Life Sciences
Asia-Pacific Guide 2025 : Japan
Band 3
Contact number
+ 81.3.4595.3939About
Provided by Jones Day
Our team in Japan prides itself on its longstanding local relationships, forged from the many years spent working to serve the interests of a diverse and continuously expanding client base. As one of the first international firms to open in Japan, Jones Day’s life sciences practice was instrumental in the development of our office in Tokyo and was a key player in the mergers of major domestic pharmaceutical companies that reshaped the Japanese market, including Sumitomo Pharmaceutical’s merger with Dainippon Pharmaceuticals.
Our team of Japanese bengoshi and foreign attorneys - each of whom possessing more than 20 years of experience in their area of practice - advise leading domestic and international life sciences companies on the full scope of issues affecting them, including:
• major domestic and cross-border acquisitions and joint ventures;
• co-development, licensing, distribution and other strategic arrangements;
• high-stakes litigation, arbitration and other dispute resolution involving, among others, Hatch-Waxman disputes and patent infringement;
• antitrust matters;
• data privacy, including the international transmission of patient data;
• investigations involving FCPA and Japan’s Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act, among others;
• market entry and clinical trials in Japan.
The Tokyo team forms a key part of our deeply integrated global practice, which advises the world’s premier life sciences companies across offices throughout the Asia-Pacific, Europe and US.
Chambers Review
Jones Day houses a talented group distinguished for the scope of its expertise. The team is proficient in liaising with other offices in dealing with the protection and enforcement of IP assets, especially patents. The firm is also well placed to assist life sciences clients in relation to corporate transactions, and can leverage its global network to assist clients with international matters.
Work Highlights
- Jones Day advised Sumitomo Pharma on the acquisition of assets from Nabriva Therapeutics and various wholly owned subsidiaries, including assets from the USA, Ireland and Austria in support of the development, manufacturing, marketing and commercialisation of lefamulin in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"The Jones Day team are easy to work with and seamlessly work across regions utilising experts worldwide."
"They have a great deal of experience and are always able to negotiate and make proposals in favour of our side."
"The Jones Day team are easy to work with and seamlessly work across regions utilising experts worldwide."
"They have a great deal of experience and are always able to negotiate and make proposals in favour of our side."
Notable Practitioners
Benjamin Lang is a practitioner in the field of life sciences in Japan, handling cross-border transactions for both Japanese and international clients.
"Benjaminis fluent in Japanese and possesses experience and knowledge in M&A and other transactions."
"He is a competent lawyer who has a high level of Japanese as well as English, which is his native language, and he is able to communicate with Japanese clients in Japanese."
Ranked Lawyers at
Jones Day
Japan
Members
Provided by Jones Day