Educational Institutions - A Legal and Regulatory Handbook for Setting Up Overseas: Japan

Mr. Morimoto has a high degree of expertise in complex transactions, such as takeover bids and complicated transactions involving multiple reorganizations. He has extensive experience in cross-border transactions, both from domestic and international perspectives, and is deeply familiar with a wide variety of international legal frameworks. He represents a large number of international clients and, based on his knowledge of the legal frameworks of the jurisdictions in which his clients operate, he advises on Japanese law in comparison with the laws of other countries. In the field of corporate crisis management, he has handled a broad range of anti-bribery matters, including those related to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). He has extensive experience in advising on matters which include the development of anti-bribery compliance programs, anti-bribery due diligence, and internal investigations of suspected bribery cases. In recent years, he also has handled a wide variety of fraud investigations involving accounting irregularities and non-compliance matters, both for Japanese companies and their overseas subsidiaries.

Hitomi handles patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, and other IP-related matters in multiple business sectors, including IT, life sciences and healthcare, machinery, food, fashion, environment and energy, entertainment, financial services, and e-commerce. Ms. Iwase’s expertise encompasses all forms of IP transactional work, both cross-border and domestic, including licensing, strategic alliances, joint development, and asset transfers, as well as various types of IP disputes, including patent/trademark infringement litigation. Hitomi also assists clients in anti-counterfeiting and in the development of IP portfolios and prosecution strategies. Hitomi regularly advises clients on emerging legal issues relating to the latest technology, such as IoT and artificial intelligence (AI), as well as on complex system-related transactions and disputes over such transactions. In the area of data privacy, Hitomi provides extensive advice on data protection and privacy compliance, including on establishing global compliance systems and incidents such as data breaches. Hitomi also advises on related areas such as e-commerce, advertising, and consumer protection.

Having studied Master Food Law & Regulatory Affairs at Wageningen University in the Netherlands (known as the best university in the Agri-Food area) and having worked at one of the most innovative food tech startups in Europe, Hideki is an expert in various business areas of the Agri-Food chain, such as the decarbonization of the farming process, the implementation of smart farming, and the development of novel food. His practice includes, but is not limited to, regulatory, contract, and business development support in these areas, as well as involvement in rule-making and the lobbying process as an industry leader. In addition, he builds bridges and enhances collaboration between the Japanese and global food tech community on regular basis as an industry professional.