Hiroki Suyama

Corporate Governance and General Counsel

• Advising numerous public and private boards of directors on all aspects of corporate governance, including board and committee structuring, fiduciary duties and legal compliance.
• Serving as outside general counsel to various Japanese companies, supporting ongoing business operations, compliance, risk management and strategic planning.

Capital Markets and Strategic Transactions

• Represented a Japanese restaurant company in its initial public offering and subsequent follow-on offerings on NASDAQ.
• Advised a Japanese logistics company on its acquisition of a US logistics firm and affiliated entities in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
• Advised a Japanese beverage manufacturer on the strategic acquisition of beverage producers in Italy and Poland.
• Represented a Japanese trading company in multiple investments in US technology companies.
• Represented a Japanese retail company in an asset acquisition of a US based retail service business.
• Advised a Japanese engineering and electronics company on its acquisition of a hard disk drive business from a US hardware company.

Corporate Restructuring and Cross-border Disputes

• Advised a Japanese optical glass manufacturer on the reorganization of its US branches and subsidiaries.
• Advised a Japanese food manufacturer on a multi-entity reorganization of its US operations.
• Advised a Japanese beverage company’s UK subsidiary in defending misappropriation of trade secrets and unfair competition claims.
• Advised a Turkish subsidiary of a Japanese beverage company in post-acquisition claims involving breach of representations and warranties.

Real Estate and Investment

• Represented a Japanese construction company in the acquisition of multiple US commercial properties.
• Represented a Japanese investment company in the acquisition of a US hotel as part of its overseas real estate portfolio.

Employment and Labor Disputes

• Defended a Japanese glassware manufacturer in a wrongful termination and retaliation lawsuit, securing a defense verdict after a two-week jury trial.
• Represented numerous Japanese companies in class action lawsuits and PAGA claims alleging wage and hour violations.
• Represented a Japanese logistics company in discrimination and retaliation claims brought by a senior executive and former HR manager, involving allegations of race, sex, equal pay violations and constructive termination.
• Defended numerous Japanese companies against employee claims of harassment, discrimination, wrongful termination and retaliation.
• Conducted internal investigations for Japanese companies involving whistleblower complaints and alleged misconduct by employees, including embezzlement, kickbacks, unauthorized disclosure of confidential information, falsification of records, harassment, regulatory violations and other breaches of company policy.

Intellectual Property and Trade Secrets

• Represented a Japanese consumer electronics company in ITC proceedings for patent infringement relating to digital television technology.
• Represented a Japanese IT equipment manufacturer in patent litigation involving notebook and tablet battery systems.
• Represented a Japanese engineering and electronics firm in a trade secret misappropriation case involving flash memory technology.
• Represented a Japanese manufacturing company in litigation brought by a competitor under the Lanham Act and trade secrets statutes.
• Represented a mortgage loan origination company in corporate raiding and trade secret theft litigation.

Government and Regulatory Investigations

• Represented a Japanese auto parts manufacturer in a Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation concerning alleged price fixing and market allocation.
• Advised Japanese companies on U.S. regulatory compliance, including FCPA, antitrust and import/export control issues.

Product Liability

• Advised Japanese investors and manufacturers on US product liability laws, including labelling, user manuals and risk mitigation strategies.

Pro Bono

• Represented 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.