Joining the top ranking this year is TMI Associates, one of the most highly regarded firms in contentious IP work in the eyes of its competitors and clients alike. "Its depth and understanding of the law is brilliant," remembers a foreign client. The firm is primarily known for its exemplary leadership in trade marks, with Mitsuko Miyagawa and on the patent side with Akihiko Eguchi, supported by multi-talented partner Yoshiyuki Inaba and Tomokatsu Tsukahara, ex-chief judge of Japan's IP High Court. He joined TMI Associates in September 2010.
Having successfully resolved last year's Intellasset Corporation v Intel invalidation trial in favour of her client, Miyagawa continues to defend premium brands against counterfeiting and other trade mark infringements, including world-famous European luxury fashion marks, cosmetic companies and even a US chocolate manufacturer. On the other hand, Eguchi was kept busy this year defending the largest global contact lens manufacturer in a patent infringement case. "E-mail correspondence with the partners has been impressive," notes one client. "We would ask various tricky questions and the responses have been comprehensive and concise." Specialising in the fields of biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, the patent division considers Microsoft, ASML and Toyota Motor as its key clients, as well as one of the largest patent venture capital businesses in the world.