Wataru Shimizu
Wataru Shimizu

Partner

Nagoya
LEGAL AWARDS
Chambers Asia-Pacific 2026
The Best Lawyers in Japan™ 2027
The Nikkei " Top-performing Lawyer " in 2025
Key Practice Areas
Tech/Data/IT/Telecom
Intellectual Property
Support for Start-ups
International Trade
Sustainability
Nagoya
TEL: 81-52-533-4815
/FAX: 81-52-533-4772
Tokyo
TEL: 81-3-6775-1145
/FAX: 81-3-6775-2145
Leveraging his expertise in cutting-edge technologies such as AI and cybersecurity, Wataru Shimizu provides legal advice that is tailored to the practical needs of companies. He handles a wide range of issues from intellectual property (“IP”)-related agreements such as patent and know-how license agreements, software license agreements, and joint research and development agreements, to large-scale corporate alliances, as well as the development of business and IP strategies. In addition, he has handled a large number of legal and IP matters in Asia and emerging countries (in particular Mainland China and Southeast Asia). He also has extensive experience in general corporate law in areas such as corporate and labor law.
RELATED INSIGHTS
CAREER
Mar 1998
The University of Tokyo (LL.B.)
Feb 2001 – Mar 2004
Hitachi Systems & Services, Ltd.
2004 - 2005
The Legal Training and Research Institute of the Supreme Court of Japan
Oct 2005 - Mar 2011
Nishimura & Asahi
Oct 2008 - Mar 2011
Toyota Motor Corporation (Intellectual Property Div.)
Apr 2011 - Mar 2016
Ohno & Partners
Oct 2012
Aichi Bar Association
Apr 2019 - Mar 2025
Member of the advisory board, The instututes of Innovation for Future Society of Nagoya University, Materials/Energy Renovation Co-Creation Consortium
Apr 2020 -
Lecturer, Osaka University, Multidisciplinary PhD Program for Pioneering Quantum Beam Application
Oct 2024 - Mar 2025
Project Professor, Keio University, Graduate School of Media and Governance
Aug 2026 -
Research Institute for Advanced Innovation and GeoStrategy (RAIS) Senior Research Fellow (Adjunct)
PROFESSIONAL ADMISSIONS
Japan (2005)
PROFESSIONAL AND
ACADEMIC ASSOCIATIONS
Aichi Bar Association
LANGUAGES
Japanese (first language)
English
Wataru Shimizu
Wataru Shimizu
Nagoya
TEL: 81-52-533-4815
/FAX: 81-52-533-4772
Tokyo
TEL: 81-3-6775-1145
/FAX: 81-3-6775-2145
Tech/Data/IT/Telecom
Intellectual Property
Support for Start-ups
International Trade
Sustainability