011 Annual Survey of Leading Lawyers by Nikkei)
2011 Naoki Yanagida 31st in Corporate Law
(2011 Annual Survey of Leading Lawyers by Nikkei)
2010 Yukio Yanagida 4th overall
(2010 Annual Survey of Leading lawyers by Nikkei)
2010 Naoki Yanagida 5th overall
(2010 Annual Survey of Leading lawyers by Nikkei)
2010 Yukio Yanagida One of the Excellent Fourteen Lawyers
(the Survey Conducted by Toyo Keizai for Major Banks and Securities Corporations)

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Practice Areas

Our firm’s strength is our “strategic legal service.” By “strategic legal service” we mean accurately capturing the essential nature of the matter with an open perspective, thoroughly analyzing the legal issues, and formulating and executing a strategy to solve the problem. We believe that this is the way to approach and solve all problems, regardless of the area of the law involved.

With this fundamental in mind, our firm has worked on numerous cases in diverse areas of law, including major cases that decided the fate of many corporations.

The following is some of the matters that our firm has worked on in the past that demonstrate our strength in providing strategic legal service. In addition to the following, our firm also regularly provides advice on broad spectrum of corporate issues such as overseas business expansion and transaction, domestic business transaction, corporate governance, guidance on holding of shareholders meeting and response to consumer protection laws.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Corporate buyouts (tender offers, share transfers, asset transfers,
corporate splits) / Mergers, share exchanges, share transfers /
Capital and business alliance, establishment of joint venture /
Corporate restructuring (conversion to holding company,
restructuring of subsidiaries)

Representative Experience

Representative Experience

  1. We advised a securities company in connection with the company’s transition into a holding company, the first case of its kind for a listed company in Japan, taking responses to relevant authorities into consideration.
  2. We provided strategic legal advice to an airline on its management integration and corporate restructuring of an unprecedented scale, including the analysis of the integration scheme and advice on corporate restructuring issues post-integration.
  3. We provided legal advice to a Japanese auto manufacturer on its strategic capital and business partnership with a French auto manufacturer.
  4. We advised a securities company in connection with its business partnership and joint venture establishment with a bank, formulating strategy for and conducting negotiation with the bank.
  5. We acted as the legal advisor to a white knight company in a case involving a hostile takeover bid for a paper manufacturer by its competitor, and we devised a defense strategy.
  6. We oversaw and managed, in collaboration with a U.S. attorney, an acquisition of a U.S. corporation, performing due diligence, formulating negotiation strategy, and making filings with the U.S. and Chinese competition authorities. We have similar experience with acquisitions in countries such as India, Thailand, China, Brazil, and Vietnam.
  7. As legal adviser to a Japanese airline, we advised regarding the conversion of a foreign airline into a consolidated subsidiary, considered acquisition schemes, negotiated with Japanese and foreign regulatory agencies and dealt with existing shareholders.
  8. As legal adviser to the purchaser in a leveraged buyout, we performed legal due diligence, prepared and negotiated various contracts, including the share purchase agreement, the loan agreement, the security agreement, and the representations and warranties contract, and provided notification to the Japan Fair Trade Commission.
  9. We advised a Japanese company in its establishment of a joint venture company together with a local company in Korea, analyzing local laws, formulating negotiation strategy, and drafting related agreements. We have similar experience in connection with establishment of joint venture companies in Indonesia, China, Hong Kong, and many other countries.
  10. We assisted a listed company facing various issues while withdrawing from its joint venture in China, devising solutions based on the Chinese practice and intensely negotiating with the counterparty to the joint venture.
  11. We advised the management of a listed company in the execution of an MBO, devising a buyout scheme and negotiating with the relevant authorities. In addition to MBOs, we also have experience in advising purchasers, targets, and subscribers in various takeover matters.
  12. We advised a listed company in establishing a holding company, together with its competitor, through share transfer, analyzing antitrust law issues and negotiating with the Japan Fair Trade Commission.

