Partners
Yoshitaka SONODA, PhD
Partner
Patent Attorney
Qualifications and Background
BS, Structural Engineering, Yokohama National University
MS, PhD, Structural Engineering, University of Tokyo
Dr. Sonoda, having a technical background in nuclear and mechanical engineering, is fluent in both English and French, skills which were acquired through his working experience as a researcher at the Saclay Nuclear Research Center of the French Atomic Energy Commision.
Dr. Sonoda spent three years there after finishing his thesis on transient vibration problems in nonlinear systems for which he was granted a Ph.D. by the University of Tokyo. After returning to Japan he worked as a researcher for three years at Hitachi, Ltd., then joined an intellectual property law firm in 1987 to start a career as a professional in intellectual property law.
Practice
After more than 10 years of experience in IP law, Dr. Sonoda teamed with Mr. Y. Kobayashi to establish their own IP law firm in 1998.
Dr. Sonoda is a leading expert in the mechanical and electronic fields and is highly experienced in IP-related litigation. As a patent attorney registered to practice before the Japanese Patent Office, he often undertakes appeals to defend the industrial property rights of a broad range of clientele including private companies and public organizations in various countries including Japan, the United States, France, Denmark and Sweden.
Dr. Sonoda is also a globally recognized expert who regularly publishes articles and holds conferences and seminars on various subjects related to the Japanese patent system.
Fields of Expertise
Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Telecommunication Technologies, Semiconductor Physics, Computer Science, Nuclear Engineering, Civil Engineering.
Patents
Trademarks
Appellations of origin
Geographic names
Domain Names
Designs
Software and Databases
Affiliations
Member of the Japanese Patent Attorneys Association (JPAA), the Japan Intellectual Property Association (JIPA), the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA), the Asian Patent Attorneys Association (APAA) and the Association Internationale pour la Protection de la Propriete Intellectuelle (AIPPI).
Dr. Sonoda is a regular participant in annual American, Asian and European IP Summits.
Languages
Japanese, English, French
Yoshinori KOBAYASHI
Partner
Patent Attorney
Qualifications and Background
BS, MS, Chemical Engineering, Kobe University
Yoshinori Kobayashi studied at the Kobe University where he received his Bachelorfs and Masterfs degrees in chemical engineering. After working for the Daio Paper Company as an engineer, his career in the field of intellectual property began in 1981, when he entered an intellectual property law firm.
Practice
Mr. Kobayashi teamed with Dr. Y. Sonoda to establish the IP law firm of Sonoda & Kobayashi in 1998. As manager of the chemistry and biotechnology groups, Mr. Kobayashi has broad expertise covering legal aspects of chemical and biochemical inventions.
Frequent stays in Europe throughout his career have given him a command of the English language which is rare among non-native speakers.
Fields of Expertise
Applied Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Chemical Machinery, Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology, Cosmetology, Agro-alimentary, Paper-Manufacturing Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering.
Patents
Affiliations
Member of the Japanese Patent Attorneys Association (JPAA).
Languages
Japanese, English