Etsuo Doi

Partner

Etsuo Doi is a partner and intellectual property lawyer with Foley & Lardner LLP. He represents both Japan-based and international companies in matters relating to cross-border transactions, intellectual property, e-commerce, joint ventures, licensing and general corporate work. Etsuo is a member of the firm’s Business Law and Intellectual Property Departments and Transactional & Securities, International, Electronics, and Privacy, Security & Information Management Practices. He is also a member of the Energy Industry Team.

Prior to joining Foley, Etsuo was a partner at other major U.S. law firms. Previously, he was corporate counsel at eBay, Inc. and chief legal counsel at eBay Japan KK. He started working for eBay as outside counsel in early 1999 shortly after its successful IPO when eBay was seeking to expand globally. While serving as outside counsel, he had found the value of working more closely with eBay to experience the then novel e-commerce business model with a number of uncertain legal issues as well as to gain business experience. He decided to join eBay as in-house counsel as well as one of the top executives for eBay Japan K.K. Etsuo is one of very few Japanese lawyers who has real experience in Internet business and legal issues.

He was an AFS exchange student during his senior year of high school staying with a host family in Westchester County, New York. The host father was a partner of a leading New York law firm. Through his experience, he developed a much deeper understanding of U.S. culture than most Japanese bengoshi.

Utilizing his rather unique bilingual and bicultural skills with private practice experience, in-house legal practice experience, start-up experience, business experience, experience in having worked both in traditional Japanese organizations and U.S. style organizations, etc., Etsuo has developed a unique practice of reasonable combination of inbound and outbound legal work. Inbound practice is for assisting foreign clients in their Japanese investments and Japanese legal issues, or for assisting Japanese clients as a counterparty to foreign companies investing into Japan. Outbound practice is for assisting Japanese clients on various overseas legal matters of the United States and other countries. Outbound practice area is broader than inbound as hei serves to organize the team at Foley and becomes the contact person for various legal issues for Japanese clients.

土井悦生は、フォーリー&ラードナーLLPのジャパンプラクティスグループ全体の共同代表パートナーである。東京オフィスを本拠としつつも、当事務所海外オフィスとの間を頻繁に行き来しながら、クロスボーダー案件に従事する。フォーリー&ラードナーに所属する以前は、他の米系国際法律事務所のパートナー(知的財産部門及びコーポレート部門)であった。

土井のプラクティスは、エネルギー関連案件を含むクロスボーダーのコーポレートM&A案件及びクロスボーダーの知的財産権関連案件を中心とする。日本の多様なクライアントの海外案件につき、海外の弁護士チームを組成し、日本のクライアントの利益を最大限実現すべく強力なリーダーシップを発揮してきた。また、殆どネイティブな英語力、日米の法制度に関する豊富な経験と比較法的理解を生かし、外国のトップ企業のクライアントから絶大な信頼を得て、日本への投資案件につき、様々な助言を行ってきた。

土井はまた、1990年末から2000年初頭のインターネットビジネス草創期に日本の弁護士として国際的インターネット・ベンチャー企業の立ち上げに参画し、法務とビジネスのいずれをも社内で実際に経験したほとんど唯一の存在である。米国イーベイ・インクのアジア進出のアドヴァイスをIPO直後の1999年初頭より行い、後に同社社内弁護士及びイーベイ・ジャパン株式会社チーフリーガルカウンセルを経験した。イーベイでは、メグ・ホイットマン(元イーベイ社長)やスティーブ・ウェスリー(元イーベイ上級副社長、元カリフォルニア州政府最高財務責任者 (2003-2007))らと直接アジア戦略を検討し主要なビジネス交渉に同席するなど、世界の代表的インターネット企業において法務とビジネスを兼務していた。

土井のプラクティスは、日本企業を代理した海外知財案件及びコーポレートM&A案件、並びに、海外クライアントの日本投資案件を二本の柱とする。

知的財産関連案件

半導体を始めとするエレクトロニクス関連のグローバル特許訴訟を相当数手がけてきており、その殆どにおいて日本サイドを代理してきた。担当した案件には、ITC手続、カリフォルニア北地区裁判所、テキサス東地区裁判所等があり重要な米国裁判所における経験を有する。リーディングテクノロジー企業間の国際包括技術ライセンス案件(日本企業サイドを代理)、米国におけるHDD事業買収案件、大手自動車会社やエレクトロニクス企業等を代理したパテントトロール案件なども含まれる。

