Hiraki & Associates

What Hiraki & Associates does

Hiraki & Associates (平木国際特許事務所) is a Tokyo-based Japanese patent law firm founded in 1984 by Yusuke Hiraki, a former Japan Patent Office examiner and Chief Administrative Judge who specialized in agricultural and biotechnology IP. The firm operates as a Patent Attorney Corporation (since 2017, rebranded 2022) with 120 total personnel including 33 patent attorneys as of September 2025, distributed across offices in Tokyo (Atago Green Hills MORI Tower, headquarters) and Osaka (Kansai office, since 2009). Its core practice spans patent and utility model prosecution, trademark and design registration, trials and appeals, licensing and technology transfer, plant variety protection under the UPOV convention, and IP consulting and investigations. The firm is structured around three practice areas: Biotechnology and Chemistry (its founding and signature strength, with 25+ specialized patent attorneys and engineers covering genome editing, regenerative medicine, nucleic acid and antibody therapeutics, and agricultural biotech), Mechanical Engineering and Materials, and Electrical Engineering and Communication Technology. Client segments are horizontal, serving pharmaceutical and chemical companies, universities and research institutions, manufacturing companies (electronics, automotive), biotechnology ventures, and food and beverage manufacturers. Revenue is generated through professional services fees (patent prosecution, consulting, seminars, investigations) and licensing/contract work (license agreements, MTAs, NDAs, joint research agreements), with international filings handled through affiliated entities Hitec International Inc. and Hiraki Patent Co., Ltd.

The firm differentiates itself through deep technical specialization, particularly in biotechnology patents where it was a pioneer in Japan, combined with regulatory credibility derived from senior personnel with Japan Patent Office, IP High Court, and WIPO/UPOV backgrounds. Its go-to-market relies on direct enterprise engagement supported by thought leadership: customized IP training programs, annual seminars, university lectures, and a regular newsletter covering patent case law and technical analysis. Distribution is primarily through face-to-face consultations at its two offices, with international coverage via its affiliated companies. The firm is privately held, family-controlled by the Hiraki family, with no external institutional investors or private equity backing, and has maintained continuous independent operation for over 40 years. Leadership transitioned from founder Yusuke Hiraki (now Chairman) to his son Yasuo Hiraki as President in 2019, with no significant M&A activity or external capital events in the firm's history.

Name

Hiraki & Associates

Legal name

Patent Attorney Corporation Hiraki & Associates

Website

https://hiraki-patent.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Hiraki & Associates is a 40-year-old Japanese patent law firm specializing in biotechnology IP, with 33 patent attorneys across Tokyo and Osaka offices serving pharmaceutical, biotech, manufacturing, and university clients through prosecution, litigation, licensing, and IP consulting services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Intellectual Property Law Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (541110), Legal Services (5411)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Intellectual Property (IP) Law (BPAHAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Patent Prosecution & Portfolio Management (BPAHAMAA), IP Search, Watch & Competitive Intelligence (BPAHAMAI)

Keywords

• Patent prosecution services
• Intellectual property law
• Trademark registration
• Plant variety protection
• Biotechnology patent services

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Patent and Utility Model Services: Core revenue stream from preparing and filing patent applications, utility model applications, handling intermediate examination procedures, appeals, and disputes for domestic and foreign clients.
2. Consulting Services: IP strategy consulting including core technology extraction and visualization, technology-based business strategy development, and R&D-IP matching services.
3. Seminars and Training: Customized IP training programs, seminars, and lectures for corporate clients, patent attorney associations, and universities.
4. Trademark and Design Services: Trademark registration strategy, filing support, and design protection services.
5. Licensing Services: IP licensing agreements, technology transfer agreements, material transfer agreements (MTAs), confidentiality agreements, and joint research agreements.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Hiraki & Associates is a comprehensive patent law firm that provides intellectual property services including patent and utility model prosecution, design and trademark registration, trials and appeals, licensing, plant variety protection, IP consulting, seminars, and investigations. The firm specializes in biotechnology and chemistry, mechanical engineering and materials, and electrical engineering and communication technology patent practice.

Product overview

Hiraki & Associates is a comprehensive patent law firm offering a full range of intellectual property services. The firm's core offerings include Patents and Utility Models, Designs, Trademarks, Trials and Appeals, Licensing, Plant Varieties registration, and Consulting/Seminars/Investigations. The firm specializes in three main practice areas: Biotechnology and Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering and Materials, and Electrical Engineering and Communication Technology. Founded in 1984, the firm is particularly renowned for its pioneering work in biotechnology and biological patents, with over 25 patent attorneys and engineers specializing in these fields.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Patents and Utility Models
• Designs
• Trademarks
• Trials and Appeals
• Licensing
• Plant Varieties
• Consulting
• Seminars
• Investigations
• Biotechnology and Chemistry Patent Services
• Mechanical Engineering and Materials Patent Services
• Electrical Engineering and Communication Technology Patent Services

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Hitec International Inc.coreOthersAffiliated company established in June 1989 to support international patent and trademark services. Located in Tokyo, provides foreign-related IP services for the firm.
• Hiraki Patent Co., Ltd.coreOthersSubsidiary company established in December 2000 to support the firm's domestic and international operations. Part of the firm's corporate structure for expanded service capabilities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Dennemeyer Group: Global IP service provider offering patent annuities, renewals, and IP management software. Adjacent competitor in the IP services ecosystem, particularly for portfolio administration work.

Direct peers

• Asamura Patent Office: Long-established Japanese IP firm providing full-range patent, trademark, and design services. Comparable in service portfolio and domestic Japanese focus, with similar long history.
• Nakamura & Partners: One of Japan's largest patent attorney firms, providing comprehensive IP services across patent prosecution, litigation, and licensing. Highly comparable as a Japanese full-service IP firm with international capabilities.
• Yuasa and Hara: Established Japanese patent law firm offering patent prosecution, litigation, and IP consulting across technical fields. Directly comparable in scale, scope, and service mix to Hiraki & Associates.
• Shiga International Patent Office: Mid-sized Japanese IP firm with similar mix of patent prosecution, trademark, and litigation services. Comparable in structure and Japanese-domestic focus.
• Taiyo Patent Office: Japanese patent law firm serving domestic and international clients with patent prosecution, design, and trademark services. Comparable in service breadth and Japanese market orientation.

Broad incumbents

• TMI Associates: One of Japan's largest full-service law firms with a significant IP practice, including patent prosecution, licensing, and litigation. Larger and broader in scope than Hiraki but competes for the same enterprise IP mandates.
• Fish & Richardson: Large international IP law firm with strong patent prosecution and litigation practices, including in life sciences. Competes with Hiraki for global pharma and biotech patent portfolios.
• Finnegan: Leading US-based IP firm specializing in patent prosecution, litigation, and portfolio management with significant biotech/pharma practice. A competitor for international IP mandates for Japanese clients.
• Nixon Peabody (IP practice): International law firm with substantial patent prosecution and IP practice serving multinational clients. Comparable for clients seeking cross-border IP counsel that complements Japanese work.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hiraki & Associates