Masayuki KOYANAGI - Deputy Commissioner, Japan Patent Office (JPO)

Masayuki KOYANAGI was appointed Deputy Commissioner in July 2015. Prior to assuming this current position, he served as Patent Examiner in the Inorganic Chemistry Division, in charge of applied inorganic materials; as Administrative Judge at the Trial and Appeal Department; and as Director of the Administrative Affairs Division of the Patent and Design Examination Department; and as Director-General of the Patent Examination Department, in charge of chemistry, life science and material science. He joined the Japan Patent Office (JPO) in April 1983, after graduating with a master’s degree from the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Hokkaido University, Japan.

Futoshi Saito, Director, Head Of IP Business In Japan, Intellectual Property & Science, Thomson Reuters

. 

Renee Xavier - Founder, Alpha & Omega Law Corporation

Renee is the founder of Alpha & Omega. She holds a Postgraduate Degree as an Utter Barrister of England & Wales. She is certified and accredited by the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) and the Singapore Business Advisors and Consultants Council (SBACC) to conduct IP management programmes for businesses in Singapore. Renee’s experience in legal and management services spans 24 years and counting. Prior to founding Alpha & Omega in 2003, she was a Partner in one of Singapore’s largest full service law firms and Head of the International Department at an internationally renowned IP specialist services consultancy. Admitted to practice in Singapore, Malaysia and the United Kingdom, Renee possesses a first-hand understanding of the concerns facing IP owners in relation to protecting, exploiting and capitalizing their IP in Asia. Renee is known for her expertise ranging across a spectrum of consultancy matters, involving counseling, clearance, prosecution, enforcement and litigation. These include, but are not limited to IP strategy, audit, HR policies, IT policies, business model development, brand name development, media rights, copyright assets, as well as design, patent and trade mark registration. To date, Renee has conducted IP audits for more than 60 SMEs, including winners of the prestigious Singapore Promising Brands and Franchisees of the Year. Apart from up-and-coming local entrepreneurs, she has worked with global clients in various industries such as retail and apparel, media, financial services, consumer products, food and beverage, hospitality, pharmaceutical as well as Internet and technology. Renee has authored numerous articles on trade mark law, restraint of trade and trade secret and domain names that have been featured in major trade publications. She is a frequent speaker at industry events, actively sharing her insights on topics ranging from intellectual asset strategy to trade secrets. In addition, she regularly conducts training to empower corporations big and small with strong IP knowledge. On a pro bono basis, she also provides legal clinics on IP issues for SME owners.

At present, Renee represents Singapore in the Trade Mark Chapter of the Asian Patent Attorneys Association (APAA), and is a committee member of the Not-for-Profit Committee of the International Trademark Association (INTA). She is also a member of the European Communities Trade Mark Association (ECTA), International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI), and American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA).

Marcello Do Nascimento - Partner, DAVID DO NASCIMENTO ADVOGADOS ASSOCIADOS (BRAZIL)

Marcello Do Nascimento graduated in Law school at “Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo” (1988) and did a Master in Consumer Law at the Law school of “Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo” (1991). He is a lawyer, partner at the law firm David do Nascimento Advogados Associados.  He was nominated as a trademark law practitioner expert and a patent law practitioner expert in the Guide to the World’s leading Trademark Law Practitioners and World’s leading Patent Law Practitioners edited by Managing Intellectual Property. He was also nominated arbitrator of the ASIPI – Inter – American Association of Intellectual Property at the Arbitration Center of Chamber of Commerce of Bogotá in 2004. He is a member of the Panel of Mediators of “INTA – International Trademark Association”, member of the Panel of Mediators of “WIPO Mediation and Arbitration Center” and a member of the Domain Name dispute resolution chamber (CASD-ND) of the Mediation and Arbitration Center of the Brazilian Association of Intellectual Property (ABPI). He is president of the anti counterfeiting committee at ASIPI– Inter – American Association of Intellectual Property since 2009. He is a Trademark Coordinator of the course for formation of Industrial Property Agents, promoted by the “Brazilian Association of the IP Agents – ABAPI” since 2002 and he is Vice-President at “Associação Paulista da Propriedade Intelectual – ASPI” as from 2011. He is also a member of INTA, LES, ASIPI, FICPI, ABPI, ABAPI, AIPPI e ABF and author of various articles and speeches regarding Intellectual Property matters. Marcello Do Nascimento speaks Portuguese, English and Spanish.

