Harukuni Ito has more than 17 years of practice experience in litigation and commercial transactions involving intellectual property.
Harukuni was admitted to practice law in Japan in 2001 and has extensive experience handling patent litigation before Japanese courts and proceedings before the Japan Patent Office in areas including electronics, automotive, machinery, and pharmaceuticals. He also has experience representing clients before Japanese courts in litigation involving various types of unfair competition practices including trade secret misappropriation, confusing indication of goods and business, imitation of the configuration of another person's goods, and infringement of business reputation. In addition, he has experience representing individuals in employee invention litigation and moral rights litigation.
Harukuni has particular experience in commercial law involving technology-related international transactions such as technology/product licenses, research and development, and technology-based joint ventures.
Harukuni also represents clients in non-IP litigation and disputes, such as contract, labor, and shareholder derivative litigation.
Prior to joining Jones Day, Harukuni worked for a year at a firm in Cincinnati, Ohio. He works comfortably with clients in Japanese and in English.
Experience
UPL acquires Arysta LifeScience from Platform Specialty Products Corporation for $4.2 billion
Jones Day advised UPL Limited ("UPL"), a leading global generic agrochemical company based in India, in connection with its subsidiary, UPL Corporation Limited’s, US$4.2 billion acquisition and related $3 billion term financing of Arysta Lifescience Inc. (“Arysta”), a global provider of crop protection solutions, including bio-solutions and seed treatment, from NYSE listed Platform Specialty Products Corporation (“Platform”).
TonenGeneral Sekiyu combines with JX Group
Jones Day advised TonenGeneral Sekiyu K.K. in connection with the business integration with JX Group, which forms the largest oil refiner in Japan.
Riverside acquires Y International
Jones Day advised The Riverside Company in connection with its acquisition of Y International, Inc., a Tokyo-based bicycle retailer with 29 company-owned stores across Japan with a particular focus on metropolitan Tokyo.
SDS Biotech acquires Sree Ramcides
Jones Day advised SDS Biotech K.K., a subsidiary of Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd., in connection with the acquisition of 65% of the shares of Sree Ramcides Chemicals Pvt. Ltd., a Chennai-based agrichemicals manufacturer, from ePlanet Capital and certain minority shareholders.
Hon Hai Precision acquires LCD-related patent portfolio from NEC Corporation for ¥9.5 billion (US$110 million)
Jones Day advised Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. (also known as Foxconn), the world's largest EMS (Electronics Manufacturing Service) provider headquartered in Taiwan, in its purchase through its subsidiary, Gold Charm Ltd., of an LCD-related patent portfolio from NEC Corporation for ¥9.5 billion (approximately US$110 million).
RHJ International sells its 77.9% ownership of Niles Co. to Valeo for ¥15.4 billion (€135 million)
Jones Day advised RHJ International SA in its sale of its 77.9% interest in Niles Co., Ltd., a Japanese auto parts manufacturer, to Valeo SA, a worldwide leader in the interior controls market, for a total cash consideration of ¥15.4 billion (€135 million).
Toray Industries and TonenGeneral Sekiyu K. K. form joint venture
Jones Day advised Toray Industries, Inc. in its formation of a joint venture with TonenGeneral Sekiyu K. K. through a new contribution of capital into Tonen Specialty Separator Godo Kaisha to develop, manufacture and sell lithium ion battery separator film.
Sumitomo Corporation acquires 35% stake in Hachette Fujingaho
Jones Day advised Sumitomo Corporation in its strategic alliance with and acquisition of a 35% stake in Hachette Fujingaho, a subsidiary of Lagardère SCA.
Nissin Food acquires 33.5% stake in Russia's Angleside
Jones Day represented Nissin Foods Holdings Co., Ltd. in connection with the acquisition of a roughly 15% stake in Angleside Ltd, the holding company of Mareven Food Central, the leading instant noodle manufacturer in Russia, for approximately ¥9 billion ($100 million).
SCHOTT acquires majority share in Japan-based Moritex, expanding fiber optic operations into Asia
Jones Day advised SCHOTT AG in its Yen 7.28 billion ($82 million) acquisition of a controlling interest in Tokyo-based Moritex Corporation.
Additional Publications
- April 2009主要ビジネス関連法案の影響度チェック－不正競争防止法改正案（『Business Law Journal』）
- Northwestern University (LL.M. 2007); The Legal Training and Research Institute of the Supreme Court of Japan (2001); University of Tokyo (LL.B. 1994)
- Japan (Daini Tokyo Bar Association) and New York
- English, Japanese