Asialaw Profiles
The Guide to the legal markets of the Asia-Pacific

With a leading global reputation for dispute resolution, it’s no surprise Herbert Smith Tokyo has one of the most sought-after disputes practices in the market. The team includes three partners, one of counsel and 16 associates consistently focused on ... [more]

With a leading global reputation for dispute resolution, it’s no surprise Herbert Smith Tokyo has one of the most sought-after disputes practices in the market. The team includes three partners, one of counsel and 16 associates consistently focused on litigation and dispute resolution work. The firm’s sector-specific practice groups ensures expertise in a variety of sectors such as telecoms, media, financial services, oil and gas, mining, infrastructure, power, chemicals, technology, publishing, and heavy industry sectors. The team is led by top lawyer Peter Godwin and includes the well-regarded Dominic Roughton and David Gilmore. Clients include Taisei, NTT Docomo, Sumitomo Corporation and IBM Japan.

An exemplary case the team handled this past year was for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in two ICC arbitrations valued at over £50 million concerning disputes that arose out of the construction of two power plants in England. The team has seen success with final awards delivered on both arbitrations and its client has made a recovery on its claims. In another highlight matter, the practice was enlisted by Taisei in relation to a claim for US$25 million in a JCAA arbitration related to a power project in Algeria.

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With a big reputation, leading lawyer Max Olson heads up Morrison & Foerster’s Tokyo litigation practice. Its practice has a dedicated team of 25 full-time attorneys, over half of whom are fluent in Japanese. Its litigation strength is well-regarded ... [more]

With a big reputation, leading lawyer Max Olson heads up Morrison & Foerster’s Tokyo litigation practice. Its practice has a dedicated team of 25 full-time attorneys, over half of whom are fluent in Japanese. Its litigation strength is well-regarded in the market and offers creative and strategic advice to clients on commercial and IP litigation in courts, administrative agencies and arbitration centres. The practice primarily covers commercial, IP, and domestic litigations, arbitrations, and internal investigations. Clients include Nikon Corporation, Pioneer Corporation, Fujitsu, and Sharp. This year the practice welcomed the arrival of Jack Londen, a litigation expert with 30 years experience in patent litigation and complex commercial cases. Other notable lawyers in the group are Craig Celniker, Mark Danis and Peter Stern.

A prominent matter the team recently handled was for Rio Tinto against claims that it is responsible for the actions of a Papua New Guinea defence force after a violent takeover of the world’s largest copper mine. In another interesting case, the team is acting for Dell and subsidiary Dell Japan in a series of litigation proceedings with over US$100 million in claims at stake related to certain transactions for its client’s goods and services.

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Baker & McKenzie GJBJ Tokyo Aoyama Aoki Koma carries weight in the dispute resolution market with a consistent quality practice that offers the services of 25 focused lawyers. The firm counsels clients on all facets of dispute resolution including cross-border ... [more]

Baker & McKenzie GJBJ Tokyo Aoyama Aoki Koma carries weight in the dispute resolution market with a consistent quality practice that offers the services of 25 focused lawyers. The firm counsels clients on all facets of dispute resolution including cross-border litigation, interactive commercial arbitration and mediation, regulation and compliance, investigations and domestic litigation. The team is led by leading lawyers Yoshiaki Muto and Haig Oghigian.

The practice recently handled two ICC arbitrations for clients CSL Behring and PPG Industries. The awards are valued at US$25 million and US$90 million respectively. Oghigian is currently leading a team that is advising FedEx in the crash of FedEx Flight 80 at Narita Airport.

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The respected dispute resolution practice at White & Case offers clients quality arbitration and litigation advice. The group has represented domestic corporates in cross-border disputes and has a strong track record in arbitral proceedings, helping ... [more]

The respected dispute resolution practice at White & Case offers clients quality arbitration and litigation advice. The group has represented domestic corporates in cross-border disputes and has a strong track record in arbitral proceedings, helping clients to negotiate and prepare arbitration clauses in contracts, evaluate comparative costs of different types of arbitrations and select arbitrators.

Key sectors the practitioners have expertise in are international trade, commercial, construction, employment and IP. Leading figures on the team include arbitration expert Robert Grondine, Yuji Ogiwara, David Case, Mark Goodrich and Gary Thomas. Major clients of the group include Mattel Japan, General Electric and Abeam Consulting.

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Clifford Chance offers a quality litigation and dispute resolution practice that has a team of international and bengoshi lawyers. The team, which includes Atsushi Yamashita and Michelle Mizutani, gained a new department head in Jim Jamison, who joined ... [more]

Clifford Chance offers a quality litigation and dispute resolution practice that has a team of international and bengoshi lawyers. The team, which includes Atsushi Yamashita and Michelle Mizutani, gained a new department head in Jim Jamison, who joined from Hong Kong this year and is the magic circle firm’s Asia Head of International Arbitration. The practice covers litigation, arbitration, mediation, regulator and investigation services.

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Jones Day’s practice primarily has experience in corporate-related disputes, particularly those involving antitrust or IP issues. Respected practitioners on the team include Shinya Watanabe, Yuichiro Mori, and Scott Jones. The firm is allied with Showa ... [more]

Jones Day’s practice primarily has experience in corporate-related disputes, particularly those involving antitrust or IP issues. Respected practitioners on the team include Shinya Watanabe, Yuichiro Mori, and Scott Jones. The firm is allied with Showa Law Office.

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Lovells brings international insight to its Tokyo dispute resolution practice with a specialised and integrated bengoshi and international team. It provides clients with a full range of services including litigation, dispute resolution, arbitration and ... [more]

Lovells brings international insight to its Tokyo dispute resolution practice with a specialised and integrated bengoshi and international team. It provides clients with a full range of services including litigation, dispute resolution, arbitration and alternative dispute resolution. The practice serves leading domestic and foreign corporates on the entire lifespan of dispute matters, from offering advice about rights and obligations during early contractual difficulties through to conducting international arbitration of an unresolved dispute.

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Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker’s dispute resolution practice has enviable assets in leading disputes lawyers Yoshihiro Takatori, Etsuo Doi and Joy Fuyuno. The practice counts Walt Disney Japan, New World TMT and Sourcenext as major clients. The US firm ... [more]

Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker’s dispute resolution practice has enviable assets in leading disputes lawyers Yoshihiro Takatori, Etsuo Doi and Joy Fuyuno. The practice counts Walt Disney Japan, New World TMT and Sourcenext as major clients. The US firm has been established in Tokyo for over 30 years and operates an integrated team of US lawyers and bengoshi.

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