MichiruTakahashi

Of Counsel

Tokyo + 81.3.6800.1821

With more than 30 years of experience in intellectual property counseling and litigation, Michiru Takahashi has represented famous brands such as Starbucks, Dell, Mag Instrument, and Sunkist. Her practice focuses on trademark, unfair competition, and copyright issues, including infringement litigation and trademark prosecution.

Michiru has significant experience protecting trade dress and product configuration. As lead counsel, she represented Mag Instrument in the landmark case at the Intellectual Property High Court. The case marked the first time the court granted 3-D trademark registration to a product configuration (i.e., Mini Maglite flashlight product shape). She also has extensive experience in cross-border technology transactions, including patent and know-how licensing and development agreements.

In addition, Michiru frequently counsels clients on privacy and data security issues. With more than 10 years of experience in this practice, she regularly advises foreign clients on Japanese personal information protection law, including the development of internal policies and measures against privacy breach cases. She also has significant experience advising Japanese multinational clients in relation to international transfer of personal data and EU and other Asian nations' data protection laws and regulations.

Michiru is a member of the Daini Tokyo Bar Association, the Japan Patent Attorneys Association, the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI), and the International Trademark Association.

Experience

  • TotalEnergies' affiliate Cray Valley sells three product lines to Pacific Avenue Capital PartnersJones Day is advising Total Energies on its sale of three product lines to Pacific Avenue Capital Partners (Wingtack®, PolyBD® and Dymalink®) developed by Cray Valley, its resin production and sales affiliate.
  • PTTGC acquires allnex from AdventJones Day advised PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited in the €4 billion acquisition of allnex Holding GmbH from Advent International.
  • SAP forms strategic partnership with Dediq for financial services industriesJones Day advised SAP in the formation of SAP Fioneer, a joint venture with the Munich based investor DEDIQ GmbH whereby SAP contributed its Financial Services and Insurance Services business and DEDIQ will invest more than €500 million.
  • Japanese online gaming developer and publisher reviews data privacy and security issues related to its online multiplayer gaming platformJones Day is advising a Japanese online gaming developer and publisher on data privacy and security issues related to its online multiplayer gaming platform that uses digital currency and subscription services for online gaming.
  • Torii Pharmaceutical acquires exclusive marketing and licensing rights from BioCryst for BCX7353 in JapanJones Day represented Torii Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating its commercialization and license agreement with BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
  • Global pharmaceutical company seeks over $1 billion in ICC arbitration related to licensing agreementJones Day successfully represented a global pharmaceutical company seeking over $1 billion in a licensing agreement dispute over royalty payments and the application of U.S. Supreme Court decisions in Brulotte and Kimble, among other claims.
  • Hudson's Bay Company sells Gilt Groupe K.K. to Gladd Inc.Jones Day advised Hudson's Bay Company in the sale of its subsidiary, Gilt Groupe K.K., to Gladd Inc.
  • MassMutual International sells 85.1 percent of MassMutual Japan to Nippon LifeJones Day advised MassMutual International LLC in its sale of 85.1 percent of the shares of MassMutual Japan, MassMutual's wholly-owned life insurance and wealth affiliate, to Nippon Life for JPY104.2 billion (approximately US$955 million).
  • ANSYS acquires OPTISJones Day advised ANSYS, Inc., the global leader and innovator of engineering simulation software, on its acquisition of OPTIS, a premier provider of software for scientific simulation of light, human vision, and physics-based visualization.
  • Cylance develops worldwide trademark portfolio for cybersecurity softwareJones Day advises Cylance, Inc. on the development and enforcement of its worldwide trademark portfolio directed to leading machine learning-based cybersecurity software and related services.
  • Cardinal Health acquires leading patient product portfolio from Medtronic for $6.1 billionJones Day advised Cardinal Health on the acquisition of Medtronic's Patient Care, Deep Vein Thrombosis and Nutritional Insufficiency businesses for $6.1 billion in cash.
  • Lam Research attempts merger with KLA-TencorJones Day represented Lam Research Corporation in its proposed acquisition of all outstanding shares of KLA-Tencor Corporation in a cash and stock transaction that placed an equity value on KLA-Tencor of approximately $10.6 billion based on its closing stock price on October 20, 2015.
  • Athersys licenses regenerative medicine therapy to Healios for treatment of stroke in JapanJones Day acted as intellectual property and tax counsel in the collaboration of Athersys, Inc. and Healios for the development and commercialization of novel stem cell therapy treatments, using Athersys' MultiStem cell.
  • Athersys licenses stem cell therapy to ChugaiJones Day advised Athersys, Inc. as licensor, in connection with its collaboration with Chugai Pharmaceutical Co. to further develop and commercialize Athersys' proprietary MULTISTEM® stem cell therapy in Japan for the treatment of ischemic stroke.
  • Synaptics acquires LCD display driver manufacturer Renesas SP Drivers for JPY48.5 billion (US$475 million)Jones Day advised Synaptics Inc., a leading developer of human interface solutions, in connection with its JPY48.5 billion (US$475 million) definitive agreement to acquire Renesas SP Drivers, Inc., a Japanese joint venture between Renesas Electronics Corporation, Sharp Corporation, and Powerchip Technology Corp., which is the market leader in small and medium-sized LCD driver ICs and provides high performance display drivers to the world's leading consumer device OEMs.
  • Shiseido successfully sells CARITA and DECLÉOR to L'OréalJones Day advised Shiseido Co., Ltd., a Japanese hair care and cosmetics producer, in connection with the successful €230 million (US$318 million) sale of CARITA and DECLÉOR, two French skincare, body care, and hair care brands, to L'Oréal S.A. in a combined share and asset transaction.
  • Sanofi completes $1.5 billion bond offeringJones Day represented Sanofi, a global healthcare company, in connection with its issuance of $1.5 billion aggregate principal amount of 1.250% Notes due 2018 in a public offering.
  • Mag Instrument is first to obtain 3-D trademark registration in Japan in landmark Intellectual Property High Court decisionJones Day recently acted as counsel to Mag Instrument, Inc. ("Mag Instrument") in an action filed with the Japanese Intellectual Property High Court.
  • Additional Publications