エレクトロニクス関連以外でも、ノーベル賞を受賞したバイオテクノロジー発明に関する諸特許をめぐる国際ライセンス紛争で日本部分の中心的弁護士の一人を務め、日本の主要製薬会社の海外進出案件や新薬を巡る紛争案件を手掛けるなど、製薬、バイオ関連の国際知的財産案件にも豊富な経験を有する。ノーベル賞学者がリーダーを務める国家予算のからむ大型研究開発プロジェクトに関わるライセンス交渉なども主任として担当する。

特許紛争やライセンス交渉においては、被告サイドのみならず、原告サイドで日本企業の権利行使に関し助言も行ってきた。また、日本のリーディングテクノロジー企業に国際知的財産戦略構築に関するアドヴァイスも行ってきている。また大型国際独占禁止法(カルテル)案件やFCPA調査案件において、日本企業を代理してきた。

コーポレートM&A関連案件

土井は外国企業に対する日本法アドヴァイス及び日本企業の外国案件のいずれにおいても、以下を含む様々な実務経験を有する。

  • 大手日本製薬企業のアメリカベンチャー企業への大型研究開発投資案件(本件はM&A Advisorより2014年のM&A deal of the yearにノミネートされた。)
  • 日本の大手通信企業を代理した複数のアメリカ企業買収案件
  • 大手日本製薬会社を代理した約10億ドル規模の買収案件の知財DDを担当
  • ニュージーランド企業を代理して、日本大手企業のソーラービジネスの大型買収案件の知財DDを担当
  • 最大手米国スーパーマーケットによる日本の大手デパートのTOBに関する買収側主任代理人の一人
  • オーストラリアの液化天然ガス長期供給プロジェクト
  • 大手日本企業間のTOBに関するターゲット側独立委員会を代理
  • 日本の大手商社を代理したシリコンバレーのナノテク企業の買収案件
  • 日本・大手医療機器メーカーを代理した米国人工臓器メーカー買収案件
  • 大手米国通信企業による日本国通信サービス会社の買収案件
  • 日本の大手金融機関と海外の投資銀行間の事業買収案件
  • 半導体製造工場建設関連ファイナンシング案件
  • 中東国家関連企業との長期液化天然ガス供給契約案件(日本企業サイドを代理)
  • 米国の主要IT企業の事業整理に伴う日本関連企業、資産の売却、統合案件
  • 外国系投資ファンドの事業売却案件
  • 米国のリーディングインターネット企業の日本進出にあたっての合弁事業案件
  • 米国で脚光を浴びる電気自動車ベンチャーの海外進出に関する諸案件
  • 海外の美術館の日本でのブランチの設立案件
  • 国内外の化粧品会社の新ブランド商品に関する合弁事業案件
  • イタリアの有名ファッションブランド企業の日本企業との合弁事業再構築案件等様々な国際ビジネス案件

土井は、様々な公的役職を歴任し、また、在日米国商工会議所のリーダーシップコミッティのメンバーとして企業内弁護士委員会副委員長も務めた。日本で教育を受けた日本人が米国トップ企業のエクゼキュティブに混じりこの職責を担うことは珍しい。日本国の電子商取引法に関する草分けであり、我が国における電子商取引に関する準則の起草者の一人でもある。個人情報保護法やグローバル企業のプライバシー規制も専門としており、個人情報保護有識者会議の監事を務める。専門分野につき国内外の様々な会議でスピーカーやパネリストを務めている。法律論稿も日本語英語とも多い

土井はまた、テンプル大学日本校の理事であり、かつ同ロースクール准教授である。これまで、比較知的所有権法、知的所有権権利行使手続の比較法的検討、東西交渉学等の諸講座を担当し、英語で講義してきた。その他明治学院大学、日本大学、早稲田大学を含む日本の複数のロースクール、ビジネススクール、大学院等でも教鞭を取ってきた。大阪大学産業科学研究協会の法務アドヴァイザリーボードを務め、知財戦略の講義も担当した。

