Biography: Competition

Akinori Uesugi is a senior consultant in Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer's antitrust, competition and trade (ACT) group, based in the Tokyo office. He joined the firm in July 2006.

Akinori started his career at the Fair Trade Commission of Japan in 1970. He held positions as deputy secretary general, director general of the Investigation Bureau and director general of economic affairs, before his appointment in June 2003 as secretary general. He held that position until the end of June 2006. During his time as secretary general, he played a key role in making significant amendments to Japan's Antimonopoly Act; changes that have led directly to stricter antitrust enforcement in Japan.

Akinori was educated at both the University of Tokyo and the Law School of the University of Pennsylvania where he graduated in 1973 (LLM). He is a visiting professor at the Graduate School of International Corporate Strategy, Hitotsubashi University and teaches antitrust law. He serves as a member of the editorial board of the journal Competition Law International of the International Bar Association (IBA), and as a standing member of the board of the Japan Competition Law Forum. He is the author of numerous books and articles in Japanese and English and speaks both English and Japanese. He is not registered as a bengoshi in Japan.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer's antitrust, competition and trade (ACT) practice comprises over 50 partners and 260 specialists based in Austria, Belgium, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Russia, Spain, the UK and the US. Our coverage of Asia, Europe and the US enables us to advise our clients in competition cases involving many jurisdictions around the world.