Michiru Takahashi

With more than 30 years of experience in intellectual property counseling and litigation, Michiru Takahashi has represented famous brands such as Starbucks, Dell, Mag Instrument, and Sunkist. Her practice focuses on trademark, unfair competition, and copyright issues, including infringement litigation and trademark prosecution.

Michiru has significant experience protecting trade dress and product configuration. As lead counsel, she represented Mag Instrument in the landmark case at the Intellectual Property High Court. The case marked the first time the court granted 3-D trademark registration to a product configuration (i.e., Mini Maglite flashlight product shape). She also has extensive experience in cross-border technology transactions, including patent and know-how licensing and development agreements.

In addition, Michiru frequently counsels clients on privacy and data security issues. With more than 10 years of experience in this practice, she regularly advises foreign clients on Japanese personal information protection law, including the development of internal policies and measures against privacy breach cases. She also has significant experience advising Japanese multinational clients in relation to international transfer of personal data and EU and other Asian nations' data protection laws and regulations.

Michiru is a member of the Daini Tokyo Bar Association, the Japan Patent Attorneys Association, the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI), and the International Trademark Association.