We are pleased to announce that Takaaki Ishii has joined our firm as an Executive Fellow as of October 1, 2026. [

 

Over the course of more than 33 years, from April 1993 to July 2026, Mr. Ishii served at the Japan Patent Office (JPO) and the Intellectual Property High Court, where he was engaged in patent examination, trial and appeal proceedings, and litigation.

 

At the JPO, Mr. Ishii was primarily engaged in patent examination and trial and appeal proceedings in the mechanical engineering field. He held a number of senior positions, including Director, Transportation Division, Patent Examination Department (Mechanical Technology), and Chief Administrative Judge of the 14th Board of Trial and Appeal. His final position at the JPO was Director of the 12th Board of Trial and Appeal.

 

At the Intellectual Property High Court, Mr. Ishii served as a Judicial Research Official, including as Chief Judicial Research Official. In these roles, he was involved in actions for the revocation of JPO trial and appeal decisions, and appeals in patent infringement and other litigation, addressing issues including infringement, patent validity, and damages.

 

Mr. Ishii also served as a member of the Patent Attorney Examination Committee in the field of patents and utility models and was responsible for overseeing the mechanical patent field of the JPO’s Trial and Appeal Practitioner Study Group.

 

By drawing on the extensive knowledge and experience Mr. Ishii has developed throughout his career, our firm will continue striving to provide even greater value to our clients across the full range of services, from patent prosecution to trial, appeal, and litigation proceedings.

 

We look forward to your continued support as we move forward with our strengthened team.