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Securities and Finance

Corporate financing and capital transactions regulations /
Financial Instruments and Exchange Act licensing and regulations /
Insurance Business Act licensing and regulations /
Securitization, Structured finance

Representative Experience

Representative Experience

  1. We led the issuance of trust bonds, the first case of its kind in Japan, by performing a comprehensive analysis of the Companies Act, Trust Business Act, Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, and other related laws and by drafting and reviewing the agreements and solicitation materials in connection with the issuance.
  2. We assisted in the establishment of a small amount and short term insurance company, a case without a precedent, through comprehensive analysis and documentation of issues under the Insurance Business Act and other related laws.
  3. We assisted in the project finance of an electricity business by performing legal risk analysis and drafting related contracts, joint venture agreement, and other necessary materials based on the risk analysis.
  4. We assisted in the capital raising in a so called ship financing, in which ships registered in various jurisdictions such as Panama and Marshall Islands were used as collateral, by drafting a loan agreement, securitization agreement and other contracts.
  5. In regards to the DIP financing of a golf course management company that had filed a petition for civil rehabilitation proceedings, we represented the lender, examined the financing plan, drafted the related agreements and otherwise facilitated the successful loan execution.
  6. We provided legal advice and issued legal opinion to a securities company on compliance with the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, responses to actions by regulatory authorities (including investigations) and amendments of laws and policy guidelines. In addition to the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, we also handle general financial regulation matters including those related to the Banking Act, Insurance Business Act, Trust Business Act, and Money Lending Business Act.
  7. We assisted a corporation in raising capital through issuance of share and bonds by formulating and analyzing the issuance plan and by drafting and reviewing various agreements such as the underwriting agreement. In addition to corporations, we advise on asset finance issues (asset securitization, REIT, etc.) for various types of entities, including formulation and analysis of capital raising plans, drafting and review of underwriting agreements and other related contracts, and issuance of legal opinions.
  8. We assisted in the capital contribution investment of a domestic investment fund by formulating and analyzing the investment scheme, drafting and reviewing the anonymous partnership agreement, and providing legal advice on the relevant business regulations. In addition, we advise in connection with investment activities by domestic and foreign financial institutions and investment funds such as formulating and analyzing investment schemes and drafting and reviewing agreements for capital contributions and investments (loan agreement, corporate bond underwriting agreement, limited partnership agreement, etc.).
  9. As a legal adviser to venture capital funds, we provide legal advice regarding investments in start-up companies in various fields, examine investment structures and draft and review investment contracts, shareholder agreements and other related agreements.
  10. We issued a legal opinion on compliance with insider trading regulation in connection with a listed company’s stock transactions. In addition, we assist in the establishment of compliance structure, such as by putting in place rules on business transactions by insiders, with consideration given for the conditions and circumstances of each company. Other than insider trading, we provide legal advice and issue legal opinions on takeover bid regulation and stock sale restriction regulation.
  11. We advised a financial institution in a major dispute with its customer arising out of derivative transactions, responding to the claims made by the customer and representing the financial institution in the ensuing financial ADR and litigation. In addition, we handle various issues, large and small, involving disputes with customers arising out of financial transactions (securities transactions, derivatives transactions, etc.).

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ANTITRUST LAW & SUBCONTRACT ACT

Response to investigations from the Japan Fair Trade Commission /
Leniency application /
Administrative hearings and civil lawsuits /
Issues related to actions by foreign governmental agencies /
Response to Subcontract Act violation allegation

