Since its inception, Soei Patent & Law Firm has been dedicated to supporting our clients’ business endeavors through the power of intellectual property.

Our legal practice began in 1999, when three attorneys-at-law joined forces with an existing patent firm founded by patent attorneys.

My own career on the bench spans approximately 39 years, beginning in 1979 and concluding with my retirement as Chief Judge of the Intellectual Property High Court in January 2017. During this time, I dedicated roughly 22 and a half years specifically to IP-related litigation. Driven by a desire to continue assisting clients in this field even after retiring from the judiciary, I joined Soei Patent & Law Firm as Vice Chairman in April 2018. In July of that same year, I succeeded Tomokazu Tsukahara (also a former Chief Judge of the IP High Court) as Chairman and have led the firm ever since.

Throughout our history, we have served clients through the seamless collaboration of our Patent, Design, and Trademark departments—comprising attorneys and patent attorneys—alongside our Systems department, which leverages IT to support our professionals, and our highly specialized administrative staff.

In January 2026, our firm underwent a structural transformation. The patent attorney division became Soei Intellectual Property, while the legal division was renamed Soei Shitara IP Law Firm, with plans to incorporate as a Legal Professional Corporation as soon as administrative preparations are complete. Although Soei Intellectual Property and Soei Shitara IP Law Firm now operate as independent legal entities, we maintain our close partnership, ensuring the continued delivery of the same high-quality IP services as before.

Soei Shitara IP Law Firm boasts a diverse team with a profound understanding of both IP law and technology. Our members include former judges, former JPO Trial and Appeal Department Directors-General and Chief Administrative Judges who also served as Judicial Research Officials, and attorneys with extensive experience in IP litigation. We aim to pass on our specialized knowledge and know-how in IP litigation, ensuring sustainable, long-term support for our clients.

We remain dedicated to pursuing the best interests of our clients and performing our duties with the utmost sincerity, striving to be the first name that comes to mind when you think of IP litigation.