Competition/Antitrust Law

Since the founding of our firm in 1902, we have been serving clients in a wide variety of industries and with a wide range of business models. In competition and antitrust law, we provide both Japanese and overseas clients with full-service support, including advice on day-to-day issues, compliance and internal controls, training for directors and employees, antitrust review of M&A and business collaborations, internal investigations, leniency, and dealing with regulatory inspections and investigations.
９　Information Technology
  • Responding to Investigations
  • Business Combinations
  • Advice on Doing Business
  • Subcontract Act

Responding to Investigations

The importance of competition law has increased dramatically, as authorities in Japan and other countries have strengthened enforcement.




Leveraging our experience, we take prompt and accurate measures to avoid and mitigate administrative penalties in investigations by authorities in Japan and other countries. We advise on dealing with governmental inspections and investigations, and represent clients in litigation to revoke sanctions. In cases of bid-rigging and cartels, we represent clients in applications for leniency to obtain exemption from financial penalties. In cases of private monopoly and abuse of superior bargaining position, we represent clients in applications to avoid sanctions by offering to make a commitment to change business methods.




We also represent clients when alleged competition law violations lead to lawsuits seeking injunctions or damages, including shareholder derivative suits, and provide advice when alleged violations lead to issues in dealing with shareholders, suppliers, customers and the media, as well as employee disciplinary procedures. In international antitrust and competition law cases, we collaborate with foreign law firms to negotiate with the authorities in the relevant countries.

Business Combinations

For clients studying potential business combinations, as well as for clients who have decided to carry them out, we provide essential advice on the necessity of JFTC filings, and represent our clients in JFTC procedures and in negotiations with the JFTC. Our advice extends to the full range of applicable competition and antitrust laws, including "gun-jumping" rules, and is provided in accordance with the client's objectives and deal schedule. We have analyzed and assessed competition law risk in a wide range of business combinations and in many industries, and provided legal opinions.




For issues under competition law regulations in other countries, we leverage our strong network of foreign law firms to confirm whether regulatory filings are necessary and arrange for the drafting and submission of any required documentation and filings.

Advice on Doing Business

In many business activities, including business alliances, planning for sales channels, participation in tenders, and licensing technology, it is essential to keep competition law in mind, and deal with it strategically. We advise businesses in many industries on points to consider when entering into a business alliance, setting terms and conditions in a vertical agreement, participating in a bidding procedure or making a competitive quote, and setting terms and conditions for licensing of technology.




We also provide extensive support for the establishment and operation of compliance programs, including drafting internal rules and manuals for competition law, and hold seminars for directors and employees.

Subcontract Act

Recently, the enforcement of the Subcontract Act has been strengthened as part of a policy to protect SMEs, and as a result it has become more important than ever to pay attention to it.




The Subcontract Act is often formalistic, and is different from the abuse of superior bargaining position doctrine found in antitrust law. As a result it is often violated unexpectedly. In many kinds of transactions we advise on avoiding Subcontract Act violation, carry out training for directors and employees, and support the establishment of internal controls and drafting of internal rules. In the event of a suspected violation, we conduct a prompt investigation and assist with a leniency application if necessary. When our clients are investigated by a government agency, we negotiate with the authorities strategically to avoid a formal warning, leveraging our experience with many cases of Subcontract Act violations.

Publications Related to Competition /Antitrust Law

  • 202507

    JFTC's release "Status of Notifications related to Merger and Major Merger Cases in FY 2024"

    Publisher：Shoji Homu Portal website

    Author：
    MATSUDA Taiki　
  • 202506

    The Japan Fair Trade Commission publishes the ~Merger Review Guidebook~

    Publisher：Shoji Homu Portal website

    Author：
    TAKEDA Atsushi　
  • 202506

    JFTC's release "About the Report Regarding Generative AI, Version. 1.0"

    Publisher：Shoji Homu Portal website

    Author：
    IWAMOTO Yoshiya　
  • 202506

    Consumer Affairs Agency announces "Status of Implementation of the the Act against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations and Efforts for Proper Labeling in Fiscal 2024"

    Publisher：Shoji Homu Portal website

    Author：
    NIIMI Kento　
  • 202505

    JFTC/Small and Medium Enterprise Agency on the enactment of the "Act to Partially Amend the Act on Prevention of Delay in Payment of Subcontract Proceeds, etc. and the Act on the Promotion of Subcontracting Small and Medium-sized Enterprises"

    Publisher：Shoji Homu Portal website

    Author：
    OKAMURA Yu　

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Lectures, Seminars and Conferences Related to Competition /Antitrust Law

  • 202502

    "Key Points of Revision of the Subcontract Law: Based on the Corporate Transactions Study Group's Report"

    Speaker： OKUSHI Kenichi　 ISHIKAWA Teppei　

  • 202502

    "Competition Law and the Invoice System"

    Speaker： ISHIKAWA Teppei　

  • 202410

    Nakano Masayuki gives a webinar "Getting Ready for the New Freelance Act" at Rodo Shimbun