Representative Experience

Representative Experience

  1. We represented a global manufacturer in its antitrust claim against a dominant competitor, thoroughly analyzing the competition laws in various jurisdictions and devising plans, in cooperation with overseas experts, for bringing suits in multiple jurisdictions. We brought an antitrust claim lawsuit in Japan after the Japan Fair Trade Commission issued a recommendation against the competitor.
  2. We represented the defendant Japanese company in an antitrust criminal proceeding which became a historical precedent for the extraterritorial application of the U.S. antitrust law. We devised, in collaboration with a top U.S. law firm, the trial strategy, proceeded with the trial instead of agreeing to the plea bargain, and obtained a not guilty verdict.
  3. We represented a listed company in an investigation by Japan Fair Trade Commission alleging unfair trade restrictions, responded to the investigation, performed an internal investigation, and filed an application for leniency. Upon completion of the internal investigation, we advised the client on establishing an improved internal compliance system for preventing antitrust law violations. We represent companies accused of violations of the Antimonopoly Act, such as unfair trade restrictions (criminal and administrative proceedings), resale price restraints and abuse of superior bargaining position, and have established a track record of successfully refuting allegations and avoiding legal penalties.
  4. We represented a company investigated by the Japan Fair Trade Commission on suspicion of abuse of superior bargaining position and obtained a valuable affirmation as a precedent for the first time in Japan.
  5. We represented a business investigated by the Japan Fair Trade Commission due to alleged violation of the Act Concerning Special Measures for Pass-on of Consumption Tax, devised a plan for responding to the investigation, actively undertook defensive measures and succeeded in reducing the scope of the allegations and avoiding legal action.
  6. We represented a Japanese company in a case in which the company and its overseas subsidiary were under investigation in the U.S. and EU for cartel suspicion, overseeing the case globally and handling the correspondence with competition authorities in various jurisdictions.
  7. We assisted a Japanese company and its overseas subsidiary in an antitrust class action suit by devising an effective trial strategy in collaboration with a top U.S. law firm and achieved a favorable settlement.
  8. We represented the defendant Japanese company, in collaboration with an attorney who was a former high-ranking U.S. Department of Commerce official, in an anti-dumping lawsuit, and we assisted in achieving a resolution through settlement by negotiating with the Department of Commerce. We have similar experience with anti-dumping cases in Europe and with the Customs Tariff Law violation cases in Japan.
  9. In many domestic and overseas M&A transactions, we notify Japanese and foreign competition authorities on behalf of the reporting company. We have successfully obtained regulatory approval in cases involving the largest and second largest corporate groups within an oligopolistic market by devising novel and complex solutions.
  10. In investigations by the Japan Fair Trade Commission and the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency for suspected violation of the Subcontract Act, we devise a response plan and actively deploy defensive measures to avoid further legal actions and minimize the scope of allegations. We have accumulated significant expertise regarding the Subcontract Act, including applications for leniency, and regularly advise on various issues related to the Subcontract Act. In addition to the above, in regards to the Act Against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations, we have developed significant expertise advising on issues related to both premiums and misleading representations and regularly advise on such issues.

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RISK MANAGEMENT & COMPLIANCE

Establishment and operation of independent third-party investigations /
Corporate investigations /
Dealing with mass media and government authorities /
Establishment of internal reporting system and response to whistle-blowing /
Construction of risk management and compliance system