Mitsuyoshi, Mitty, Hiratsuka, Professor, Ph. D (Engineering), Course of Master of Intellectual Property Strategy(MIP), Graduate School of Innovation Studies,Tokyo University of Science

Doctor of engineering (doctoral course). Mitsuyoshi, Mitty, Hiratsuka has finished the master's course in physics at the Department of Science in the Graduate School of Tokyo University of Science. He has finished the master's course in intellectual property at Franklin Pierce Law Center in U.S (US MIP). He was appointed to the current post after working at private businesses, patent offices (had practical experiences at a law firm in U.S.) and Tokyo University of Science as the intellectual property manager of the Intellectual Property Division. The books he has written include "From 'Things' to the Age of 'Intellectual Property' (Tokyo University of Science Bocchan Library), and his research articles include "A Consideration on Acceleration and Hindrance of Innovation caused by Patent on Software Products" (Intellectual Property Management) and "Countermeasures for Patent Rolls that block Development of Information Communication and Electronics Industries" (Journal of the Japan Industrial Management Association)

Hiroaki MATSUMOTO, Director, Consultation and Guidance Office, Trade Practice Department, Economic Affairs Bureau, JFTC

Education:

Bachelor of Laws, University of Tokyo

Working Experience:

1994　 Joined a Private enterprise

2003    Joined the Fair Trade Commission of Japan (JFTC)

2011    Co-ordination supervisor, Chubu Office

2012    Senior Planning Officer, Legal System Planning Division, Consumer Affairs Agency

2015    Director, Consultation and Guidance Office, Trade Practice Department, Economic Affairs Bureau, JFTC

Hande Mumcuoglu - Managing Partner, Halitligil & Ark Patent and Trademark Consultancy

Managing partner of Halitligil and Ark Patent and Trademark Consultancy. She is a registered patent and trademark attorney before Turkish Patent Institute since 2005. She has a wide experience and expertise in the protection of international, regional and national IP related rights. Prior to foundation of Halitligil & Ark Patent and Trademark Consultancy, she was responsible for key accounts’ international trademark applications and all types of trademark procedures, often in coordination with counterparts from different jurisdictions through her previous practice. She has also carried team responsibilty for national, international and regional patent applications, as well as a full range of formal complience procedures. She is also specialized in protection of Breeders’ Rights on New Plant Varieties.

Rodolfo H. Martinez y Pell Jr. - Senior Partner, Martinez & Associados

Mr. Rodolfo Martinez, founding member and senior partner of Martinez & Associados (Brazil), is an intellectual property professional who has addressed most aspects of IP law during his close to 40 year experience, during which he has handled an all-encompassing array of responsibilities, from counseling domestic and foreign clients to preparing and prosecuting obtaining patent and trademark applications. Mr. Martinez received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Engineering College of the University of Rio de Janeiro - UERJ and graduated in law from the Law School of the Paulista University- UNIP. Following his graduation and before founding Martinez & Associados in 1990, Mr. Martinez practiced with two other Brazilian IP law firms also earned specialization degrees in Intellectual Property at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro - PUC, the Brazilian Industrial Property Office - INPI and the World Intellectual Property Organization - WIPO. He is a member of AIPLA, LESI, INTA, FICPI, ASIPI, ABPI, ABAPI and ASPI and an Observer with APAA. Also, he served in leadership roles in several organizations, including President of Licensing Executives Society Brazil, Committee Co-chair with Licensing Executives Society International where he also served as International Delegate, and member of the Council of the Brazilian Intellectual Property Association - ABPI and of the Brazilian Industrial Property Agents Association - ABAPI. Mr. Martinez is a frequent speaker on patent-related topics and on the importance of patent and trademark protection, and for nearly 20 years now has dedicated his time to educational programs covering Brazilian intellectual property law graduating courses for lawyers and other legal professionals. He was also visiting professor at the Intellectual Property Post Graduation Program of the Finis Terrae University in Chile.

Essenese Obhan - Founding Partner, Obhan & Associates

Essenese Obhan is an intellectual property lawyer and patent agent with a degree in mechanical engineering. Essenese advises many Fortune 500 companies as well as some of India’s leading corporations on technology, patent strategy and portfolio management. His work includes drafting and prosecuting patents, as well as patent litigation and opposition proceedings before various courts in India, the Patent Office and the Intellectual Property Appellate Board. Essenese is a frequent speaker on patent protection and enforcement issues across the country and abroad. Essenese has experience in the industrial, chemical, software, and telecom sectors. He leads the intellectual property team at his firm that includes specialists in the chemical, biotech, pharmaceuticals, electronic, electrical, and nano-technological sectors.

