Asia/Japan
Soft skills shine in a fractured, AI-driven legal world, GCs say at IBA’s 23rd annual global M&A conference
Corporate legal leaders from Sony, Coursera, Hitachi, ITOCHU and Standard Industries say listening skills and judgement will drive success as legal departments confront geopolitical volatility, AI disruption and changing expectations
Kirkland hires from three firms for Tokyo launch
M&A and debt finance trio join from MoFo, White & Case and Ropes for Chicago giant’s first Asian office outside Greater China
The hidden cost of removing the APAC general counsel
Without a dedicated regional GC, global organisations risk creating gaps in their APAC legal coverage, writes Major Lindsey & Africa partner Olivia Seet
Legora plans Tokyo and Singapore office openings to drive APAC expansion
Firm seeks to increase footprint in the region to tap into deal growth in both countries
Mayer Brown builds in Tokyo with seven-lawyer A&O Shearman team
Arrival of partners Toshiro Mochizuki and Kana Morimura follows recent hire of A&O Shearman’s Tokyo head
Luxury brands must respond to maturing ESG frameworks, new policy survey says
Baker McKenzie and Positive Luxury study says brands continue to face compliance challenges across jurisdictions with varying requirements
Upcycling: fashion’s new infringement frontier
A balance between luxury brand rights and upcycling remains elusive, write Bird & Bird’s Cristiana Andreotta, Elisabetta Bandera, Rita Tardiolo, Manon Rieger-Jansen and Nina Dorenbosch
LegalOn Technologies launches suite of agentic AI tools to support in-house lawyers
Company says its AI agents can expand what legal teams can accomplish
Withers promotes 16 partners in global round as US dominates
Expanded round sees firm achieve 50:50 gender split
Simmons leads fashion e-retailer Zozo’s $154m acquisition of UK rival Lyst
CMS is advising global shopping platform Lyst on the deal, which will continue to operate as a standalone business
MoFo advises SoftBank on mega $40bn funding round in OpenAI
Largest venture-backed investment on record values ChatGPT-creator at $300bn
WIPO reports return to growth in patents and trademarks filings in 2024
China was the leading country filer for patents and designs, while US took the top spot for trademarks
Debevoise, Nishimura called in for Nippon Life’s $8.2bn Resolution Life acquisition
Kirkland & Ellis and Herbert Smith Freehills also among nine law firm’s called in for the largest takeover by a Japanese insurer
‘A dynamic international landscape’: The Global Legal Post launches IP guide
Law Over Borders Intellectual Property guide is edited by Foley & Lardner’s Jeffrey Greene
White & Case launches Tokyo disputes practice with Orrick partner hire
Shinsuke Yakura joins having led Orrick’s Tokyo office
Japan cuts red tape for foreign lawyer registrations
Law Society of England and Wales hails ‘positive’ move by Japanese government
Quinn Emanuel strengthens in Japan with partner hire from Nagashima Ohno
International disputes lawyer Hisaya Kimura joins the firm in Tokyo
Bird & Bird adds Ashurst corporate partner for Tokyo launch
Office to handle outbound work for Japanese clients as UK firm aims to reach €1bn revenue in five years
Greenberg, Goodwin shepherd Ono Pharma’s $2.4bn Deciphera acquisition
Greenberg counsels Ono in deal to expand Japanese group’s oncology portfolio and US presence
Volkswagen is latest carmaker to join Avanci’s 5G licensing programme
Group that includes Audi and Seat joins more that 25 automotive brands that can now use the standard essential patents of more than 60 patent holders