Representative Experience

Representative Experience

  1. We advised a securities company, in a case of leakage of information regarding public stock offerings, by organizing a third party committee to perform an internal investigation and devising a countermeasure.
  2. We assisted, in collaboration with a U.S. lobbyist, a domestic financial institution in dispelling a money laundering suspicion by the U.S. Congress and in recovering confidence of its clients and the U.S. authorities.
  3. We represented the plaintiff company, in connection with a discovery of circular transactions within the company, in performing internal investigations, formulating countermeasures, and claiming damages against the perpetrators of the transactions. In addition, we have various experiences in the issues of circular transactions such as obtaining civil provisional remedies.
  4. We advised, in collaboration with a foreign law firm and accounting firm, a listed company whose Asian subsidiary’s employee was found guilty of illegal activities, performing investigations, devising a response plan to the authorities, and preventing recurrence of similar incidents.
  5. We advised a company under billing-related suspicion in transactions with the government and led the case into resolution through legal analysis of the transactions and industry customs.
  6. We resolved a conflict, arising out of a customs evasion allegation for imported seafood, by performing field investigations and confronting relevant authorities.
  7. We advised, in cooperation with a U.S. expert, a company on withdrawing its business from a country that was subject to U.S. economic sanctions, and we devised a scheme to ensure that the withdrawal would not violate the sanctions.
  8. We advised a company on the verge of losing its corporate assets to a corporate raider who was using fraudulent and blackmailing tactics, and we represented the company in the lawsuit brought by the corporate raider, leading the case into a favorable settlement that saved the company.
  9. We provided legal advice from the risk management and compliance perspective in connection with various incidences of corruption including bribery. We also advised a university in Japan in establishing a risk management and compliance infrastructure.

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INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

IP-related contractual agreements (licensing agreements, joint research
agreements etc.) / IP management (preventive measures against technology
leakage, company internal intellectual property management rules etc.) /
IP litigations and disputes

Representative Experience

Representative Experience

  1. We represented the defendant company in a patent infringement lawsuit brought by a competitor and a trial for patent invalidation.
  2. We represented the defendant company in a patent infringement lawsuit between industrial machinery manufacturers and obtained a favorable ruling from the appellate court reversing the lower court decision.
  3. We represented the defendant company in a patent infringement lawsuit between medical device manufacturers and obtained a favorable decision.
  4. We advised the defendant company in a patent infringement lawsuit between electronics companies and obtained a favorable settlement.
  5. We represented the patent holder in a suit seeking the revocation of a trial decision regarding the inventive step of pharmaceutical-related patents and obtained a reversal from the Supreme Court.
  6. We advised the patent holder in a suit seeking the revocation of a trial decision regarding the support requirements for pharmaceutical patents and obtained a favorable decision.
  7. We represented the defendant Japanese company in a U.S. lawsuit arising out of alleged theft of know-how through hiring of a former employee of a competitor, handling an extensive discovery and depositions brought by the plaintiff competitor.
  8. We advised a company that was devising marketing and advertisement strategy against its competitor as part of its international branding strategy, and we assisted in devising an effective strategy based on legal perspective. Specifically, we examined the legal issues in the competitor’s advertisements and other materials based on the Trademark Act, Copyright Act, and the Act against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misrepresentations, and we determined possible countermeasures.
  9. We provided legal advice for a negotiation involving transfer of trademark registered in both Japan and the U.S., which required partition of the trademark rights and negotiation with the trademark holder after the transfer of the rights.
  10. We represented the defendant company in a lawsuit arising out of a copyright infringement allegation brought by a film studio. The key issue in the lawsuit was whether a copyright created in connection with an actor’s performance in a drama series belongs to the actor or the studio.

    In addition, we have represented and advised clients in various disputes regarding patent law, trademark law, competition law and other areas of law.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Music, publishing and game industry /
Film industry (funding, production and commercial use of films) /
Live entertainment / TV, magazine and internet advertisements /
Handling of defamation, privacy infringement, publicity rights infringement and infringement of other rights of celebrities and athletes

Representative Experience

Representative Experience

  1. We provided legal advice to musicians on their activities and drafted related contracts.
  2. We advised an actor starring in a theatrical film that produced through collaboration between Japan and China and finalized the acting contract. In addition, we have experience providing legal advice and drafting contracts related to performance in domestic theatrical films and television commercials.
  3. We represented the defendant musician in a lawsuit brought by a production studio in connection the musician’s departure from the studio. We also have experience representing production studios in similar cases.
  4. We advised on the production of theatrical films and drafted related contracts such as production committee agreements, agreements related to the copyright and other rights, and distribution rights agreements. These films included Academy Award-winning films, and we have also worked on location agreements for overseas filming. In addition, we have extensive experience advising on production of television commercials.
  5. We advised a European CG production company, drafted business development agreements for its business in Japan, and represented the company in negotiating with counterparties in Japan.
  6. We provided legal advice on the sale and collateralization of the copyright in music. We also have experience advising on the sales of movie or drama scripts and the sales of cinematization rights.
  7. We supervise many films and TV drama scenarios from the legal perspective.
  8. We advised on various events in the EXPO (such as theme park and pavilion) and drafted related contracts, including sponsorship agreements, broadcasting rights agreements, and performance agreements with celebrities. We also have similar experience advising on the World Cup and the Olympics. In addition, we have experience advising on operations of stage performances and martial arts events.