Robin Keulertz - Managing Partner, Olbricht Patent Attorneys

Mr. Robin Keulertz is a partner of a patent law firm in Frankfurt am Main. He is a German and European patent attorney licensed to practice before the German Patent and Trademark Office (GPTO), the European Patent Office (EPO) and the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM). Mr. Keulertz holds a diploma in civil engineering and construction from the University of Technology of Aachen (RWTH) and completed an Open University degree in "Law for Patent Attorneys" at the University of Hagen. He has been working in the field of intellectual property rights since 2005. Mr. Keulertz successfully counsels clients in all aspects of intellectual property. He mainly focuses on domestic and international patent prosecution and litigation, license matters, with special regard to contracts and the law of employees' inventions. His technical expertise includes various aspects of engineering and construction, injection molding, fittings technology, automotive engineering, mechanical engineering, materials engineering, solar technology, flow machines and general mechanics. He is a member of the several internationally associations, such as: AIPLA, APAA, INTA, FICPI, AIPPI, LES. Mr. Keulertz´s practical experience includes geoengineering, ferrous metallurgy and mechanical engineering as well as the field of complex production processes. He speaks German, English and Spanish.

Karen Abraham - Partner, Shearn Delamore

Karen Abraham jointly heads the Intellectual Property and Information Technology Department of Shearn Delamore & Co, one of the oldest and largest full service firms in Malaysia. She has more than 25 years of IP experience covering IP Litigation, Mediation, Enforcement and Brand Consultation and Management relating to the full gamut of Intellectual Property related matters. Karen has crafted numerous brand management programmes for many leading multinational companies both locally and throughout the world and had designed anti-counterfeiting and anti piracy programs and strategies for global IP brands. Karen strongly advocates the Mediation of IP disputes. She is on INTA’s (International Trademark Association) Panel of Neutrals. INTA is a nonprofit membership association dedicated to the support and advancement of trademarks and related intellectual property as elements of fair and effective commerce. She is an Accredited Mediator of the Malaysian Mediation Centre and an Association Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK). Karen is the 1st Malaysian woman appointed on the Board of Directors of INTA. She is also the 1st Malaysian to sit on the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI), headquartered in Zurich where she holds the position of Assistant Secretary General. AIPPI is the World's leading non-government organisation for research into, and formulation of policy for, the law relating to the protection of intellectual property. Karen has represented leading multinational companies in IP Litigation and this year alone has represented British American Tobacco (UK), Hermes International (Paris), the Marriott Group (USA) and Avon Inc (USA) in Court.

Steve Sereboff - Partner, SoCal IP Law Group LLP

Steve Sereboff is a preeminent US intellectual property strategists. He works mostly with a company’s top executives, using economic and business acumen to guide their important IP decisions and solve their most difficult IP problems, whether patent, trademark, copyright or trade secret. He is a regular speaker for the California Bar Association and other organizations, has a long list of amicus briefs in important IP cases before the United States Supreme Court, has published widely on IP issues, and is frequently quoted in the media. He holds a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maryland, and spent seven years in the computer software business before earning his law degree from Boston University. His keen appreciation for public policy and understanding of market dynamics drives a visionary approach to the practice of law, which draws a loyal community of start-ups like Oculus VR (through its $2B acquisition by Facebook) and an array of mid-market clients in tech, gaming and medical devices. He is active in the Tech Coast Angels, the MIT Enterprise Forum and the 101 Executives Alliance, amongst other organizations.

Scott Walker - Founding Partner, Walker IP

Scott Walker is a registered Patent Attorney in both Australia and New Zealand. He holds a Degree in Engineering (Electrical and Electronic), a Diploma of Intellectual Property Practice, and a Master of Intellectual Property Law. He has over 15 years experience in all aspects of patent and trade marks attorney work.  He has particular expertise in relation to computer software/hardware based inventions, gaming systems, automotive electrical components, e-commerce, business methods, telecommunications, networking and Internet technologies, medical devices and mechanical inventions. He has several years’ hands on experience running and maintaining an IT network. This experience is invaluable when dealing with IT related inventions.  He worked in the liquor retail industry for over 10 years, focusing on the sale and customer appreciation of wine.  His knowledge of managing a retail business is of great assistance when dealing with e-commerce or business method related inventions. His extensive knowledge of the wine industry is also invaluable when assisting brand owners with the registration of food/wine related trademarks. Outside of the office he maintains his involvement in the wine industry by presenting tastings and seminars. He also enjoys entertaining and travelling. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia, a Designs Committee member of the Asian Patents Attorneys Association (APAA), and a member of the International Trade Mark Association (INTA).

