Professionals

Shinichiro (“Shin”) Mori is an attorney with a specialized focus on the IT and gaming sectors. As a gaming lawyer, Shin operates at the intersection of technology, media, and business, offering strategic guidance to organizations navigating this rapidly evolving industry. He also serves as a trusted advisor to international clients looking to establish or expand their operations in Japan, providing comprehensive support on a broad range of legal issues, including corporate, real estate, regulatory compliance, and employment matters.

Practice Areas

• Mergers & Acquisitions
• IT
• Gaming & Esports
• Japan Market Entry (Japan subsidiary/branch support)

Admissions

New York Bar
Japanese Bar (The Dai-ichi Tokyo Bar Association)

Education

Master of Laws (LL.M.) at Columbia University, Law School
The University of Tokyo, School of Law (J.D.)
The University of Tokyo, Faculty of Law (LL.B.)

Professional Experience

Alternate Statutory Auditor, ispace, Inc., 2025

Japan Representative, Supercell Oy, 2024

Co-Representative, Metacore Japan, G.K., 2024

Founder & Managing Partner, Mori & Partners, 2023
Partner, Momo-o, Matsuo & Namba, 2019-2023
Country Representative (Japan), the Asia-Pacific Forum for International Arbitration (AFIA), 2016
Associate, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, United Kingdom, 2015-2016
Associate, Momo-o, Matsuo & Namba, 2009

Publications

Report on digitalization of legislative affairs and the organization and utilization of legal data
The Digital Agency of the Japanese Government (2024)

The Insurance Disputes Law Review: Edition 6 – Japan Chapter
Law Business Research Ltd. (2023)

Enforcement of Judgements 2022 (Japan Chapter)
Chambers and Partners (2022)

The Insurance Disputes Law Review; Edition 5 (Japan Chapter)
Law Business Research Ltd. (2022)

Enforcement of Judgements 2021 (Japan Chapter)
Chambers and Partners (2021)

Foreign Investments in Israel
Business Law Journal (November 2020)

International Arbitration 2020 (Japan Chapter)
Chambers and Partners (2020)

Cartels 2019 (Japan Chapter)
Mondaq (2019)

Practice on Information Management
Shin Nihon Hoki (2018)

International Arbitration 2019 (Japan Chapter)
Chambers and Partners (2018)

Q&A Shareholders Meeting Practices
Shojihomu (2012)

Practice on Information Management
Shin Nihon Hoki (2011)

Seminars and Presentations

• Opening speaker at the Asia-Pacific Forum for International Arbitration (AFIA) seminar on AI, FinTech, and Space Arbitration, titled “Arbitration and New Tech Horizons: Brighter Days Ahead?”, 2023
• Speaker, “Trends and Access to Third-Party Funding”, 2021
• Lecturer, “International Arbitration (Advanced),” an e-learning series by JIDRC (Japan International Dispute Resolution Center), 2020
• Speaker, “International Commercial Arbitration and Mediation—Key Issues for Resolving International Commercial Disputes”, 2020
• Panelist, “New York State Bar Association’s International Section Global Conference”, 2019
• Moderator, “YJAA-AFIA Joint Seminar”, 2017

Interviews & Media Features

• Esports Legal News – Esports M&A in Japan: DD Checklist before Fusion
• Esports Legal News – Brand Protection in the Japanese Gaming Industry
• Legal Pitfalls in the eSports Industry — Unwitting Illegal Activities You May Be Committing? (eSports World)
• Legal Issues Surrounding Sudden Layout Change at the International Masters Tokyo Tournament (eSports World )
• Lawyers Guide 2020, Business Law Journal (February 2020)
• Lawyers Guide M&A, Business Law Journal (September 2019)

T: +813-6831-9282
E: shinichiro.mori@mps-legal.com

• LinkedIn

T: +813-6831-9283
E: kentaro.sano@mps-legal.com

• LinkedIn

Admissions

Japanese Bar (The Dai-ichi Tokyo Bar Association)
Labor and Social Security Attorney(Tokyo Labor and Social Security Attorney Association)

Education

Waseda University, School of Law (J.D.), 2018
Waseda University, Faculty of Law (LL.B.), 2016

Professional Experience

Senior Associate, Mori & Partners, 2023
Associate, Momo-o, Matsuo & Namba, 2020

Publications

Report on digitalization of legislative affairs and the organization and utilization of legal data

The Digital Agency of the Japanese Government (2024)

Koichi Nakatani is a partner at Mori & Partners whose practice spans technology and software matters, intellectual property, cross-border and domestic M&A, complex commercial disputes, and employment law. He has extensive experience advising global IT vendors on mission-critical system development projects, software licensing, data protection, and IT-related litigation. In the IP field, he represents both Japanese and international companies in brand protection, anti-counterfeiting, and contentious patent and trademark matters, including for luxury fashion houses. 

Koichi also has a strong corporate and transactional practice covering a broad range of industries, including investment funds, real estate, energy, automotive and mobility, consumer goods, manufacturing, hospitality, senior care, and franchise businesses. In employment matters, he advises foreign clients on labor compliance, investigations, labor tribunals, and litigation. 

With more than two decades of experience bridging in-house, international, and private-practice roles, Koichi serves clients ranging from major listed companies to high-growth start-ups. He plays an essential role in connecting the firm’s TMT and technology-driven practice with its corporate and disputes capabilities, and is well positioned to manage high-stakes litigation and complex transactional mandates. 

Prior to joining Mori & Partners, Koichi was a partner at a prominent Tokyo law firm. He began his career as in-house counsel at IBM Japan, where he gained deep insight into technology contracting and large-scale system development projects

Practice Areas

• IT transactions and disputes 
• Software licensing and IP enforcement 
• Mergers and Acquisitions 
• Cross-border commercial transactions 
• Employment and labor disputes for international clients 

Admissions

Japanese Bar (The Dai-ni Tokyo Bar Association) 

Education

• Master of Laws (IP LL.M.), University of Washington School of Law 
• Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), Keio University Faculty of Law

Professional Experience

• Partner, Mori & Partners, 2026 – Present 
• Partner, Momo-o, Matsuo & Namba, 2010 – 2025 
• Statutory Auditor, Billing System Co., Ltd., 2015 – Present 
• Lecturer, Graduate School of Technology Management, Tokyo University of Agriculture & Technology, 2009 – 2011 
• Associate, Momo-o, Matsuo & Namba, 2004 – 2009 
• Visiting Attorney, Studio Legale Jacobacci & Associati (Turin, Italy), 2007 – 2008 
• In-house Counsel, IBM Japan, Ltd., 1997-2004 

Selected Publications & Contributions

IT / Technology 

• From Judicial Decisions to Practice in Software & System Development Disputes (Shojihomu, 2017)  
• Practice of Information Management (Shin Nihon Hoki, 2005)  

Intellectual Property 

• Luxury Law (The Global Legal Post, 2015, 2022)  
• The Art Collecting Legal Handbook (Thomson Reuters, 2013, 2023)  
• Patent Claim Interpretation (Westlaw, 2013)  
• Due Diligence and Corporate Governance (LexisNexis, 2005)  

Employment / Labor 

• “Japan Section,” International Employment Law Update (Taylor Vinters, 2021)  
• “COVID-19 and the Japanese Workplace” (Taylor Vinters, 2020)  
• Employment & Law, 3rd Edition (Global Legal Insights, 2014)  

M&A 

• Due Diligence and Corporate Governance (LexisNexis, 2005)  

T: +813-6831-9285  

E:koichi.nakatani@mps-legal.com