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CORPORATE RESTRUCTURING & INSOLVENCY

Corporate reorganization through civil and corporate rehabilitation /
Out-of-work workout /
Insolvencies /
Cross-border insolvencies

Representative Experience

Representative Experience

  1. We assisted an investment company in devising and executing its acquisition strategy for hotels and inns that were under business rehabilitation.
  2. We assisted a financial institution in the case of a kaisha-kousei corporate reorganization of a biomanufacturer in which the reorganization trustee had brought major request for avoidance, and we procured a denial of the request.
  3. We assisted a client, which was attempting to withdraw the business of its U.S. subsidiary, by making an analysis of the U.S. bankruptcy law, formulating a business sale and withdrawal plan including filing for bankruptcy in the U.S.
  4. We advised a creditor on its option in connection with the bankruptcy of a U.S. trade partner by performing an analysis of the U.S. law. We have experience advising in similar matters in Germany and Korea.
  5. We advised a listed company in efficiently collecting its claims as creditor throughout various Asian countries by analyzing the security interest laws and practices in those countries.

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EMPLOYMENT & LABOR

Employment and labor issues in M&A and managerial crisis /
Establishment and implementation of employment rules /
Labor-management disputes /
Employment and labor litigations and disputes

Representative Experience

Representative Experience

  1. We assisted a foreign enterprise in Japan by drafting English versions of work regulations and other internal regulations and rendering legal advice on human resource and labor management issues.
  2. We provided strategic and legal advice in a case of corporate restructuring and downsizing, which had resulted from the merger of companies in the same corporate group.
  3. We represented the defendant company in a Labor Relations Commission hearing, arising from dismissal of employees, and achieved a favorable resolution. We also work on various litigation cases involving dismissal of management-level employees. In addition, we have experience dealing with lawsuits arising from dismissal of foreign employees by foreign enterprises.
  4. We represented the plaintiff foreign sumo wrestler in a lawsuit contesting an inappropriate dismissal and succeeded in reversing the dismissal.
  5. We represented a company in conducting collective bargaining with an external labor union on employee dismissal issues and achieved a favorable resolution. We also work on collective bargaining agreements with corporate internal labor unions.
  6. We represented the parent company in a case in which the labor union, to which an employee of the subsidiary of the parent company belonged, initiated a mediation proceeding with the labor relations board on the basis of unfair labor acts, and we achieved dismissal of all claims.

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LITIGATION & DISPUTE RESOLUTION

Litigations and disputes involving any of the above practice areas /
Corporate governance litigations (shareholders derivative suit etc.) /
Product liability litigations / Administrative litigations and disputes /
Mediation, arbitration and other ADR / International litigations and disputes

