Managing Partner, Patent Attorney
Shinji Komai(No.17996)
Educational Background
B.S. in Chemical engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Doshisha University
Career
Former IP Department Chief, Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd.
Expertise
IP strategy, chemical engineering (unit operation), design rights, trademarks, Unfair Competition Prevention Act, Anti-monopoly Act
Comments
I will support our clients in elevating their technologies and brands into business/management strategies by utilizing my 25 years of experience in corporate IP departments (field) and IP firms (practice).
External Activities
◆Japan Office of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
Moderator of the webinar hosted by WIPO, “Roundtable on Strengthening the International Competitiveness of Japan’s Parts and Materials Sector – The Ideal Form of International Intellectual Property Strategy for Achieving Sustainability”
◆Japan Intellectual Property Association
Vice-chair of the Intellectual Property Management Committee, Asia Strategy Project,
◆Japan Patent Office
Examiner for the Patent Attorney Examination Subcommittee (2020, 2021)
Leader of the Intellectual Property Support Project WG at universities, Myanmar Intellectual Property System Support Team
◆JETRO
Chairperson of the Roundtable for Strengthening International Competitiveness in the Parts and Materials Field
◆Japan Patent Attorneys Association
Public Relations Center, Corporate Patent Attorney Intellectual Property Committee, Patent Attorney Law Revision Committee, Trade Secret Protection Study WG, Vice-Chair of the Small and Medium Venture Company Support Committee, Member of the Comprehensive Policy Planning and Management Committee
◆Asian Patent Attorneys Association (APAA), Asia Committee
◆Licensing Executives Society Japan (LES JAPAN), Asia Working Group
◆Japan Trademark Association, Working Group on Practical Issues
◆Tokyo Kojimachi Rotary Club
Partner, Patent Attorney
Yoshitaka Enomoto (No.23509)
Educational Background
Graduate School of Science (Physics), Nagoya University (M.S.)
Career
Former Senior Director, Appeal Division 2, Japan Patent Office
He also worked/works for the following organizations.
◆Former Deputy Director, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Seoul Office
◆Former Senior Director General, Director of Center for IP Management Services, Managing Director for Development of Human Resources, National Center for Industrial Property Information and Training (INPIT)
◆Former Director, Patent Circulation Promotion Project Center, Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation
◆Former Visiting Professor, Department of Intellectual Property and Creative Systems, Graduate School of Engineering, Kanazawa Institute of Technology
◆Specially Appointed Professor, Graduate School of Intellectual Property, Osaka Institute of Technology
Expertise
Patents (Physics)
Comments
I have worked for the Japan Patent Office for over 34 years and have been engaged in patent prosecution and trial practice. At JETRO, INPIT, and the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation, where I was seconded to, I was involved in activities to support “defensive and offensive” intellectual property strategies for corporate clients.
I will assist clients in acquiring rights accurately and smoothly by focusing on the “defensive and offensive” aspects of their business.
Partner, Patent Attorney
Tomoyasu Tsuda (No.22816)
Qualifications
Specific Infringement Lawsuit Counsel
Educational Background
Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University (M.S.)
Career
Former General Manager, Intellectual Property Department, Kuraray Co. Ltd.
Expertise
Chemistry (substances, processes, compositions, materials, molded products, applications, etc.), Intellectual property strategies
Comments
I first grasp the business, and its development situation and strategies behind client’s requests, then carefully select the best action to achieve client’s objectives and desired outcome, so as to assist building the ideal patent portfolios.
The world is full of things we are yet to know. I always question the status quo and never quit learning.
I strive to provide value to clients through clear and precise communications.
External Activities
IP Management Committee (2010-2011); Steering Committee Member, Kanto Chemical Subcommittee 2 (2015); Kansai Intellectual Property Issues Study Group (2017), Japan Intellectual Property Association
Awards
The Catalysis Society of Japan Award (2004: Technical Division)
Patent Attorney
Naoyuki Momose (No.10368)
Educational Background
B.S. in Physics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University
Career
Former Partner at an IP firm in Tokyo
Expertise
Control systems, machinery, mechatronics, AI, computer, motor control systems, optics, etc.
Comments
While working as a patent attorney for over 29 years, I have been engaged in domestic and foreign patent drafting and prosecutions, patent oppositions, invalidation trials, litigation to revoke trial decisions, and expert opinions. I also worked at Sughrue Mion PLLC in Washington, D.C., USA for 2 years.
I am able to fully support clients from drafting through registration both in domestic and foreign cases.
For start-up clients, I draft employee invention treatment guideline, and also advise on intellectual property systems and strategies.
I believe that an invention is the fruit of daily efforts, in other words the inventor’s other self. I support such inventions with the same passion as the inventor.
Patent Attorney
Hiroki Hayashi (No.16748)
Qualifications
Specific Infringement Lawsuit Counsel
Educational Background
B.S. in Applied Material Science, Faculty of Engineering, Kyushu University
Career
Worked for a software development company
Worked for an IP firm in Tokyo
Expertise
Information and Communication, control systems, image processing, software, chemistry, electronics, machinery, etc.
Comments
I have been engaged in drafting patent specifications for major domestic solution companies and have assisted them in obtaining rights under various circumstances. What is important in this process is communication with clients. I believe that better rights are often created through communication with clients. I will continue to emphasize communication with clients to support their intellectual property rights.
External Activities
Japan Patent Attorneys Association – Public Relations Center, Training Institute
Counselor, Patent Attorney
Hiroyuki Eguchi (No.10203)
Qualifications
Specific Infringement Lawsuit Counsel
Educational Background
Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering Science, Osaka University (B.S.)
Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University (M.S.)
Career
Former General Manager, Intellectual Property Department, Shimadzu Corporation
Passed Patent Bar Examination before the USPTO
Former Adjunct lecturer at Iwate University
Teaching patent attorney examinations at a preparatory school
Expertise
Technical (electrical, mechanical, control), legal (contracts, infringement negotiations, infringement litigation, revocation of trial decisions, IP strategy)
Comments
I will support clients in their IP activities through my wide range of experience in IP industry for over 30 years, including development experience, practice as a patent attorney such as drafting, prosecutions, trials and oppositions, practice as a litigator in infringement litigation and revocation of trial decisions (50% win rate), handling US patent litigation, and planning and implementing IP strategies focusing on pursuit of business contribution.
External Activities
◆C1 (Patent Law), WU1 (U.S. Patent Law) Course Instructor, Japan Intellectual Property Association
◆Examiner, Kyoto Prefecture Commendation for Invention
U.S. Legal Advisor, Patent Attorney
Emi Ohira
Professional Qualifications
◆California State Bar Member
◆Patent attorney
Educational Background
Department of Law, the Nagoya University School of Law
University of Southern California, Gould School of Law (LL.M)
Career
Worked at a Japanese patent office and in the intellectual property department for an overseas company and a U.S. law firm
Presently resides in Los Angeles and works at DSA Legal Solutions, Professional Corporation (legal professional corporation)
Expertise
Providing support for U.S. lawsuits (product liability lawsuits/patent infringement lawsuits/investigations into Anti-Monopoly Law violations, etc.), consulting for U.S. trademark/copyright infringements, creating English contracts including confidentiality contracts/joint development contracts, etc., providing support for information management and other legal activities related to standard corporate operations in the U.S.