John M. Mulcahy - Partner, Finnegan

John Mulcahy is a partner in Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP’s Reston office. His practice includes litigation before federal district courts and the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), client counseling and opinions, and patent prosecution and post-grant proceedings in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). He has worked with a broad range of technologies: semiconductors, integrated circuits, optoelectronics, cellular telephony, computer networking, digital video, switching power supplies, solid-state and fluorescent lighting, unmanned systems, and business methods. Mr. Mulcahy has managed numerous litigations for multinational electronics manufacturers. His experience includes pre-litigation investigation and opinions; developing positions on claim construction, validity, enforceability, and infringement; organizing joint defense groups; preparing and examining expert witnesses; preparing Markman, summary judgment, and post-trial motions; and negotiating settlements. He has extensive experience in the strategic use of post-grant proceedings in conjunction with litigation and has filed and prosecuted numerous requests for reexamination and inter partes review (IPR).

Doris Johnson Hines - Partner, Finnegan

Dori Hines focuses her practice on patent litigation and has led teams in U.S. district courts, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), and before arbitration panels. She has argued a number of cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Ms. Hines’s experience spans a wide range of technologies, but has focused primarily in the electrical area on semiconductor, Internet, electronics, smartphone, and telecommunications technologies. Ms. Hines also regularly represents clients in mediations and assists in licensing negotiations. She advises clients on strategic patent prosecution, monetization strategies for issued patents, and patent damages, including issues relating to standard essential patents and FRAND. Ms. Hines spent the early years of her career involved in patent application drafting and worldwide prosecution. She has on-going experience in reissue, reexamination, and inter partes review (IPR) proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Ms. Hines has lectured extensively on a wide range of patent topics, including defensive litigation strategies particularly as they relate to nonpracticing entities (NPEs), FRAND and injunction issues, claim construction, opinion drafting, and litigation strategy. She has taught several patent litigation workshops and courses and has served as an adjunct professor of patent law at Howard University School of Law.

Naoki Yoshida - Partner, Finnegan

Naoki Yoshida, managing partner of Finnegan’s Tokyo office, handles a broad range of intellectual property matters including litigation, patent portfolio management, intellectual property due diligence, client counseling,
licensing and negotiations, patent prosecution, and pre-litigation strategic counseling. He has represented both domestic and foreign clients in numerous patent infringement actions before U.S. district courts and the U.S.
International Trade Commission (ITC). In particular, he has extensive experience in all types of discovery, depositions, motion practice, and day-to-day case management. Mr. Yoshida’s counseling experience includes licensing negotiations, evaluating corporate patent portfolios, and conducting intellectual property due diligence for both large and small companies in connection with mergers and acquisitions. Additionally, he drafts opinions relating to patent infringement, validity, and enforceability; advises clients on intellectual property strategies; and has drafted and prosecuted numerous patent applications in the fields of electrical and mechanical arts. His practice also includes reissue and reexamination proceedings before the U.S. Patent and
Trademark Office. Mr. Yoshida has significant experience in global intellectual property issues involving multinational corporations. With his fluency in Japanese and appreciation for cultural differences, Mr. Yoshida frequently counsels clients on unique intellectual property issues arising out of negotiations and disputes
involving Japanese companies. He has also participated in proceedings in Japanese courts in connection with U.S. patent infringement litigation. Mr. Yoshida is a frequent lecturer on U.S. patent law for universities and
professional organizations, including the Licensing Executives Society, the Japan Patent Attorneys Association, and the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI).

Eric D. Kirsch - IP Chief Counsel, Nikon Corporation

Eric D. Kirsch has been IP Chief Counsel of Nikon Corporation since 2010. Before joining Nikon, Mr. Kirsch was a partner in a New York law firm specializing in Intellectual Property Litigation and an Assistant District Attorney for the City of Philadelphia.  Mr. Kirsch holds a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University and a J.D. degree cum laude, from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, where he served on the University of Pittsburgh Law Review. 

Joe Welch - Vice President for Government Relations Asia, 21st Century Fox

Joe Welch is Senior Vice President of government relations, Asia at 21st Century Fox and previously held a similar role with News Corporation and at Star TV. He was previously regional director of regulatory affairs (Asia) at MCI. He is based in Hong Kong and was educated at Santa Clara University School of Law and Amherst College.