Representative Experience

Representative Experience

  1. We represented a Japanese company in its international dispute with its U.K. sales distributor, which centered on the validity of the agency agreement, initiated a JCAA arbitration, and obtained an arbitral decision in favor of the Japanese company, preventing a potential liability exceeding 100 billion yen.
  2. We represented four defendant companies in a case in which a local government was alleging defects in a garbage incinerator and claiming damages, eventually leading to a highly favorable settlement.
  3. We represented the defendant auto manufacturer in an air pollution lawsuit, in which an asthma patient claimed for damages against the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the auto manufacturer, alleging physical harm from the exhaust gas of vehicles.
  4. We represented a listed company in a case in which an activist fund was demanding the company to purchase back its own shares, and we successfully defeated the demand by formulating a strategy for negotiating with the activist fund.
  5. We represented the winning bidder of a government contract in a case in which a third party had filed a complaint for re-examination of the bid process, and we assisted the winning bidder in reaching a favorable result. In addition, we have experience in devising strategies for negotiating with local governments in connection with contract bidding processes.
  6. We represented the defendant financial advisor company and achieved victory in a case in which subscribers of the shares underwritten by the company brought a claim for damages from the delisting, due to misrepresentations in the securities reports, of those shares, alleging the company’s breach of fiduciary duty.
  7. We represented the founding family of a listed company in its management rights dispute against the incumbent management and assisted in formulating and executing an opposition strategy.
  8. We represented the defendant non-listed company in a case of dispute for management rights among the founding family, in which a director who was dismissed by shareholder resolution brought a petition seeking to annul the resolution, and we achieved victory at the trial. In addition, after the trial, we supervised the operation of subsequent shareholder meetings to avoid the risk of a similar litigation.
  9. We represented the defendant company and achieved victory in a case involving corporate control dispute among founding family members, in which the plaintiff anti-president family member shareholders sought an injunction on the issuance of new shares.
  10. We represented the defendant in the High Court and the Supreme Court on a case that sought reduction of an heir’s distributive share, which involved examining the constitutionality of the Civil Code provision that established the inheritance share of an illegitimate child as half of a legitimate child.

    Other than the above, we also have diverse litigation and dispute resolution experience, both domestic and abroad, in multiple areas, including disputes arising out of the matters indicated in.

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Global Network

Our firm has built a Global Network of leading legal experts and law firms, which are indispensable for handling overseas cases that require the expertise of local practitioners.

By combining our own know-how gained through numerous international cases and the knowledge of these overseas experts, we are confident that we can effectively handle any international issues.

Our firm is pleased to have had advice from Professor William P. Alford of Harvard Law School in the formation of its Global Network.

Our Firm’s Arrangement

Our Firm’s Arrangement

Our firm has established the Asian Development Legal Group to strengthen our knowledge and practice in various countries of Asia in order to meet the needs of Japanese companies expanding their business into these countries. Also, we have built a network of top class lawyers and law firms in these Asian countries. For example, in China, we are affiliated with a firm experienced in government-side matters that has also represented the Chinese government in WTO-related cases. In Vietnam, we have close relationship with a lawyer who acted as Vietnam’s Ambassador to the United Nations and represented the country in its membership negotiation with the WTO. In Thailand, we have affiliate relationship with a firm that has as its consultants a former justice of the Thai Supreme Court, a former minister of the Revenue Department, and a former Dean of the Chulalongkorn University Faculty of Law.   We also maintain a network of exceptional law firms in India, Indonesia, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Philippines, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Myanmar, Russia, Middle Eastern Countries, and other countries, and we stand ready to smoothly handle any issues in collaboration with the local experts.

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Lawyers

Yukio YANAGIDA柳田 幸男

  • Founder
    Admitted to Bar
    1960, Japan

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Kazuhiro YANAGIDA柳田 一宏

  • Representative Partner
    Admitted to Bar
    2000, Japan (also admitted to New York Bar, 2004)

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Yusuke KAWASHIMA川島 佑介

  • Managing Partner
    Admitted to Bar
    2005, Japan

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Misao SHIMIZU清水 節

  • Partner
    Former President of the Intellectual Property High Court
    Admitted to Bar
    2018, Japan

