Chie Yakura
Chie Yakura is a partner of the Litigation Department of Morrison Foerster Law Offices. She represents both non-Japanese and Japanese corporations in a wide range of complex litigation matters with an emphasis on intellectual property, technology transactions and trade secrets, antitrust/competition law, as well as cross-border contractual and commercial disputes and product liability matters. Chie also focuses on anti-corruption and compliance matters and conducts internal investigations. She has handled cases in a variety of industries, including software, hardware, consumer electronics, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, transportation, real estate and manufacturing.
Chie received her LL.B. from Kyoto University and graduated from the Legal Training and Research Institute of the Supreme Court of Japan (53rd Trainee). Chie also received an LL.M. from Columbia Law School and an LL.M. in international business law from the University of London, London School of Economics and Political Science.
Chie is a bengoshi, admitted to practice in Japan. She is also a benrishi (patent attorney) in Japan and admitted in New York.
Chie is a member of the Dai-Ichi Tokyo Bar Association, the Japan Patent Attorneys Association and the American Bar Association.
Experience
Key Investigation Matters
Investigation of Japanese subsidiary of a global pharmaceutical company regarding allegations of employee involvement with independent post-marketing clinical studies; investigation of Japanese subsidiary of a global medical device company regarding power harassment issues; and investigation of one of the world’s largest electric commerce companies in connection with the Japan Fair Trade Commission’s dawn raid regarding allegedly anti-competitive business practices.
Smartphone Litigation
Member of team that successfully handled high-profile smartphone cases in Japan.
Dell v. Nisseicom, Sanshin Electronics and Chiyodagumi
(Tokyo District Court). Representation of Dell in a series of contract disputes totaling $100 million in Tokyo District Courts.
A major European pharmaceutical company v. a major American pharmaceutical company
(Japan Patent Office and Japan IP High Court). Representation of a major European pharmaceutical company in IP High Court appeals and separate invalidity trials in front of the Japan Patents Office regarding assays for the detection of Hepatitis C.
Colgate-Palmolive v. Palermo
(Osaka District Court and Osaka High Court). Representation of Colgate-Palmolive in a products liability case before the Osaka District Court and the Osaka High Court involving Hill’s Science Diet pet food.
Limerick v. Togo Shrine, et al., Colgate-Palmolive v. Palermo
(Tokyo District Court and Tokyo High Court). Representation of Limerick in a $700 million dispute regarding the construction of an office tower complex in Tokyo District Court and Tokyo High Court.
A major American hardware and software manufacturer v. Nishiyama
(Japan Patent Office). Representation of a major American hardware and software manufacturer in a patent infringement case before the Japan Patent Office.
UPS v. Suntory
Representation of UPS in a dispute involving international transportation of goods.
Albemarle v. Kaneko Chemicals
(Tokyo District Court; Japan IP High Court and Japan Patent Office). Representation of Albemarle Corp. in a patent infringement case on chemical products in Tokyo District Court.
Motorola v. Vertel Communication Systems
(Tokyo District Court). Representation of Motorola’s Japanese subsidiary in a preliminary injunction case involving termination of distributorship before Tokyo District Court.
AIG v. Orix
(Tokyo District Court). Representation of AIG in a series of disputes regarding real estate transactions with a value of more than $100 million in Tokyo District Court.
Applied Biosystems v. Illumina
(Japan Patent Office). Representation of Applied Biosystems in a JPO proceeding involving a dispute on ownership of Japanese patents.
Acushnet v. Bridgestone Sports
(IP High Court). Representation of Acushnet in a patent infringement case before the Japan IP High Court.
Seagate v. Leap
(Tokyo District Court). Representation of Seagate in a damages case involving alleged termination of distributorship agreement before Tokyo District Court.
IAC Search & Media v. Tabata
Representation of IAC Search & Media in an adversarial patent licensing.
Rankings
Leading Partner in Japan: Antitrust and Competition
The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2025
Recommended in Japan: Dispute Resolution
The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2025
Ranked in Japan: Intellectual Property (International)
Chambers Global 2024
Asia's Top 15 IP Lawyers
Asian Legal Business (ALB) 2023
Listed in Top 100 Women in Litigation
Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific 2024
Litigation Star in Japan
Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific 2024
Ranked in Japan for Litigation
IAM Patent 1000 2022-2024
Asia's Top 15 Litigators
Asian Legal Business (ALB) 2021
Dispute Resolution Lawyer of the Year
Asian Legal Business (ALB) Japan Law Awards 2020
Ranked in Japan: Dispute Resolution
Chambers Global 2024
Ranked in Japan: Dispute Resolution; Intellectual Property
Chambers Asia-Pacific 2024
Leading Partner in Japan: Intellectual Property
The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2025
IP Star for Japan
Managing Intellectual Property (MIP) (Recognized since 2021)
Intellectual Property Law; Litigation
The Best Lawyers in Japan (Recognized since 2010)
Recommended for Litigation
IAM Patent 1000 2020
IP Star
Managing IP, 2023-2024