    Speaker： NAKANO Masayuki　

  • 202311

    Matsuda Akira, Ikeda Minako and Sekiguchi Akimasa gave a webinar "The Unfair Competition Prevention Act and the Information Society" for Business & Law LLC

    Speaker： MATSUDA Akira　 IKEDA Minako　 SEKIGUCHI Akimasa　

  • 202311

    Okushi Kenichi and Ishikawa Teppei lecture on "Subcontract Act Compliance" at the Business Research Institute

    Speaker： OKUSHI Kenichi　 ISHIKAWA Teppei　

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News Related to Competition /Antitrust Law

  • 202506

    Ishikawa Teppei 's commentary is available in the article titled "First Recommendation to Shogakukan and Kobunsha for Violation of Freelance Law: by JFTC over Payment of Fees."

    Publisher: Morning edition page 32 of Nikkei dated June 18, 2025, page 34

  • 202504

    22 lawyers of our firm were recognized in The Best Lawyers in Japan 2026.

    Best Lawyers
    ■ Antitrust / Competition Law
    TOJI Yoshihiro
    IZUMI Atsushi

    ■ Banking and Finance Law
    TOJI Yoshihiro
    SAKAMOTO Tomoko
    MATSUDA Takao

    ■ Corporate and Mergers and Acquisitions Law
    MOTOMURA Takeshi

    ■ Corporate Governance and Compliance Practice
    YOSHIHARA Tomomichi

    ■ Insolvency and Reorganization Law
    TAGO Shinya
    MOTOMURA Takeshi
    URANAKA Hirotaka

    ■ Labor and Employment Law
    TAGO Shinya

    ■ Litigation
    TOJI Yoshihiro
    WAKABAYASHI Shigeo
    MOTOMURA Takeshi
    YOSHIHARA Tomomichi
    URANAKA Hirotaka

    ■ Tax Law
    MUTOU Yuuki


    Best Lawyers - "Ones to Watch"
    ■ Antitrust / Competition Law
    OKAMURA Yu
    MATSUHASHI Sho

    ■ Arbitration and Mediation
    NAKAMURA Saeko
    MIURA Takashi

    ■ Corporate and Mergers and Acquisitions Law
    OKAMURA Yu
    SASAKI Tomoo
    FUKATSU Haruno
    FUKUCHI Takumi
    KITAGAWA Hiroki
    TOYOOKA Hiroto
    MATSUHASHI Sho

    ■ Information Technology Law
    ADACHI Makoto

    ■ Intellectual Property Law (Non-Patent)
    ISHIKAWA Hiroaki

    ■ Labor and Employment Law
    NAKAMURA Saeko
    KITAGAWA Hiroki

    ■ Privacy and Data Security Law
    HORITA Koji

  • 202504

    In the article titled "How to Succeed in Freelance: A Guide to Communicating Freedom and Harassment," Nakano Masayuki, Ishikawa Teppei authored and Matsuda Taiki and Suzuki Riko edited 'Q & A Explanation of the Freelance Law'

    Publisher：Morning edition page 32 of Nikkei dated March 29, 2025

  • 202501

    Business Houmu carries a review of Ishikawa Teppei's new book on doing business with vendors with consumption tax exemptions

    Publisher：Business Houmu

  • 202404

    20 lawyers of our firm were recognized in The Best Lawyers in Japan 2025.

    Best Lawyers
    ■ Antitrust / Competition Law
    TOJI Yoshihiro

    ■ Arbitration and Mediation
    UEDA Atsushi

    ■ Banking and Finance Law
    TOJI Yoshihiro
    SAKAMOTO Tomoko
    MATSUDA Takao

    ■ Corporate and Mergers and Acquisitions Law
    MOTOMURA Takeshi

    ■ Corporate Governance and Compliance Practice
    YOSHIHARA Tomomichi

    ■ Insolvency and Reorganization Law
    TAGO Shinya
    MOTOMURA Takeshi
    URANAKA Hirotaka

    ■ Labor and Employment Law
    TAGO Shinya

    ■ Litigation
    TOJI Yoshihiro
    WAKABAYASHI Shigeo
    MOTOMURA Takeshi
    YOSHIHARA Tomomichi
    URANAKA Hirotaka


    Best Lawyers - "Ones to Watch"
    ■ Antitrust / Competition Law
    ISHIKAWA Teppei

    ■ Arbitration and Mediation
    SAITO Hiroki
    NAKAMURA Saeko

    ■ Corporate and Mergers and Acquisitions Law
    KARASAWA Akira
    IKEDA Minako
    YAMADA Kohei
    SUZUKI Tomohiro
    FUKUCHI Takumi

    ■ Information Technology Law
    SAITO Hiroki

    ■ Intellectual Property Law (Non-Patent)
    ISHIKAWA Hiroaki

    ■ Labor and Employment Law
    KITAGAWA Hiroki

    ■ Privacy and Data Security Law
    HORITA Koji

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Practice Areas

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