    • March 2023
      Law and Practice Japan, Pharmaceutical Advertising 2023, Chambers Global Practice Guides
    • March 2022
      Law and Practice Japan, Pharmaceutical Advertising 2022, Chambers Global Practice Guides
    • March 2021
      Law and Practice Japan, Pharmaceutical Advertising 2021, Chambers Global Practice Guides
    • March 2020
      Law and Practice Japan, Pharmaceutical Advertising 2020, Chambers Global Practice Guides
    • March 2019
      Law and Practice Japan, Pharmaceutical Advertising 2019, Chambers Global Practice Guides
    • January 2018
      Law and Practice Japan, Pharmaceutical Advertising 2018, Chambers Global Practice Guides
    • December 2017
      ビジネスの視点から見た中国サイバーセキュリティ法(『日中経協ジャーナル』12月号)
    • September 2017
      Data Breach Advisory Note-Japan, DataGuidance
    • May 2016
      Data Breach Advisory Note-Japan, DataGuidance (on-line)
    • May 2009
      A Privacy Primer for Corporate Counsel, Thomson Reuters/Aspatore
    • January 2007
      Q&AでスッキリわかるIT社会の法律相談/Q&A Legal Issues in IT Society(清文社)
    • March 2006
      Personal Information Protection Law in Japan, Privacy & Data Security Law Journal
    • March 2006
      Personal Information Protection Law in Japan, Privacy & Data Security Review
    • March 2006
      Personal Information Protection Law in Japan, World Data Protection Report, BNA International
    • June/July 1995
      Parallel Importation of Patented Goods Does Not Constitute Patent Infringement, Issue 73 of Patent World

    Additional Speaking Engagements

    • October 2020
      蘭日貿易連盟(Dutch & Japanese Trade Federation): 情報漏洩の法的側面~2020年改正法を中心に~
    • September 2020
      JICN (The Japan In-House Counsel Network): Amendment of the Personal Information Protection Act and its Impact
    • October 23, 2017
      How to Prepare for the GDPR for Japanese Companies
    • October 2017
      ジョーンズ・デイセミナー:EU一般データ保護規則(GDPR)への備え - 日本企業向け -
    • July 2017
      ジョーンズ・デイ知的財産セミナー:小宮義則特許庁顧問による「第四次産業革命と今後の日本の知的財産戦略」講演
    • April 2017
      ジョーンズ・デイ ライフサイエンスセミナー:医薬品に関する国際契約書の作成・交渉(1)
    • July 2016
      ジョーンズ・デイセミナー:近時のEUにおけるプライバシーに関する新情勢
    • June 2016
      ジョーンズ・デイ ライフサイエンスセミナー:近時の EUにおけるデータに関する新情勢
    • April 2016
      AIPPI JAPANセミナー:米国特許訴訟の最新情報
    • September 2015
      ジョーンズ・デイ米国訴訟セミナー:米国訴訟において日本の企業が留意すべき事項
    • September 2015
      日本弁理士会セミナー:米国における知財法務の最新動向 ~現在のアンチパテント環境における道標
    • December 2014
      AIPPI JAPANセミナー:米国特許訴訟の最新情報
    • September 2013
      AIPPI・JAPANセミナー:米国特許訴訟の最新情報
    • September 2012
      AIPPI・JAPANセミナー「米国特許法改正及び米国特許訴訟の最新情報」
    • November 30, 2001
      Privacy Protection in the Network Society, Tokyo Metropolitan Research Laboratory of Public Health.