Hiroto Imai | Tokyo | Hogan Lovells

Hiroto Imai

Partner Intellectual Property

Languages

Japanese, English

Imai Hiroto

Hiroto Imai
Imai Hiroto
  • Overview
  • Experience
  • Credentials
  • Insights and events
quote mark

"...the engineering master Imai is a rarity on the domestic scene; few Japanese attorneys at law so effectively combine cross-cultural sensitivity, immense technical depth and astute legal insight."

IAM Patent 1000, 2018

Hiroto Imai is a bengoshi (Japanese qualified lawyer) and a benrishi (Japanese qualified patent attorney) in Hogan Lovells' Tokyo office. Since 1997, Hiroto has handled various patent and other intellectual property disputes/matters, including patent litigations in a variety of industry sectors, invalidation trials, face-to-face negotiations, settlements, brand protections, licensing, and IP aspects of corporate and commercial transactions. Whilst his primary focus is on IP practice, Hiroto also has extensive experience in handling corporate and commercial disputes/matters in a wide variety of areas.

Hiroto studied science at Waseda University (B.Eng. 1991) and at the Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Waseda University (1991-1992). He studied law at the Legal Training and Research Institute, the Supreme Court of Japan and at the University of Pennsylvania, (LL.M. 2002). Prior to joining Hogan Lovells, he worked at the Tokyo and London offices of a Magic Circle firm in the IP and Corporate practice groups, as well as at leading Japanese law firms.

In Japan, few attorneys have scientific or engineering backgrounds; however, Hiroto actively uses the strength and knowledge of his own scientific background in handling patent disputes/matters, etc., in various technical fields, whether they are contentious or not.

quote mark

"...the engineering master Imai is a rarity on the domestic scene; few Japanese attorneys at law so effectively combine cross-cultural sensitivity, immense technical depth and astute legal insight."

IAM Patent 1000, 2018

Representative experience

Advising global and Japanese companies in relation to patent disputes including performing provisional dispositions, litigations, invalidation trials, face-to-face negotiations with adverse parties, and settlements.

Advising global and Japanese companies regarding IP disputes including trademark, design, copyright, trade secret, Unfair Competition Prevention Law.

Advising global and Japanese companies on IP related contracts, IP commercial transactions, patent/trademark infringement search reports, IP due diligence, personal data protection.

Advising clients on company law, product liability law, anti-monopoly law, government regulatory laws, commercial matters, labour laws, and real property.

Acting for and advising global and Japanese companies regarding various disputes in relation to commercial transactions, contracts, product liability and employment issues.

Credentials

Education
  • LL.M., University of Pennsylvania
  • Supreme Court Legal Training and Research Institute, 1995-1997
  • Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Waseda University, 1991-1992
  • B.Eng., Waseda University, 1991
Bar admissions and qualifications
  • Japan - Daiichi Tokyo Bar Association
  • Japan Patent Attorneys Association

Recognition

Leading individual in Japan for Enforcement and Litigation

World Trademark Review 1000

2023- 2024
Next Generation Partner: Bengoshi

Legal 500 Asia-Pacific

2020 - 2024
Patent Star in Japan

Managing Intellectual Property IP Stars

2020 - 2024
Leading individual for Patent Litigation in Japan

IAM Patent 1000

2023- 2024
Leading individual for Patent Transactions in Japan

IAM Patent 1000

2023- 2024
The Best Lawyers in Japan, Intellectual Property

Best Lawyers

2022
Leading individual in Japan for Intellectual Property

Who's Who Legal

2023