My History
Our firm provides comprehensive legal services, with a strong focus on intellectual property—including patents, trademarks, and technology—as well as general corporate law.
In 1979, my father, a registered patent attorney, founded Shusaku Yamamoto Patent Office. After I joined the firm with qualifications as both an attorney and a patent attorney, we rebranded in 2012 as Yamamoto Patent & Law Office. This transition enabled us to expand our capabilities beyond IP to offer a broader spectrum of legal services.
Our client base spans 55 countries, including Japan, North America, Europe, and other developed regions in Asia. We’re proud to be recognized by many major international corporations as a team of experts in global IP practice. While some clients approach us directly, most of our international work comes through referrals from local law firms in each country.
What underpins our global reputation is the strength of our team. Our attorneys, patent attorneys, and foreign legal professionals bring deep expertise across diverse fields, from law and biotechnology to life sciences, electronics, and mechanical engineering. They're supported by a skilled staff of IP paralegals and translators who uphold a high standard of professionalism. Together, we are committed to delivering “Speed & Quality,” earning the trust of clients worldwide as a reliable firm for prompt, high-quality legal support in IP matters both in Japan and abroad.
What we value above all is our steadfast commitment to serving our clients as licensed legal professionals. While many companies focus primarily on profit and may pursue new business ventures, our work is rooted in professional qualifications—and we remain firmly committed to that foundation. We are aware that some law firms have branched out into non-legal areas, but our philosophy is to stay true to our identity as a dedicated law and patent firm. At the same time, we aim to broaden our service offerings within that framework to better meet our clients’ evolving needs. In recent years, this approach has led us to expand into a diverse range of legal fields, including dispute resolution, healthcare regulatory matters, IT, and general corporate law.
Looking ahead, every member of our team will continue to refine their skills, guided by a shared commitment to putting our clients first.
The Present
Roughly 80% of our clients are based overseas, and we handle a significant volume of international work. As a result, our office is home to not only Japanese attorneys and patent attorneys, but also legal professionals and legal assistants from across Europe, North America, and Asia. We stay up to date on rapidly evolving developments in global intellectual property and business, and we draw on the collective insights of our diverse team to develop strategies that serve the best interests of our clients.
At the core of our organization is our people. We believe that when our staff can work in a positive and supportive environment, it leads to better work and, ultimately, greater client satisfaction. We strive to create a workplace where everyone can do their best and feel genuinely fulfilled.
For nearly 50 years, we’ve worked alongside this diverse team to support the IP needs of clients overseas—particularly in the United States. This long-standing experience has helped us build a strong foundation of knowledge and practical know-how. We’ve also earned the trust of international firms who often find it challenging to communicate across language barriers when working with Japanese firms. That’s never an issue with us.
I remember during my training at a U.S. law firm, one of the attorneys handed me an opinion letter from a Japanese firm and said, “It’s in English, but I honestly can’t understand it—can you tell me what it means?” When I read it, I realized that while the English itself wasn’t incorrect, the structure and logic reflected Japanese writing conventions. It was the kind of English that might make sense to Japanese readers but could be hard to follow for native English speakers. Just as Japanese readers may find direct translations from English difficult to follow, American readers may feel the same about English written in a Japanese structure. Today, many Japanese attorneys have international experience, and the communication gap is steadily narrowing. Even so, I believe our nearly 50 years of experience serving global clients gives us a distinct advantage.
Just recently, I visited the U.S. and had an engaging discussion with local attorneys about the use of AI in legal practice. Like in Japan, American lawyers are actively exploring how AI can enhance their work, and we exchanged many ideas on the topic.
We remain committed to building a practice that bridges borders and languages—delivering services that make a meaningful impact for our clients around the world.
For the Future
We will continue to serve our international clients with care and dedication, while also sharing the global insights we’ve gained in intellectual property and business with Japanese companies—especially ventures and startups. For Japan to thrive in the years ahead, it’s essential that more bold, fast-moving companies emerge. We’re committed to supporting that growth.
Some of our startup clients have successfully scaled their businesses, exited through acquisitions, and secured meaningful returns. As more ventures reach successful exits or go public, we believe this will help drive innovation in Japan. We hope to help foster that positive momentum.
The types of inquiries we receive from entrepreneurs vary widely. Some are looking to secure patents or enter into licensing agreements. Others ask for help dealing with copycat products or seek legal advice on setting up and maintaining their companies, managing employment issues, or handling customer disputes. Many startups are built around core technologies, so it’s not uncommon for them to come to us with questions unique to their situation—how to protect their innovations, how to use them strategically, and how to position themselves for growth. These are areas where our firm excels, especially given our deep experience in fields like chemistry, electronics, computer science, and biotechnology.
Founders—whether researchers or business professionals—often lack experience in legal and contractual matters related to running a company. In some cases, this can lead to misunderstandings or missteps. Our role is to help get them back on track, offering clear explanations, presenting multiple options, and working alongside them to find the best path forward.
By bringing together the full strength of our firm’s experience, we aim to take on a new role as legal professionals: empowering Japan’s boldest small and startup companies to grow, compete, and succeed.