Orrick Wins International IP Law Firm of the Year for the 4th Consecutive Year at the ALB Japan Law Awards 2026

1 minute read | June.16.2026

日本語：ALB Japan Law Awards 2026において、当事務所および所属弁護士が、5部門のファイナリストに選出され、昨年に引き続き「International Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year」を受賞いたしました。

We are pleased to announce that we have been awarded as the winner of “International Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year” at the ALB Japan Law Awards 2026, marking our fourth consecutive win in this prestigious category. Hosted by Asian Legal Business, a publication from Thomson Reuters, the awards ceremony took place on June 12, 2026, where Orrick was shortlisted in multiple categories.

Winner in:

Firm Category

International Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year

Orrick was also featured as finalist for 6 categories.

Finalists in:

Individual Categories

Minako Wakabayashi: Managing Partner of the Year

Firm Categories

Energy and Resources Law Firm of the Year
Healthcare and Life Sciences Law Firm of the Year
Labour and Employment Law Firm of the Year
Technology, Media and Telecommunications Law Firm of the Year

To view the details of the results, please visit the ALB’s website here.

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Minako Wakabayashi Partner, Energy & Infrastructure, Renewable Energy

Tokyo

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D:+81 3 3224 2926
E: [email protected]

Practice:

Energy & Infrastructure
Renewable Energy
Infrastructure
Energy
Japan

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Minako Wakabayashi Partner

Tokyo

Minako has significant experience advising international and domestic sponsors and developers on complex and innovative projects. She was called upon by the Japanese government in structuring the renewable Feed-in-Tariff scheme in Japan and prepared the government’s model contracts for specific contracts (power purchase contract/interconnection contract), which are a key component of the Feed-in-Tariff scheme in Japan. Recently, she has also been handling numerous corporate PPA projects.

She was appointed as Auditor of the Japan Wind Power Association (JWPA) in May 2022.

Minako practiced at Orrick’s New York office in 2004-2005. She also worked as a public prosecutor in Japan for four years and served as a member of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Supervising Committee for Public Bidding (Tokyo-to Nyusatsu Kanshi Iinkai) for eight years. She is serving as Audit of Veritas In Silico Inc since March 2022.

Anri Nakamoto Partner, Intellectual Property, Patents

Tokyo; Washington, D.C.

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D:+81 3 3224 2089
E: [email protected]

Practice:

Intellectual Property
Patents
IP Counseling & Due Diligence
Trade Secrets Litigation

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Anri Nakamoto Partner

Tokyo; Washington, D.C.

Anri brings a combination of unique skills and attributes which, collectively, make him essential to both maintaining and growing Orrick's longstanding successful practice representing Japanese clients in high-value IP litigation matters as well as serving Orrick's clients worldwide who have needs in Japan. Unlike the limited role of most lawyers in Japan who focus on U.S. IP litigation to client relationship management, Anri is adept at both client relationship and substantive litigation work including briefing and taking witness at trials.

In addition to many patent cases at district courts, USITC and before the US Patent and Trademark Office, Anri is also an experienced practitioner in international arbitration practice. Most recently, he played a huge role in a massive international arbitration matter, which resulted in a complete victory for his client.

Steven J. Routh Partner, Intellectual Property, Japan

Washington, D.C.

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D:+1 202 339 8509
E: [email protected]

Practice:

Intellectual Property
Japan

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Steven J. Routh Partner

Washington, D.C.

Steve knows how to minimize risk while delivering a client’s business objective, either by defeating an opponent’s case in court or by negotiating the best possible settlement. His ability to pinpoint the argument that will resonate with each judge and jury has enabled him to protect cutting-edge technology involving medical devices, automotive components, telecommunications standards, digital and 3D imaging, guest engagement systems, and semiconductor devices and manufacturing processes. He has also used those same skills in litigating numerous antitrust, unfair competition, and complex tort and contract cases.

For the last 20 years, Steve has focused on guiding Japanese and other Asia-based companies through patent litigation before the U.S. District Courts, ITC and Federal Circuit. He is one of only two lawyers ranked in the Chambers Global guide for having Foreign Expertise in Intellectual Property for Japan. Steve consistently has been described as a “great negotiator who is excellent at creating litigation strategy.” Clients recently interviewed by Chambers also noted, “Steve is a really fantastic tactical thinker with good legal instincts. He is also very collaborative.” Other clients have stated that “his command of the law is evident in his ability to understand it and also apply it across a wide variety of situations,“ while still others have praised his ability to make “very quick and sound tactical decisions.”

Hiroki Sugita Partner, Mergers & Acquisitions, Technology Companies Group

Tokyo

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D:+81 3 3224 2953
E: [email protected]

Practice:

Mergers & Acquisitions
Technology Companies Group
Fintech

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Hiroki Sugita Partner

Tokyo

He also has extensive experience in fund formation, real estate and various types of finance transactions.

Hiroki has a deep understanding of clients’ needs from his secondment experience with a U.S. investment bank in 2005 and a Japanese major trading house from 2012 to 2014.

Prior to joining Orrick, Hiroki worked at O’Melveny’s Tokyo office as a counsel where he mainly worked on cross border M&A.

Yumiko Ohta Partner, Employment Law & Litigation, Executive Compensation

Tokyo

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D:+81 3 3224 2829
E: [email protected]

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Employment Law & Litigation
Executive Compensation
Complex Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Mergers & Acquisitions
International Trade and Investment
Japan
Pay Equity

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Yumiko Ohta Partner

Tokyo

Yumiko also has knowledge related to international trade such as customs rules and export controls.

Before joining Orrick, Yumiko was an associate at Tanabe & Partners and advised clients in corporate transactions and employment law as well as represented clients in civil and family cases. She has experience serving as a statutory auditor for Japanese corporations. Prior to practicing law, she worked at Mitsubishi Corporation for seven years. While there, she was involved in LNG projects and other global business.

Andrew Hughes Partner, Energy & Infrastructure, Energy

Tokyo

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D:+81 3 3224 2814
E: [email protected]

Practice:

Energy & Infrastructure
Energy
Infrastructure
Renewable Energy
Real Estate
Japan

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Andrew Hughes Partner

Tokyo

Andrew also has significant experience advising on sophisticated real estate and asset finance transactions involving global opportunity funds, banks and other financial institutions.

Prior to joining Orrick’s Energy and Infrastructure Group, Andrew was an in-house counsel at GREE Inc. and Electronic Arts where he gained experience in various corporate and commercial transactions, including joint ventures, cross-border M&A and general corporate matters.

Akira Takahashi Partner, Energy, Renewable Energy

Tokyo

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D:+81 3 3224 2928
E: [email protected]

Practice:

Energy
Renewable Energy
Finance
Banking & Finance

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Akira Takahashi Partner

Tokyo

Leveraging a strong track record over decades of advising sponsors, project companies, borrowers, lenders and international and governmental institutions on inbound and outbound Japanese investments, Akira provides strategic and commercial advice and solid documentation throughout the entire lifecycle of projects and financings to key stakeholders.

Clients comment that “Akira is very strong in every aspect” and “demonstrates commercial acuity in challenging situations and is able to help both domestic and international counterparties come around to a common solution.” (Chambers Asia-Pacific 2025)

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