HOME PROFESSIONALS
Hitoshi Ishihara

Hitoshi Ishihara

TEL:
81-3-6775-1114
FAX:
81-3-6775-2114

Hitoshi Ishihara provides a variety of legal services to various international and foreign-affiliated clients establishing and doing business in Japan, with an exceptional focus on cross-border business negotiation, dispute resolution, M&A, international trade, and corporate/commercial matters (including advice concerning corporate governance, compliance, JV management, and internal investigations). His distinctive English skill, backed by over seven years experience in the United States, enables him to effectively bridge the linguistic and cultural gap faced by his clients.


Mr. Ishihara also provides pertinent and timely advice that matches the needs of clients expanding overseas, utilizing his rich experience in negotiating and coordinating with clients and counterparts not only from the United States and EU countries, but also in various other jurisdictions including those counties in Asia, Middle East, South America, and Eastern Europe.


In the intellectual property field, Mr. Ishihara has extensive experience in IP licensing and transactions and also provides advice on regulatory issues especially in the entertainment field, with an exceptional focus in the field of sports, being only one of the two recommended Japanese lawyers in the field of Sports & Gaming by Who’s Who Legal, being quoted “Hitoshi Ishihara maintains a first-rate reputation in the market thanks to his excellent cross-border business negotiation work in the sports industry.”


Mr. Ishihara also has extensive focus and knowledge concerning the Japanese casino and gaming laws including the Japanese Integrated Resort (IR) Act, providing advice concerning the Japanese gaming regulations to various operators, suppliers, affiliate marketers, platformers, publishers, foreign law firms, state agencies, and various other stake holders. Mr. Ishihara is the only Japanese attorney-at-law who is admitted as a member of the International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL), which is a non-profit association of gaming attorneys, regulators, educators, executives and consultants from around the world who are dedicated to education and the exchange of professional information and advice.


Mr. Ishihara is quoted by Chambers as "Hitoshi is the preeminent gaming lawyer in Japan, and well recognised for his expertise in the international community of gaming lawyers" and has been named "Gaming Lawyer of the Year in Japan" by various publications, such as Acquisition International Magazine, Corporate Intl Magazine, and Global Law Experts Magazine.



  • HI_Chambers-Global-2024

  • HI_chambers-asia-2024

  • HI_legal_500_2023

Ishihara Hitoshi

Practice Areas

Practice Groups

  • Corporate Transaction Group
  • Dispute Resolution Group
  • Asia and Emerging Countries Practice Group
  • Corporate Crisis Management Practice Group
  • Data Privacy & Digital Group

Background

Mar 2000 Keio University (LL.B)
Sep 2008 - Sep 2009 Associated with Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP (New York)

Publications

The Legal 500 Country Comparative Guides 2023 - Japan: Gambling Law The Legal 500 Country Comparative Guides 2023 - Gambling Law
Nov 2023
The Legal 500 Country Comparative Guides Japan GAMBLING LAW The Legal 500 Country Comparative Guides
Nov 2022
Introduction to the Japanese Integrated Resort (IR) / Casino Law LexisNexis Japan (Japan Lawyers Guide 2018/19)
Sep 2018
Jul 2018
Concepts To Inplement An Integrated Resort in Japan American Gaming Lawyer (Spring 2018)
Feb 2018
Japanese Casino Law Gaming Law Review and Economics , VOL. 21, NO. 1
Feb 2017
Japan's Gaming Reform Acquisition International (January Issue)
Jan 2017
Juego en Japon Legalizacion Primera Fase Revista CASINO, Turismo y Entretenimiento (January Issue)
Jan 2017
Overview of the Japanese Casino Bill Asian Gaming Lawyer (Spring 2015)
May 2015
Counseling Room for Legal Problems The Japan Business Law (June Issue)
Apr 2015

Lectures

Achievements

Professional Admissions

  • Japan (2003)
  • California (2013)

Professional and Academic Associations

  • Daini Tokyo Bar Association
  • State Bar of California
  • International Masters of Gaming Law

Languages

  • Japanese (first language)
  • English (near native)