Antitrust and Competition Law

Since its launch in 2008, our Antitrust and Competition Law Team has expanded in both quality and quantity in response to the deepening and diversifying needs of our clients as the risks in this area have increased.

In addition to its core of Japanese and foreign lawyers, our team also works with external individuals and teams, including former senior officials of the Japan Fair Trade Commission (see recent examples here), providing comprehensive antitrust and competition law services both domestically and internationally, as outlined below. We also handle emerging areas of practice, such as serving as a monitoring trustee in business combination review cases. Our expertise covers a wide range of industries, with a particular focus on sectors that are currently experiencing strong growth, such as manufacturing, life sciences, IT, energy and resources, and financial institutions.

The Antitrust and Competition Law Team handles not only matters involving Japan’s Antimonopoly Act, but also a broad range of international competition law matters. Our team has recently been joined by attorneys who are actively engaged in competition law matters under EU, Chinese, and South Korean law.

Furthermore, by leveraging carefully vetted international networks, together with the expertise of our attorneys, we have established a framework that enables efficient collaboration with competition law practitioners around the world. This allows us to handle multi-jurisdictional matters as well as matters involving specific foreign jurisdictions, particularly in relation to merger control filings, antitrust investigations (including cartels), and competition-related litigation.

By incorporating the insider perspective of former Japanese competition authority officials, we strive to provide practical solutions and achieve the best possible outcomes for our clients.

 

 

Areas of Practice:

 

Related Publications

View More Publications
  • In-Depth: Public Competition Enforcement, Japan Chapter, Lexology (2026) [Co-author]
  • "EU Competition Law and the Promotion of European Champions (Gleanings from the Research) (in Japanese)," EU ho Kenkyu (Review of European Law) (Tokyo) No.18, pp. 125-129 (2026)
  • “China Competition Law and Policy Research Report 2025,” China Business Publishing House (2025) [Co-author]
  • “Antimonopoly Act Case Bulletin - Consultation Case Regarding Home Appliance Manufacturers' Instructions to Distributors on Sales Prices (JFTC announcement of June 25, 2025),” JURIST No. 1617, Yuhikaku Publishing Co., Ltd. (2025)
  • In-Depth:International Investigations, Japan Chapter, Lexology (2025) [Co-author]
  • “Amendment to U.S. HSR Filing Rules and Influence on Japanese Companies -Notes for Efficient M&A Transactions” Junkan Keirijouhou No.1743 (2025) [Co-author]
  • “A Film Director and a Lawyer, a Unique Team Opens a New Frontier in Compliance -Making it Personal-,” Business & Law (2025) [Interview]
  • “Commentary on Japanese Antitrust Law,” China Legal Publishing House (2024) [Co-translation]
  • “China Competition Law and Policy Research Report,” China Business Publishing House (2024) [Co-author]
  • “Antimonopoly Act Case Bulletin - Case Denying Existence of Tort in Civil Litigation on the Basis of Forced Sales of Newspapers to a Distributor (Oshigami) - Osaka High Court, April 14, 2023,” JURIST No. 1595, Yuhikaku Publishing Co., Ltd. (2024)
  • Learning Antimonopoly Law for the First Time, SHOJIHOMU Co., Ltd. (2021) [Editor]
  • Compliance - Code of Conduct and Whistleblower Regulations that Resonate with Corporate Philosophy,” Business Homu, March 2024 Issue, CHUOKEIZAI-SHA, Inc. (2024) [Co-author]
  • Antimonopoly Law (5th Edition), SHOJIHOMU Co., Ltd. (2024) [Editor]
  • “Recommendations for Effective Compliance: Strategic Planning Skills Required for Compliance Departments,” Business & Law (2023) [Interview]
  • “Japan: private practice perspective,” GCR Enforcer's Hub 2023, Law Business Research Ltd. (2023) [Co-author]
  • Concept Driven Compliance: Essentials of Corporate Compliance overlooked by 90% of Persons in Charge (2023)
  • “Japan: private practice perspective,” GCR Enforcer's Hub 2022, Law Business Research Ltd. (2022) [Co-author]
  • “Proposals for Legal Professional Privileges in EU Competition Investigations,” Market and Competition Law Review (Porto)Vol.6 No.1 (2022)
  • The Legal 500 Comparative Guides - Competition Litigation, Japan chapter, Legalease Ltd. (2022) [Co-author]
  • Super Practical! Introduction to Brand Management:10 Steps for Creating Beloved Companies and Services, Discover 21 (2022) [Co-author] (Column Contribution)
  • “The Impact of EU Competition Law on the European Green Deal,” Kousei Torihiki No. 855 (January 2022)
  • “Designing Compliance to Improve Corporate Brand: The Merging Point Between ESG/SDGs, Management, and Corporate Compliance,” Business Lawyers (September 2021)
  • The Legal 500 Comparative Guides - Competition Litigation, Japan chapter, Legalease Ltd. (2021) [Co-author]
  • Antimonopoly Law for Beginners, SHOJIHOMU Co., Ltd. (2021) [Author]
  • Series: “Knowledge Creation” Compliance Beyond the Legal Framework “Part 2. SDGs Will Make Compliance More ‘Fun and Cool’” BUSINESS LAWYERS (April 2021) [Interview]
  • Series: “Knowledge Creation” Compliance Beyond the Legal Framework “Part 1. Introducing ‘Re: houmu’ - Where Compliance Officers Share Their Concerns” BUSINESS LAWYERS (March 2021) [Interview]
  • “Japan: private practice perspective,” GCR Enforcer's Hub 2021, Law Business Research Ltd. (2021) [Co-author]
 