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Takashi YAMAMOTO山本 和史

  • Expert Adviser
    Former member of the Japan Fair Trade Commission

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Hiroshi AKIYAMA秋山 洋

  • Partner
    Admitted to Bar
    1984, Japan

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Makoto OGO大胡 誠

  • Partner
    Admitted to Bar
    1986, Japan

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Naoki YANAGIDA柳田 直樹

  • Partner
    Admitted to Bar
    1987, Japan

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Hiroe NAKAMURA中村 比呂恵

  • Partner
    Re-admitted to Bar
    2018, Japan

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Mitsuhito TAKI滝 充人

  • Partner
    Admitted to Bar
    2005, Japan (also admitted to New York Bar, 2016)

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Takeshi IMAMURA今村 武史

  • Partner
    Admitted to Bar
    2006, Japan

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Yusuke SASAKI佐々木 裕助

  • Partner
    Admitted to Bar
    2007, Japan

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Yoshiyuki WATANABE渡邉 佳行

  • Partner
    Admitted to Bar
    2008, Japan (also admitted to New York Bar, 2020)

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Masashi ICHIKAWA市川 雅士

  • Partner
    Admitted to Bar
    2008, Japan (also admitted
    to New York Bar, 2016)

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Yohei OKUDA奥田 洋平

  • Partner
    Admitted to Bar
    2010, Japan

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Haruki OGAWA小川 知城

  • Associate
    Admitted to Bar
    2022, Japan

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Ryutaro SUZUKI鈴木 隆太郎

  • Associate
    Admitted to Bar
    2016, Japan

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Daisuke MATSUNAGA松永 大介

  • Associate
    Admitted to Bar
    2016, Japan

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Yusuke HAYASHI林 勇介

  • Associate
    Admitted to Bar
    2016, Japan

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Kazuki KUNIMOTO國本 和希

  • Associate
    Admitted to Bar
    2017, Japan

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Takuto SEKI関 卓人

  • Associate
    Admitted to Bar
    2017, Japan

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Atsushi TAKASE高瀬 篤

  • Associate
    Admitted to Bar
    2017, Japan

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Toshinari OTOGAO乙顔 俊成

  • Associate
    Admitted to Bar
    2018, Japan

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Maria TANIUCHI谷内 麻里亜

  • Associate
    Admitted to Bar
    2019, Japan

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Keiji TERAI寺井 敬治

  • Associate
    Admitted to Bar
    2019, Japan

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Takatoshi MIYASHITA宮下 敬聖

  • Associate
    Admitted to Bar
    2020, Japan

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Daichi KOGA古賀 大智

  • Associate
    Admitted to Bar
    2022, Japan

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Akihiko SUGIYAMA杉山 瑛彦

  • Associate
    Admitted to Bar
    2022, Japan

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Mariko YAMANAKA山中 万梨子

  • Associate
    Admitted to Bar
    2022, Japan

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Yuhei UENO上野 裕平

  • Associate
    Admitted to Bar
    2023, Japan

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Shu KUROKI黒木 秀

  • Associate
    Admitted to Bar
    2023, Japan

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YAN Jing Yu厳 京玉

  • Foreign Attorney
    Admitted to Bar
    2001, China

MORE

Clint Kellerクリント・ケラー

  • Foreign Attorney
    Admitted to Bar
    2002, New York

MORE

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Yanagida & Partners

1501 North Tower, Yurakucho Denki Bldg.
7-1, Yurakucho 1-chome
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0006

TEL +81 3 3213 0034
FAX +81 3 3214 5234
E-MAIL  yanagida-partners@yp-law.jp

Transporatation
JR Line
1-minute walk from Hibiya Exit of Yurakucho Station
(Our building is in front of Hibiya Exit.)

Subway
Yurakucho Line
2-minutes walk from Exit D2 of Yurakucho Station
Hibiya Line/ Chiyoda Line
Exit A3 of Hibiya Station
(Exit A3 is connected to the basement of our building.)
Mita Line
2-minutes walk from Exit B1 of Hibiya Station
Marunouchi Line / Ginza Line
2-minutes walk from Exit C1 of Ginza Station