Japanese ‘Big Four’ firm Anderson Mori & Tomotsune has boosted its IP and life sciences practices with two appointments.

The firm has scooped two patent attorneys, Masakata Kanayama and Makoto Ono (pictured) both from IP firm Kawaguti & Partners, for its IP, life science & chemical practices. Ono will handle patents and cases for the biochemistry and pharmaceutical industries while Kanayama will advise on patents to do with organic and inorganic chemistry petrochemistry.

The two appointments will help strengthen the practice as it expands in the area of pharmaceuticals and technology, the firm said in a statement. “Our practice in new drugs and pharmaceuticals and medical techniques … has dramatically expanded in recent years,” the firm said. “At the same time, cross-border commercial transactions, large-scale M&A and other corporate realignments by companies engaged in these industries have steadily risen. Driven by these developments, we have strengthened our life sciences practice.”

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