 

Related Seminars

View More Seminars
  • Panelist at a panel discussion entitled “Attorney-Client Privilege under EU Competition Law,” at an event entitled “CompLaw: Advanced EU,” hosted by Informa Competition Law, May 15-16, 2025
  • The Latest Developments of EU Competition Law,” at the EU Compliance seminar, hosted by The Mission of Japan to the European Union, July 12, 2024
  • “​​​​​​​The Latest Developments of EU Competition Law,” at the seminar on Competition Laws of Foreign Countries, hosted by Kousei Torihiki Kyoukai/Fair Trade Institute, March 2024
  • “​​​​​​​Asia M&A Investment Seminar,” hosted by Atsumi & Sakai, March 6, 2024
  • “​​​​​​​The Latest Developments of EU Competition Law -Recent Important Examinations and Court Decisions as well as New Legislation and Proposed Amendments-,” hosted by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the United Kingdom, November 22, 2023
  • “Overview of EU Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR) and Preparation for Japanese Companies” hosted by The Association of Corporate Legal Departments, October, 2023
  • Panelist for a panel entitled “The new frontier of Competition Law and Labour markets,” at the 27th Annual Competition Conference, hosted by International Bar Association,  September 15, 2023
  • Monthly meeting entitled “Updates and Points to Note on EU Competition Law,” hosted by the Japanese Institute of International Business Law, Inc., April 2023
  • “The latest developments of EU competition law,” at the seminar on Competition Laws of Foreign Countries, hosted by Kousei Torihiki Kyoukai/Fair Trade Institute, November 2022
  • “EU competition law and sustainability,” hosted by Japanese Chamber of Commerce in Düsseldorf, September 2022
  • Speaker at a panel entitled “Global Antitrust Perspectives on M&A: Best Practices for Practitioners,” hosted by New York State Bar Association, June 28, 2022
  • “The Reform of Vertical Restraints under EU Competition,” hosted by Japanese Chamber of Commerce in Düsseldorf, October 2021
  • “EU competition law and the European Green Deal,” hosted by Japan Fair Trade Commission (Competition Policy Research Center), May 2021
  • “The latest developments of EU competition law,” at the seminar on Competition Laws of Foreign Countries, hosted by Kousei Torihiki Kyoukai/Fair Trade Institute, January 2021
  • “​​​​​​​Global Whistleblowing Today: EU Whistleblower Protection Directive and Legislation for the Protection of Personal Information in China and Korea,” hosted by D-Quest Holdings, Inc. available from December 24, 2021 to February 28, 2022
  • “Basics and Practice of Compliance with Subcontracting and Consumption Tax Pass-On Laws,” seminar for senior management, legal/compliance personnel, and business personnel, hosted by Corporate Management Forums, Inc. and others, held irregularly since 2019.
  • “Designing Legal and Compliance Training,” seminar for legal/compliance personnel, hosted by SMBC Consulting Co., Ltd. and others, held irregularly since 2019.
  • “Compliance Workshop,” workshop for senior management, legal/compliance personnel, and business personnel, focused on enhancing global compliance awareness and fostering a compliance-oriented corporate culture, hosted by SMBC Consulting Co., Ltd., the Business Research Institute, Corporate Management Forums, Inc. and others, held irregularly since 2018.
  • “Competition Law Seminar,” sponsored by a leading Japanese business organization, held from 2018 to 2024.
  • “Antitrust Considerations in Contact with Competitors,” seminar for legal/compliance personnel on the development of antitrust compliance guidelines for contacts with competitors, hosted by LexisNexis Japan, Corporate Management Forums, Inc. and others, held irregularly since 2017.
 
 

Awards

Awards record of the firm (excerpt)

  • ALB Japan Law Awards 2026
    • Antitrust and Competition Law Firm of the Year
  • Global Competition Review (GCR) 100 2013-2026
    • Japan – Highly Recommended
  • Chambers Asia-Pacific 2013-2026
    • Japan – Competition/Antitrust
  • The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2013-2026
    • Independent Local Firms – Antitrust and competition law
  • asialaw Profiles / asialaw 2013-2025
    • Leading Firms – Competition/antitrust

 

Related Professionals

Senior Partner

Setsuko Yufu

Contact
Partner

Saori Hanada

Contact
Senior Partner

Tatsuo Yamashima

Contact
Senior Partner

Junya Ae

Contact
Senior Partner

Hisashi Miyatsuka

Contact
Senior Partner

Masayuki Matsuura

Contact
Senior Partner

Yusuke Miura

Contact
Senior Partner

Kohei Murakawa

Contact
Senior Partner

Kentaro Mano

Contact
Partner

Michio Suzuki

Contact
Partner

Etsuko Kameoka

Contact
Partner

Youngseop Song

Contact
Partner

Keita Hitomi

Contact
Advisor/Consultant

Hideaki Yamagami

Contact
Advisor/Consultant

Shuichi Sugahisa

Contact
Of Counsel

Yuki Hattori

Contact
Associate

Yang Xu

Contact