HIDETO KANDA

Lawyer

Hideto Kanda

Attorney-at-law in Japan, 2015

Mr. Kanda specialises in intellectual property law, with extensive experience in dispute resolution and contract negotiation relating to patents, copyrights, trademarks, and brand protection. Mr. Kanda possesses deep knowledge of Japanese law as well as data protection regimes, including the UK and EU GDPR. His practice focuses on providing legal solutions that are not only legally sound but also strategically designed to safeguard intellectual property and personal data while enhancing clients’ business value and competitive advantage.

In his daily practice, Mr. Kanda advises clients across a wide range of corporate legal matters, including contract review and general legal consultation, maintaining a policy of providing an initial response within half a day whenever possible. Clients have recognised his promptness, clear communication, and strong understanding of business operations.

Leveraging his qualification under the UK Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) and professional experience in Hong Kong and China, Mr. Kanda offers comprehensive legal support for cross-border matters, including English-language contract negotiation, international business expansion and withdrawal, and M&A transactions. With a particular focus on content and international expansion, Mr. Kanda is passionate about supporting Japanese companies in the game, anime, and character industries as they expand overseas. He actively assists with anti-counterfeiting measures in China and business operations in Hong Kong, helping clients navigate complex legal frameworks abroad.

Background

Mar. 2011
Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), Kyoto University
Mar. 2013
Juris Doctor (J.D.), Kyoto University Law School
Dec. 2015
Legal Training and Research Institute of the Supreme Court of Japan
Jan. 2016
Kobayashi & Yugeta Law Office
Sep. 2017
Part-time lecturer, Toin Law School (“Civil Law and Procedure Seminar IV”)
Nov. 2024
Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Intellectual Property, The University of Edinburgh
Mar. 2025
Passed SQE1(Solicitors Qualifying Examination)
Mar. 2025
Fred Kan & Co., Hong Kong (~Nov. 2025)
Sep. 2025
Legal Training at Bird & Bird LLP (Beijing Office) (~Sep. 2025)

Publications

    – Co-Author,Questions and Answers on Professional Legal Practice Relating to AI and Robots, Keiso Shobo, February 2019

Speaking Engagements

    – Issues Under Trademark Law in Excluding Comparative Advertisement: Implications from the Debate in the European Union, February 2026
    – 2025 DHH & DH Young Elite Lawyers Training Camp, DHH Law Firm (Beijing DHH Law Firm, Shenzhen Office), June 2025
    – Game Law from the Developer’s Perspective: Avoiding Project Cancellation During Development, Seminar for Gotcha Gotcha Games Inc., August 2023
    – Overview of the Act on the Protection of Personal Information: With Practical Case Studies, Seminar for a Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market–listed service company, March 2023
    – Game Law from the Developer’s Perspective: Avoiding Project Cancellation During Development, Awajicho Intellectual Property Study Group, October 2022
    – What is “Intermediation” under the Employment Security Act?: With Practical Case Studies, Seminar for a Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market–listed service company, October 2022
    – Overview of the Unfair Competition Prevention Act, Seminar for a Prime Market–listed chemical manufacturer, March 2022
    – Fundamentals of Contracts and Copyright for Web Designers, January 2022
    – Intellectual Property Case Handling and Related Practice Areas: Matters Patent Attorneys Should Note from a Lawyer’s Perspective, Kanto Branch of Japan Patent Attorneys Association, January 2022
    – Explanation of Intellectual Property Mediation, Tokyo Three Bar Associations District and Family Court Backup Council, June 2021
    – Practical Use of Intellectual Property Rights, Benrishi Club (Patent Attorneys Club), February 2020
    – Key Points in Pre-Litigation Negotiations in Patent Disputes: What Should and Should Not Be Done at the Negotiation Stage, Benrishi Club (Patent Attorneys Club), July 2018

Associations

    – Daini Tokyo Bar Association
    – Information Disclosure and Personal Information Protection Committee, Daini Tokyo Bar Association
    – International Committee, Daini Tokyo Bar Association
    – IPLNET Japan(December 2025-present)
    – Intellectual Property Law Study Group, Daini Tokyo Bar Association(December 2025-present)