Practice Areas
Intellectual Property
Antitrust
Corporate/M&A
International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution
Insolvency
Awards / Honors
The Tenth Edition of The Best Lawyers in Japan,
Insolvency and Reorganization Law (First Year Listed: 2014) and
Intellectual Property Law (First Year Listed: 2012)
Shortlisted for IR Global Member of the Year 2017
Kazuto Yamamoto started his career as a lawyer at Daiichi LPC in 2000 and is the partner in charge of the Cross-Border Transaction and International Dispute Resolution practice groups. He has broad experience in both inbound and outbound investments, with an emphasis on M&A, particularly those involving markets in the United States, China, Southeast Asian Countries and the EU. Kazuto has a wealth of experience representing a wide variety of foreign and Japanese companies, ranging from startups and SMEs to major listed corporations. In addition to drafting commercial agreements in English, Kazuto is also a skilled bilingual negotiator.
Kazuto is also extremely well-versed in intellectual property licensing and intellectual property disputes. His representation includes licensing and drafting other IP agreements for clients in the manufacturing, life sciences, and entertainment sectors in both English and Japanese.
As a well-rounded global lawyer, Kazuto is deeply committed to increasing Japan’s prominence as an attractive choice for international dispute resolution. He played an instrumental role in the creation of the Japan International Mediation Center that opened in Kyoto in November 2018.
Kazuto was admitted to the New York Bar in 2009 and has worked at two major international law firms in Chicago and Shanghai.
Professional Background
Kyoto University (LL.B.), 1997
Northwestern University, School of Law (LL.M.), 2008
Kirkland & Ellis LLP (Chicago, USA), 2008-2009
AllBright Law Office (Shanghai, China), 2009
Professional Activities
International Affiliations
Inter-Pacific Bar Association (IPBA), Former Vice-Chair of Intellectual Property Committee
International Bar Association (IBA), Intellectual Property and Entertainment Law Committee
International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP)
American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA)
Hawaii Tax Institute Japan-US Alliance Program, Organizing Committee
Japan Affiliations
Japan International Mediation Center (Kyoto), Managing Committee
Japan Arbitrators Association, Deputy Secretary-General, Kansai Branch
Osaka Bar Association, International Committee, Vice-Chair
Japan Federation of Bar Associations, Committee on International Relations
The Intellectual Property Lawyers Network Japan (IPLNET)
Japanese Network for Bankruptcy Lawyers
JETRO, SME Cross-Border Transaction Counsel, Fiscal Year 2018
Publication and Seminars
- Seminars
“Global Litigation and Intellectual Property Symposium”, jointly hosted with DLA Piper LLP and Fukami Patent Office, P.C., November 26, 208
“Nuts and Bolts of English Language Contracts”, sponsored by Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), semi-annual basis 2012-present
“Border Enforcement Measures for Intellectual Property Rights” at IPBA 25th Annual Meeting and Conference, Hong Kong, May 8, 2015
“Doing Business in Japan, Particularly, in Osaka and Other Parts of the Kansai Area”, CLE Webinar sponsored by The State Bar of California, December 5, 2013
“Investment in Indonesia”, with Maulana and Partners, Indonesia and Namura & Partners, May 22 and 24, 2013
“Strategy for Patent Application and Litigation in US under AIA regime”, with DrinkerBiddle LLP, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, DLA Piper LLP, April 9 – 11, 2013
“Dealing with US-Japan Cartel Investigations”, with Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP and Namura & Partners, April 17 and 20, 2012
“Revised Civil Procedure Code and Cross-border Disputes”, March 30, 2012
“Addressing International Breach Incidents” at IAPP Global Privacy Summit, Washington D.C., March 9, 2011
“Topics on Recent US Patent – 2010 KSR Guidelines Update”, Licensing Executives Society Japan, January 31, 2011
“Recent Chinese Law”, co-sponsored by Kansai Economic Federation and Osaka Bar Association, January 27, February 24, 2011
“Transfer of Technology- Difficult Issues in Licensing”, at IBA Annual Conference, Vancouver, Canada, October 7, 2010
“Patent Litigation and Border Enforcement in Japan, US (ITC) and Korea (KTC)”, Research institute of Economy, Trade and Industry, July 27 and 29, 2010•Publications
“The America Invents Act, a Practical Guide by US and Japanese Lawyers and Patent Attorneys” (editor and co-author), Japan Institute for Promoting Invention and Innovation, 2013
“Demise of False Patent Marking Cases” , The Lawyers, February 2012
“IBA Guidelines for Drafting International Arbitration Clauses (Japanese translation)” (co-author), IBA website, December 2011
“Patent Litigation and Border Enforcement in Japan, US (ITC) and Korea (KTC)”, Chizai Prism, February 2011
“Easy Guide for Company Act” (co-author), Shinnippon-Hoki Publishing
