Professionals

Ryutaro “Rudy” Hirota heads the firm with over 30 years of experience serving domestic and multinational clients. Rudy’s specialization is in corporate contracts, but he also has significant experience with corporate transactions, including corporate counseling, intellectual property licensing, employment law, corporate immigration, and a variety of other corporate client needs. Rudy frequently advises corporations on strategies to achieve the client’s business goals.

After graduating from U.C. Berkeley School of Law in 1989, Rudy served as a law clerk in Federal Courts, including for the 9th Circuit and for the United States Supreme Court. Following his clerkships, Rudy worked for O’Melveny and Myers for four years, where he focused on providing legal representation for Japanese corporate clients. He founded his own law office in 1997, continuing to provide service to clients who require Japanese-speaking counsel.

Due to the needs of the community, Rudy has expanded his practice from working primarily with corporate clients to serving members of the Japanese and Japanese-speaking community through providing a variety of personal legal services, including immigration law, employment law, estate planning and probate, family law, landlord-tenant law, personal injury law, and civil litigation. With the expansion of his client-base, he decided to rebrand his office as the Law Offices of Hirota and Kudo, PC in February of 2024.

Ayaka is a California-licensed attorney and Partner at the Law Offices of Hirota and Kudo, PC, where she leads the firm’s San Diego practice with a focus on immigration, estate planning, probate, corporate, and family law. With over a decade of experience, Ayaka is known for her thoughtful legal counsel, cross-cultural fluency, and dedication to personalized service.

Ayaka earned her J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 2012 and holds a B.A. in Philosophy and Peace Studies from the University of Notre Dame. She began her legal career as a law clerk with the firm in 2011 and rose through the ranks to become Partner in 2024. Over the years, she has advised a broad client base—including individuals, families, and international corporations.

In addition to drafting and negotiating contracts and managing probate cases, Ayaka regularly consults with clients on complex matters involving immigration, estate and family matters. She is particularly experienced in representing members of the Japanese community and other international clients with legal needs that span both the U.S. and Japan.



Ayaka’s global perspective is informed by her life and work experiences in Japan, Australia, Belgium, India, and the United States. She is fluent in Japanese and adept at navigating the cultural and legal nuances that come with serving a global clientele. Her international background and client-centered approach make her a vital asset to our firm and the diverse communities we serve.