Steve Joroff - Director of Asia Pacific IP Licensing, IBM Corp

Steve Joroff serves as the Director of Asia-Pacific Intellectual Property Licensing for IBM Corp.  Mr. Joroff has been in this role and living in Tokyo, Japan since 2012. Mr. Joroff has extensive global experience in selling and licensing all forms of intellectual property. He has been with IBM for 10 years, building IP acquisition and investment programs, including business development and evaluation. He then stepped up to be Director of the Asia Pacific IP licensing team in 2012, building the Asia IP licensing income back to historic levels.  In his role as Director of Asia Pacific IP team for IBM, he is responsible for protecting and enhancing the value of IBM’s business through management and monetization of the IBM IP portfolio in Asia Pacific.  Since joining IBM, Mr. Joroff has led groups of technical and legal experts that assess and execute all types of Intellectual Property Transactions.  His team is also responsible for analyzing markets and technology trends in order to develop IP strategies in Asia Pacific that balance freedom of action and IP income for the IBM Corporation. Mr. Joroff has previous IP experience working for Alcatel Lucent and Telcordia Technologies. Mr Joroff is a certified Licensing Professional with an MBA in Finance and an MS in Materials Engineering, both from Rutgers University in New Jersey.

Gordon Harris- Partner, Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co LLP

Head of the global IP team, Gordon Harris has over 25 years’ experience in intellectual property and is an expert in engineering and high-tech patent litigation.

Mr Harris conducts litigation in all UK and European courts for clients seeking to protect their intellectual property, as well as those accused of infringing other people’s rights. He is known as a fighter who will explore every avenue to get the right result, including going to the Supreme Court to change over 100 years of patent law in order to ensure the right outcome for a client.

Mr Harris’s extensive IP experience includes international patent disputes, anti-counterfeiting programmes and design litigation in the European Court of Justice (ECJ). He led Zodiac Seats UK to victory in a ground-breaking Supreme Court overruling against Virgin Atlantic which overturned a chain of legal precedent stretching back to 1908.

 He has conducted ground-breaking cases on designs and brands in the ECJ and contested the validity of patents in the European Patent Office. As a qualified mediator accredited by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution and the World Intellectual Property Organisation, Mr Harris also pursues alternative dispute resolution both on behalf of clients and as a mediator. He is also an associate of the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents.

He is involved in law reform and development through various committees and organisations. All of this allows him to provide decisive commercial advice to clients and to help them to decide the best avenue to take in any given case.

James Moynihan - Director, Intellectual Property Department/Japan Office, Louis Vuitton Company

James Moynihan is a former prosecutor in the State of New York, Monroe County District Attorney`s office from 1979-1981; FBI special agent attorney with the FBI/Department of Justice from 1981-2006; Director of Security for Shinsei Bank, Japan, from 2006-2007. He has been the  Director, Intellectual Property Department/Japan office, Louis Vuitton Company, Tokyo, Japan since June 2007. James has a BA Degree from University of Notre Dame, USA and a JDL Degree from University of Dayton Law School, University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio.

Zain Adnan - Managing Partner, Hadromi  Adnan Intellectual Property Group

Zain Adnan has 16 years experience in commercialisation of Intellectual Property across borders and sectors. He worked briefly at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva, Switzerland and to date is the only Indonesian recipient of WIPO's Long Term Fellowship program at the Franklin Pierce Law Center, University of New Hampshire School of Law, USA in 2001.

After short stint at a Washington law firm, he worked for 8 years at the Jakarta office of UK based Rouse. His work included contentious and non-contentious IP work. It included conducting searches in trade mark, industrial design and patent and all the way to filings the applications, registering and commercialization. Commercialization included the IP based purchasing and valuation.

The enforcement side included working with the Police on criminal raid actions and supporting the Attorney Generals Office during criminal prosecution.

After this, he became in house counsel and the government affairs of Thiess, the Australian mining and construction (EPC) contractor. During his 3 years at Thiess he became familiar with the general corporate, labor and security side of both corporate and on site project mining management.

After this, he spent time as Country Manager of BSA | The Software Alliance, the global software advocacy group. This brought him in touch with policy makers at various Ministries and government agencies including the Ministry of ICT, The Ministry of Law & Human Rights, the AGO, Police and Customs (the Ministry of Finance) to name a few stakeholders.

His clients have included the following sectors: Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences, Banking, Automotive and Motorcycle manufacturing, Spare parts, the Apparel and Sportswear, the Software and Hardware, the Luxury Goods and Tobacco industry and many other sectors.

He has a Bachelor of Economics and Political Science degree from Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada; a MBA in Strategic Management from Ateneo De Manila University, Makati, Philippines; a Masters in Intellectual Property from the Franklin Pierce Law Center, University of NH School of Law, Concord, NH, USA and a Bachelors of Law from the University of 17 August 1945, Jakarta, Indonesia.

He is a Registered Intellectual Property Attorney since 2006.