Kensaku Yamamoto
Managing Partner | Osaka, Japan
Ken is the managing partner of SHUSAKU·YAMAMOTO, leading its international expansion in Asia with five offices since joining the firm in 2012. His practice areas include pharmaceutical law, intellectual property prosecution and enforcement, regulatory issues, and commercial law, including mergers and acquisitions.
Under his leadership, the firm has been recognized by Chambers and Partners, Legal 500, IAM Patent, and Asia Legal Business. Ken has been named a Leading Individual in Legal 500 and a finalist in the Managing Partner of the Year category in the Asia Legal Business Japan Law Awards (2019-2023). He is also ranked as a “Trademark star” and “Patent star” in IP Stars 2023 and 2024.
Practice Areas
Strategic development of patent and trademark portfolios, technology licensing, risk assessment, for example, via clearance surveys, non-infringement and invalidity analyses, and the enforcement of patent and trademark rights.
Japanese, United States, European and worldwide patent, trademark and intellectual matters in all areas of biotechnology, chemistry, biopharmaceuticals, medical devices, and electronics.
Memberships & Affiliations
- Japan Federation of Bar Associations (2005)
- First Tokyo Bar Association (2005 – 2012)
- Osaka Bar Association (2012)
- Japan Patent Attorneys Association (2011)
- International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI JAPAN) (2009)
- Osaka Joto Rotary Club
- Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Special Advisor to the President of Kyoto Prefectural University
- Visiting Professor in Kansai University.
Publications
- “Grand Panel of IP High Court of Japan Establishes Cross-Border Patent Infringement Liability for Computer Implemented Invention” published in Sweet & Maxwell’s European Intellectual Property Review
- “The Japanese Legal Implications of ChatGPT & Generative AI” published in Computer and Telecommunications Law Review
- “Truth in Advertising — Japan Unfair Competition and Misleading Advertising Legal Framework” published in European Intellectual Property Review
- “Japan Implements Important Online Affiliate Advertising Guidelines” published in CTLR: THE JOURNAL OF E-COMMERCE, TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS ISSUE 8 2022
- “Drug & Medical Device Litigation Report 2022” published in Global Legal Group’s International Comparative Legal Guides
- Co-authored the Japanese portion of the book titled “Patent Enforcement in the UK and Trans-Pacific Countries”
- “IP High Court of Japan Deepens Safe Harbour Patent Exemption to Cover Innovator Drug Marker’s Pre-Approval Clinical Trials” published in Sweet & Maxwell’s European Intellectual Property Review Volume 44, Issue 8 2022
Admissions
- Registered to practice before the Japan Patent Office, admitted in 2011
- Registered to practice before the Supreme Court of Japan, admitted in 2005
Education
- University of Southern California School of Law (LL.M., 2012)
- Kyoto University (M.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, 1999)
- Kyoto University (B.S. in Pharmaceutical Science, 1997)
Languages
- Japanese & English