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Bronze - Firms: litigation
“Abe & Partners is a great, client-friendly and responsive firm with very good work ethics. Even though they are not big, they get the work done. They tailor the advice to the client’s commercial goal, and work hard to understand the complex technology. Their English capability is excellent.” Abe & Partners is an Osaka-based general law practice with impressive IP capabilities. The outfit’s compact team has extensive technical expertise, excelling in fields such as pharmaceuticals, chemistry and technology. Dual qualified in Japan and New York, managing partner Takanori Abe is a seasoned litigator with ample international experience, which comes in handy when dealing with cross-border matters. He routinely represents some of the world’s leading, often life sciences, companies in complex courtroom battles where there is a lot at stake. Some of his disclosable professional highlights include working on the Baxalta v Chugai infringement matter before the Supreme Court and winning the Nichia v Everlight Electronics nullity case before the German Federal Patent Court. “Takanori is a brilliant attorney and a powerhouse. He never gave up, although the case was extraordinarily difficult. His energy contributed a lot to the final settlement”, says a source connected to a recent, non-disclosable matter.
At ABE & PARTNERS, we are always fully ready to support our clients with our expert knowledge of and experience in intellectual property. Our support to our clients’ corporate activities is rooted in our ability to make prompt and thorough decisions on what to do (or not to do) and strategically advance processes to reach solutions advantageous to our clients, while remaining adaptable to evolving situations,.
ABE & PARTNERS’ strengths
ABE & PARTNERS has participated in patent litigations that cover the fields of pharmaceuticals, chemistry, electronics and machinery, and involve advanced technology, such as biotechnology and semiconductors, and cross-border matters.
The firm is particularly experienced in pharmaceutical patent cases. ABE＆PARTNERS has handled significant cases between pharmaceutical companies ranked among the Top 10 in the world. Many of these cases have been bet-the-company litigations, with the firm currently involved in a drastic battle between brands and one between brands and generics.
ABE&PARTNERS has also been advising on FRAND matters – for instance, in the Apple v Samsung case – and various recent reports issued by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Japan Patent Office and the Cabinet Office.
High-profile IP cases
- Baxalta’s antibody patent infringement case against Chugai Pharmaceutical in Japan: ABE & PARTNERS represented Baxalta and filed the lawsuit while Chugai was conducting a clinical trial. This was a first antibody patent infringement case in Japan.
- A biopharmaceutical company against a pharmaceutical company in American Arbitration Association proceedings: Takanori Abe was retained as an expert in Japanese patent law and submitted an expert opinion and testified at deposition.
- A Japanese pharmaceutical company’s acquisition of Shire: ABE & PARTNERS represented Shire in due diligence in a $62-billion M&A deal.
- Nichia’s white LED patent infringement cases against Everlight in the United States, Germany and China: Mr Abe’s article was cited in the petition for writ of certiorari that Nichia submitted to the US Supreme Court. ABE & PARTNERS assisted Nichia and won the case before the Federal Court of Justice in Germany and the Beijing IP Court.
- Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma’s free radial scavenger patent lawsuit against Nisshin Pharmaceutical in Japan: ABE & PARTNERS represented Mitsubishi Tanabe and settled the case by a resolution with Nisshin.
Our approach
- Providing specific solutions from viewpoints shared with clients and based on thorough legal research: we at ABE & PARTNERS share the perspectives of our clients by fully understanding their business goals. Our firm thoroughly and comprehensively investigates all legal issues and technical matters from clients’ perspectives and propose specific solutions.
- Supporting clients’ global strategies based on abundant experience in global litigation: we at ABE & PARTNERS solve issues arising from the global business developments of our clients by leveraging our experience in litigating international cases and using the relationships we have forged with overseas law firms.
- Providing timely services in dog-year business developments: we at ABE & PARTNERS strive to improve the speed and efficiency of our services on all fronts to adapt to today’s rapidly changing economy and society.
Mr Abe’s background
Mr Abe, managing partner of ABE & PARTNERS, is an attorney at law admitted in both Japan and New York. He is a guest professor at the Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine and formerly a lecturer at the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine. He is a mediator/arbitrator in Japan.
Jurisdiction