ABOUT OUR FIRM

History

YUASA AND HARA is one of the leading Law and Patent firms in Japan. We have established a strong international reputation on the basis of our comprehensive services. We provide legal services, intellectual property protection, and accounting & auditing services. Utilizing a strong and closely cooperative partnership system, we have been able to successfully unite the professions of Attorney at Law, Patent Attorney, and Certified Public Accountant within one firm.

The origins of our firm are rooted in the law office established by Judge Toyotaro Yuasa in Osaka in 1902. After retiring from his judgeship, Judge Yuasa was admitted as an Attorney at Law to the Osaka Bar Association in 1902 and built a successful legal practice. Dr. Kyozo Yuasa, son of Judge Yuasa, was admitted as an Attorney at Law to the Osaka Bar Association in 1924. He studied abroad and became a Barrister in the United Kingdom in 1927. After his return to Japan, he commenced legal practice not only for Japanese clients but also for foreign clients coming to Japan. He was also admitted as a Patent Attorney to the Japanese Patent Attorneys Association in 1929. In 1947, he relocated his law office from Osaka to Tokyo due to his appointment as a legal counsel for the General Headquarters of the Allied Powers. He served later as Vice President of International Association for the Protection of the Industrial Property of Japan (AIPPI/Japan), President of Japan Patent Attorneys Association (JPAA). He was a Chief founder of the Asian Patent Attorneys Association (APAA) and served as the President.

Our firm has expanded significantly into International and Intellectual Property practice since 1945. Under the circumstances, Dr. Yuasa founded Yuasa and Welty International Patent firm in 1955 in order to foster and manage more efficient legal services. In 1956, the Patent firm evolved into the Patent Division, one of two basic divisions, Law and Patent, of our unified firm named YUASA LAW AND PATENT OFFICE. The then Patent Division included the current Trademark & Design Division.

In 1958, Mr. Yoshikatsu Sakamoto joined our firm as a partner and the name of our firm became YUASA & SAKAMOTO LAW AND PATENT OFFICE. Simultaneously, a partnership system was introduced into our firm. In 1963, the name of our firm became YUASA, SAKAMOTO, KAWAI AND IKENAGA. In 1965, the Accounting & Auditing Division was added as third division to our firm in order to assist our clients in Audit and Tax matters.

In 1967, Judge Masuji Hara joined our firm as a partner. Judge Hara was highly regarded in the field of Industrial Property Protection as a presiding judge of the Industrial Property Division at the Tokyo District Court and Tokyo High Court. His considerable experience and expertise in the area enhanced our firm’s practice and reputation. Following the appointment of Mr. Sakamoto to the judge of the Supreme Court, the highest court in Japan and his consequent resignation from our firm in December 1971, our firm’s name was changed in 1972 to YUASA AND HARA. This is the name by which our firm continues to be recognized. In the year 2002, we celebrated our centennial anniversary.

Building on its strong tradition of multi-professional discipline, technical expertise and international vision, our firm has been at the forefront of cutting edge areas such as: Business Method Patents, Computer Software Protection, Corporate Transactions & International Investments for Venture Business, Cross-border transactions, Cyberspace Transactions, Domain Name Disputes, M&A, International Litigation & Alternative Dispute Resolution, International Brand Protection of Trademark/Design, and Patent Protection in Biotechnology, Mechatronics, Computer Sciences & other Advanced Technology.

Organization

Our firm has been organized into four divisions: Law, Patent, Trademark & Design and Accounting & Auditing Divisions.