Hiroki Suyama is a Los Angeles-based partner in our Global Corporate Practice. His primary areas of practice are domestic and cross-border corporate and commercial transactions, litigation and dispute resolution.

Hiroki has substantial experience in litigation and dispute resolution concerning employment, trade secrets, intellectual property, government investigations and subpoenas, and other business disputes. As an attorney familiar with both US and Japanese business cultures, Hiroki has a deep understanding of how each culture thinks and behaves, and this understanding has allowed him to effectively assist Japanese clients through all phases of litigation. Hiroki also represents clients on domestic and cross-border corporate and commercial matters including mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, and serves as outside general counsel to many Japanese companies.

Prior to attending law school, Hiroki was an accountant at a global accountancy firm, and holds a license as a certified public accountant.

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Corporate

  • Representing a Japanese logistics company in its acquisition of a US logistics company and affiliates in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
  • Advising a Japanese operator of a social fashion shopping website on its strategic investment in a US operator of a group of online shopping websites.
  • Advising a Japanese manufacturer of optical glass in its reorganization of numerous branches and subsidiaries in the US.
  • Advising a Japanese engineering and electronics company in its acquisition of a hard disk drive business from a US computer hardware company.
  • Representing a nonprofit mutual benefit corporation in an action brought by members alleging unfair election procedures for its board of directors.

Intellectual Property

  • Representing a Japanese consumer electronics manufacturer in an action against numerous companies for infringement of patents relating to digital television technology in front of the International Trade Commission.
  • Representing a Japanese engineering and electronics company in an action alleging the theft of trade secrets relating to flash memory technology.
  • Representing a Japanese information technology equipment and services company in an action alleging infringement of patents relating to battery packs and systems used in notebook and pen-based computers.

Employment

  • Representing a Japanese logistics company in an action brought by a former human resources manager alleging race and national origin discrimination, sex discrimination, violation of the equal pay act, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and constructive termination.
  • Representing a Japanese logistics company in an action brought by a senior executive alleging race and national origin discrimination, failure to promote, breach of contract, and wrongful termination in violation of public policy.
  • Representing a computer technology company in an action brought by a former senior executive in an action alleging race and national origin discrimination, breach of contract and defamation.
  • Representing a computer and electronic products company in an action brought by a former graphic designer in an action alleging sexual assault, sexual battery, sexual harassment, and failure to prevent harassment.
  • Representing a mortgage loan origination company in an action alleging the illegal corporate raiding of employees and the theft of trade secrets.
  • Representing a construction tools manufacturing company in an action brought by a competitor alleging the theft of trade secrets and violations of the Lanham Act.
  • Representing a Japanese food manufacturing company in a class action by former and current employees alleging wage and hour law violations.

Corporate Investigations and White Collar Defense

  • Representing a Japanese auto parts manufacturer in a DOJ investigation involving allegations of price fixing and market allocation.
  • Advising a Japanese company in its investigation of an executive officer suspected of embezzling company funds.

Product Liability

  • Advising a group of Japanese investors on US product liability laws and issues ranging from warnings, product manuals, and other methods of limiting liability.

Pro Bono

  • Representing an inmate at Folsom Prison against the County of Los Angeles for the use of excessive force during incarceration at a Los Angeles County Jail in violation of the Eighth Amendment.

会社法

  • 日本の物流企業による米国の物流企業とその中国、台湾、香港支社の買収手続き
  • 米国のオンライン・ショッピング運営への戦略的投資に関し、日本のオンライン・ショッピング運営に助言
  • 米国に多数の支社を有する日本の光学ガラスメーカーの会社更生に関する助言
  • 日本の電気メーカーによる米国コンピューター会社のハード・ディスク・ドライブ部門の買収手続きに関する助言
  • 役員選出手続きが不公正だとして非営利共益法人に対し提起された訴訟において法人を代理

知的財産権

  • 国際貿易委員会に提起されたデジタルテレビ技術に関連する特許侵害訴訟において日本の家電製造業者を代理
  • フラッシュメモリー技術に関連する企業秘密窃取の訴訟において日本の電機メーカーを代理
  • ノートブック型パソコンとペンタブレットに使用される充電池仕様に関する特許侵害訴訟において日本の情報技術サービス企業を代理

労働法

  • 前人事部長より提起された人種差別、性差別、訴訟において日本の物流企業を代理
  • 上級役員より提起された人種差別、昇進の機会の見送り、契約違反、公共の利益違反による不当解雇の申立てにおいて日本の物流企業を代理
  • 前上級役員より提起された人種差別、契約違反、名誉毀損の申立てにおいてコンピューター・メーカーを代理
  • 前グラフィックデザイナーから提起された性的暴行、セクシャルハラスメント、ハラスメント防止不履行の訴訟においてコンピューター電気機器メーカーを代理
  • 従業員による違法な会社乗っ取りと企業秘密窃取の訴訟について不動産融資会社を代理
  • 某同業他社より提起された従業員による企業秘密窃取とLanham法違反の訴訟において建設機材製造会社を代理
  • 前社員及び現社員より提起された賃金に関する法律違反の集団訴訟において日本の食品メーカーを代理

企業内調査及びホワイトカラー犯罪

  • 価格操作に関する米国司法局による調査において日本の自動車部品製造会社を代理
  • 会社資金の上級管理職による横領に関する捜査において日本企業を代理

製造物責任

  • 米国製造物責任法と警告、製品マニュアル、限定責任他に関して日本の投資家グループに助言

プロボノ

  • ロサンゼルス郡刑務所での収監に際する過度な力行使が米国憲法修正第8条違反に当たるとしてロサンゼルス郡に対しFolsom刑務所受刑者を代理

研修

  • ロサンゼルス連邦地方裁判所、ロバートM. タカスギ判事の書記官として研修

講演

  • 米国における戦略的紛争解決-訴訟開始と答弁提出、陪審評決後の上訴手続き 2011年11月10-11日(東京)、2012年11月8-9日(東京)
  • 米国における戦略的紛争解決-訴訟の提起から答弁書の提出までの手続き、陪審評決後上訴に至るまでの手続き 2010年10月7-8日(東京)
  • 米国における戦略的紛争解決-訴訟開始と控訴抗弁、裁判外紛争解決(ADR) 2009年11月12-13日(東京)
  • ミレニアムズを監督する:次世代にとっての仕事場とワイヤレスなワークスタイル 2008年5月29日(カリフォルニア州ロサンゼルス)
  • カリフォルニア州雇用・労働法の最近の展開 2007年1月23日(カリフォルニア州ロサンゼルス)

著作

  • Suyama on Reeb v. Ohio Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, 2008 Bender’s Emerging Issues Expert Commentary 927 (November 12, 2007)
  • Nothing Is Forever: The Ability of Employers to Terminate Employees with Industrial Injuries After Lauher, Employment Law Commentary (May 10, 2006)
  • Sixth Circuit Limits the Recovery of Compensatory Damages in Class Actions Under Title VII, 6-3 Bender’s Labor & Employment Bulletin 6 (March 1, 2006)

Education

  • University of Southern California, J.D., 2001
  • University of Southern California, B.S., 1995

Admissions

  • California, 2001

Languages

  • English
  • Japanese
  • Judicial extern for the Honorable Robert M. Takasugi, United States District Court, Central District of California.
  • Judicial extern for the Honorable Robert M. Takasugi, United States District Court, Central District of California.
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