土井は、様々な第三者機関より、(M&Aを含む)国際取引分野及び知財分野において、高い評価を得ている。たとえば国際ビジネス法務(International Business Transactions)の分野で、国際的に権威あるBest Lawyers®に日本部門創設以来毎年連続して選出されている数少ない日本国弁護士の一人である(2009~2014)。また、Legal 500誌においても、コーポレートM&A部門及び知財部門のそれぞれにおいて例年特記されている。Leading Lawyer 100 Asia Pacificにおいてもアジアのトップ弁護士の一人に選出されている(知財部門, 2012, 2013)。The World’s Leading Patent Practitioners 2012

~2014年 (IAM Patent 1000) に、特許ライセンス部門(うち日本国弁護士数名のみ)及び特許訴訟部門(うち日本国弁護士数名のみ)に連続して選出されている。The World’s Leading Patent & Technology Licensing Lawyers (IAM Licensing 250) (2010年~ 2013年)にも数少ない日本国弁護士として連続して選出されている。Asia IP Expert 2014にも、litigationとfranchisingの2部門で選出されている。

日本国弁護士であると同時にニューヨーク州弁護士資格を有し、また日本国弁理士でもある。英語と日本語のいずれにも堪能である。

Representative Experience

Etsuo experience includes, but is not limited to, the following:

Inbound Practice:

His inbound practice focuses primarily on general corporate and M&A.

  • One of the lead Japanese counsels representing the leading U.S. supermarket group in its TOB of a leading Japanese department store
  • Represent independent committee of the target public Japanese apparel company regarding TOB by a leading apparel company
  • Represent a major U.S. telecommunications company for its acquisition of a Japanese telecommunications service company
  • Represent Lehman Brothers in its acquisition of a prime mortgage loan business of a leading Japanese financial institution
  • Represent the largest creditor U.S. company for bankruptcy and reorganization of a public Japanese IT company
  • Represent a major U.S. Internet company in its restructuring and reorganization of corporate structures among Asian subsidiaries, including Japan
  • Represent various global M&A deals with regard to handling the Japanese subsidiaries part of the deals
  • Represent a leading online payment solution services company for its various Japan legal matters
  • Represent a leading U.S. based e-commerce company for its various Japan legal matters
  • Represent a Luxemburg based leading IP phone company for its various Japan legal matters
  • Represent a public electronic vehicle venture company for its various Japan legal matters
  • Represent a major Japanese company on negotiations to establish a branch museum of a major U.S. museum
  • Represent a leading Japanese cosmetic company on a joint venture with a French cosmetic company
  • Represent a major French chemical company on a joint venture with a leading Japanese chemical company
  • Prepare various privacy policies and related compliance manuals and work rules for Japanese subsidiaries of foreign companies, including a major U.S. investment bank
  • Represent U.S. based companies in various securities litigation or securities fraud related investigation involving Japan and other Asian regions
  • Represent a major U.S. based company for trade secrets misappropriation in Japan involving Japanese companies
  • Represent a U.S. company as a leading Japanese counsel for global dispute on biotechnology patents of the Nobel Prize awarded invention
  • Represent various U.S. and foreign based companies in its Japan legal issues, including incorporation, agreements drafting, licenses and negotiations, employment, data protection, user agreement/privacy policy drafting and other corporate, compliance and regulatory matters

Outbound Practice:

Etsuo’s outbound work includes intellectual property (particularly patent) related disputes, negotiations and licensing matters representing major Japanese companies, and corporate M&A related outbound matters.

  • Represent a major Japanese electronics company in ITC litigation involving key semiconductor patents
  • Represent a major Japanese electronics company in patent litigation in the Northern District of California
  • Represent a major Japanese electronics company in patent litigation in the Central District of California
  • Represent a major Japanese electronics company in patent litigation in the Southern District of California
  • Represent a major Japanese electronics company in patent litigation in the Eastern District of Texas
  • Represent a major automotive company in patent litigation in the Eastern District of Texas
  • Represent a major Japanese electronics company in its acquisition of a U.S. media company
  • Assist a leading Japanese gas company in its long term LNG project for Gorgon Australia
  • Represent a leading Japanese gas company in its long term LNG project with the leading LNG company in Qatar
  • Represent a major Japanese pharmaceuticals company in dispute with a major U.S. pharmaceuticals company relating to joint development
  • Represent a leading Japanese gas company in its long term LNG project with the leading LNG company in Oman
  • Organize and manage legal due diligence in 26 countries, including U.S., Europe, Asia, Mid East and South America of a new business provided by a leading Japanese general trading company

