is an independent law firm providing legal services, mainly for private companies, banks and
national research and development agencies. The Firm’s practice is focused on contracts,
corporate, finance, anti-trust, intellectual property and dispute resolutions.
The international practice of the Firm has its origin in the practice developed by Yasumasa Yumoto at the prominent law firm of Logan, Bernhard & Okamoto, which had been the Tokyo Office of Hunt Hill & Betts. In January 1980, Yumoto left his former firm and established the law firm of Yumoto, Kogo & Mori in Kioi-cho, Chiyoda-ku. Yumoto grew the Firm’s reputation, especially in the area of commercial contracts. Maki Miyazaki joined the Firm in 1992 immediately after completing her requisite judicial training courses at the Legal Training & Research Institute of the Supreme Court. Kiyoshi Ota, a former Mitsubishi banker, also joined the Firm in 1994. From September 1996 to December 1998, Miyazaki was seconded to Kelley Drye & Warren, New York, as a member of its Japan practice team, which was originally established by Francis Y. Sogi (1923-2011), who was a leader in the Japanese American community and served at the Tokyo Office of Hunt Hill & Betts. Miyazaki returned to Japan in June 1999 to resume her practice at the Firm. In 2007, the Firm changed its name to Yumoto, Ota & Miyazaki. Today, both Yumoto and Ota have retired from the practice and Miyazaki has succeeded the Firm’s practice. The Firm has moved to the current address since January 2023.
Yumoto, Ota & Miyazaki has represented a wide range of clients, including TSE listed companies, private businesses and government research organizations, not only domestic but also international entities. The Firm provides its services to clients in diverse industries, such as banking, trading, chemicals, foods, fashion, pharmaceutical and research and development. We are committed to provide excellent services tailored to meet the specific needs of each client, seeking the best possible solutions. Our practice areas include the following:
The Firm provides ongoing advice in relation to the drafting, negotiating and review of various commercial contracts, including cross-border M&As, joint ventures, licensing, sales and distributorships, typically on behalf of trading and/or manufacturing companies. The Firm also has a wide range of experience in resolving disputes in commercial contracts seeking effective solutions through negotiation and/or legal proceedings.
The Firm is experienced in assisting U.S. branches of Japanese financial institutions in providing liquidity or credit enhancement, such as letters of credit, revolving lines of credit and bank deposits, and guaranteed investment contracts in public finance transactions, asset-backed securitization transactions and enhanced equipment trust certificate transactions in the United States.
The Firm has long provided various foreign clients with legal services relating to their subsidiaries in Japan, including incorporation, convocation of shareholders meetings, election and dismissal of directors, capital increases or decreases, preparation and amendment of the articles of association and other internal rules and regulations, recording minutes of meetings and other various issues relating to corporate governance and compliance. The Firm has also provided counseling to domestic and foreign clients on employment agreements and termination of employees.
The Firm provides legal services and advice relating to antitrust and competition, which includes regulatory clearance in connection with corporate alliances, providing transactional advice and preparation of contracts in connection with various business alliances, including joint ventures and joint development, intellectual property licensing, distribution, agency and subcontracting.
The Firm represents clients in a wide range of transactions related to various intellectual properties, typically with regard to preparation and negotiation of manufacturing and licensing contracts in connection with trademarks, copyrights, knowhow and others. The Firm also provides advice on trademarks and intellectual property taking measures to protect against infringement by third parties and negotiating licensing contracts.
The Firm represents clients in commercial litigation in Japan. We also have experience in supporting clients in commercial litigation and arbitration in foreign jurisdictions.