Awards and Recognition

Etsuo has been listed in Best Lawyers® as one of a very limited number of Japanese lawyers in the area of international business transactions (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012). The Legal 500 recognized him for his intellectual property and corporate and mergers & acquisitions work in Japan (2013). The Legal 500 Asia Pacific also specifically noted him (2011, 2012). Etsuo has been ranked by Leading LAWYER 100 ASIA PACIFIC as one of Asia’s leading lawyers in intellectual property (2012, 2013) and, in 2011 in electronics. He was selected as one of only eight lawyers in Japan and one of only two Japan licensed lawyers (bengoshi) as the World’s Leading Patents and Technology Licensing Lawyers (IAM Licensing 250) (2010, 2011, 2012). Etsuo has also been selected as one of only ten lawyers in Japan and one of only two Japan licensed lawyers (bengoshi) in patent licensing for the World’s Leading Patent Practitioners 2012 – 2016 (IAM Patent 1000), and one of eight lawyers in Japan and one of only two (bengoshi) in patent litigation for the same publication.  has also been recognized in IAM Patent 1000 – The World’s Leading Patent Practitioners for his work in transactions in 2020.

Affiliations

He is a governor of the board and an adjunct professor of law at Temple University Law School (Japan campus) and has taught courses, including the Comparative Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights, Comparative Intellectual Property and East-West Negotiation. Etsuo has also taught in Japanese law schools, business schools and graduate schools, including Waseda University, Meiji Gakuin University and Nihon University.

Etsuo is an attorney at law admitted to practice in Japan and New York. He is also a patent attorney admitted to practice in Japan. He is a member of the Tokyo Bar Association, the Japan Patent Bar Association, the New York Bar Association and the American Bar Association.

Languages

Etsuo is fluent in Japanese and English.

Thought Leadership

Etsuo is well versed in Japanese corporate, technology, and Internet laws and has been a panel speaker at numerous technology conferences. He also has particular experience in privacy laws and regulations, and has been a board member of Council of Experts on Personal Information Protection in Japan. He is a consistent contributor of law articles to major publications both in Japanese and in English. He has been a member of a number of major government related committees, and is a drafter of the Japanese government’s E-Commerce Guidelines.

 

25 September 2024 Events

2024 Foley Tokyo IP Conference

Please join us on Wednesday, September 25, for the 2024 Foley Tokyo IP Conference — “Navigating the Business of Innovation: Insights on Patent Eligibility, AI, and Other Key IP Developments” — a half-day educational seminar that will guide you through the latest IP legal developments and their practical implications for business in the United States.
25 May 2023

Spring 2023 JIPA Seminar Series: U.S. Intellectual Property Law Update

Foley is pleased to once again partner with the Japan Intellectual Property Association, the country’s largest private organization concerned with intellectual property rights, to present its members with a biannual update on intellectual property developments in the United States.
20 April 2023 In the News

Etsuo Doi Recognized in Best Lawyers in Japan 2024

Foley & Lardner LLP is pleased to announce that Partner Etsuo Doi was selected for inclusion in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in Japan.
27 January, 10 February, 17 February Events

Winning in the Unknown - U.S. Intellectual Property Development Seminar Series

Japanese businesses with global footprints have been faced with stretching their strategic prowess and tactical agility in recalibrating their business goals and IP operations.
21 January 2021 Blogs

U.S. Litigation Caused by Novel Coronavirus, and Strategies for Japanese Businesses

Partners Etsuo Doi and Adrian Jensen wrote an article titled, “U.S. Litigation Caused by Novel Coronavirus, and Strategies for Japanese Businesses,” for the Japanese-language publication Business Law magazine.
01 May 2020 In the News

Intellectual Asset Management Recognizes Foley Attorneys in 2020 Patent 1000 Guide

Intellectual Asset Management has recognized 16 Foley attorneys in the 9th edition of its Patent 1000 – The World’s Leading Patent Professionals guide. Additionally, the firm was recognized for offices and practices, including the District of Columbia, Boston, Detroit, Milwaukee and Tokyo.