Nii Patent Firm
Nii Patent Firm

Our Attorneys

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  • Patent Attorney, President

    HIromori Nii

    Technical Fields Software, Electricity, Electronics, Physics
    HIromori Nii
    Certifications and others
    Patent Attorney; Information Technology Engineer, 1st Class; Radio Engineer, 2nd Class; Licensed Electrician, 3rd Class; Color TV Repair Technician; Radiation Protection Supervisor, 2nd Class; Amateur Radio Operator, Level 2; Test of Practical English Proficiency (EIKEN), Pre-Level 1; Accountant Level 2; others
    Affiliations
    Japan Patent Attorneys Association, International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property of Japan (AIPPI JAPAN), Kansai Patent Attorneys Study Group, others
    Background
    Mar. 1978
    B.S., Nuclear Engineering, School of Engineering, Osaka University
    Apr. 1978 - Oct.1993
    Worked as an electronics engineer at TOYO Corporation
    Sep. 1994 - Nov. 2000
    Worked as a patent engineer at Nakajima International Patent Firm
    Nov. 1996
    Passed Patent Attorney Examination
    Dec. 1996
    Registered as Patent Attorney (Registration No. 10921)
    Jun. 1998 - Jul. 1998
    Completed Patent Affairs Training Course, BKSB LLP (Virginia, U.S.)
    Dec. 2000
    Established NII Patent Firm
    Special skills
    Early allowance through interviews with patent examiners
    Hobbies
    Go (Japanese board game), Swimming

  • Patent Attorney, Vice President

    Shinichi Michisaka

    Technical Fields Electricity, Machinery
    Shinichi Michisaka
    Certifications and others
    Patent Attorney

    Member of intellectual property system promotion committee at Kinki Branch of Japan Patent Attorneys Association
    (2004 to Present: committee chairman in 2010; and committee vice-chairman in 2008, 2009, and 2011)

    Member of Kansai Patent Attorneys Study Group (vice-chairman of patent utility model subgroup in 2011, and chairman of the same in 2012)
    Background
    1996
    B.S., Mechanical Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kanazawa University
    1998
    M.S., Mechanical Systems Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kanazawa University
    1998-2009
    Worked at Panasonic Corporation (involved in domestic and foreign patent acquisition and patent application matters at divisional and head office intellectual property departments)
    2003
    Qualified and Registered as Patent Attorney (Registration No. 13141)
    2004-2011
    Adjunct faculty member at Faculty of Engineering, Kanazawa University
    2009
    Joined NII Patent Firm
    2015
    Completed the Patent and Intellectual Property Law and Practice Summer Institute hosted by the Center for Advanced Study and Research on Intellectual Property (CASRIP) at the University of Washington
    Special skills
    Acquisition of domestic and foreign patents (working to define inventions, preparation of patent applications and documents for response to Office Action, interview with patent examiners)

    Providing support for corporate intellectual property matters (intellectual property management, intellectual property strategy planning, intellectual property assessment, intellectual property instruction, intellectual property negotiation)

    Patent search (prior art search, business risk assessment)
    Hobbies
    Marathon, Snowboarding, Golf (wanting to try)

  • Patent Attorney, Vice President

    Eisaku Teratani

    Technical Fields Software, Image Processing, Physics
    Eisaku Teratani
    Certifications and others
    Patent Attorney; Patent Infringement Litigator;Senior Radiation Protection Supervisor
    Background
    1993
    B.S., Nuclear Engineering, School of Engineering, Osaka University
    1995
    M.S., Nuclear Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University
    1995-1999
    Worked at Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (involved in design work related to radiation measurement)
    1999-2001
    Worked at Hokuto Patent Office
    2001
    Joined NII Patent Firm
    2005
    Qualified and Registered as Patent Attorney (Registration No. 13723)
    2006
    Completed Patent Practice Internship at BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT Law Firm in Germany
    2008
    Qualified as Patent Infringement Litigator
    Special skills
    Preparation of patent applications and documents for response to Office Action
    Hobbies
    Movies, Fishing

  • Patent Attorney, Vice President

    Shuichi Yoshikawa

    Technical Fields Electricity, Control Engineering, Machinery, Semiconductor Device, High Frequency Device, Electronic Circuit, Battery
    Shuichi Yoshikawa
    Certifications and others
    Patent Attorney; Ph.D. in Engineering; Information Technology Engineer, 2nd Class
    Background
    1987
    B.S., Control Engineering, School of Engineering Science, Osaka University
    1989
    M.Eng., Control Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University
    1989
    Worked at Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (involved in research on superconducting device at laboratory)
    1992-1994
    Involved in research on high frequency Josephson device at Superconductivity Research Laboratory of International Superconductivity Technology Center
    1997
    Ph.D., Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University
    1998
    Worked at Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (involved in high frequency device development project)
    2007
    Joined NII Patent Firm
    2012
    Passed Patent Attorney Examination
    2013
    Registered as Patent Attorney (Registration No. 18943)
    2014
    Completed the Patent and Intellectual Property Law and Practice Summer Institute hosted by the Center for Advanced Study and Research on Intellectual Property (CASRIP) at the University of Washington
    Special skills
    Preparation of patent applications related to inventions of electronic device, electric circuit, and semiconductor process
    Preparation of documents for response to Office Action
    Hobbies
    Ball games such as table tennis, baseball, and golf, Jogging, and Karaoke (Japanese oldies from 70's and 80's)

  • Patent Attorney

    Toshiya Kido

    Technical Fields Structures (Industrial machines, Semiconductors, Hard materials, Appliances, etc.), Mechatronics (Industrial machine control, optimization, inspection, sensing, etc.), Physics (Vacuum and cleaning technology, Plasma, PVD, etc.)
    Toshiya Kido
    Certifications and others
    Patent Attorney
    Background
    1990
    M.S., Applied Physics, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka City University (Thesis Subject: Observation of Oxygen Excitation Phenomena Caused by a Laser Beam on the Surface of a Substance)
    1990
    Worked at Kobe Steel, Ltd. (developing vacuum coating technology [especially hard material films for cutting tools, sliding films for sliding components], plasma cleaning technology and wet cleaning technology)
    1995
    Worked at Shimizu Patent Attorneys Office
    2002
    Qualified and Registered as Patent Attorney (Registration No. 12487)
    2004
    Joined NII Patent Firm
    2006
    Completed Patent Practice Internship at Birch, Stewart, Kolasch & Birch (BSKB) Intellectual Property Law Firm (Virginia, U.S.)
    Special skills
    Working to assess, research, define and develop inventions
    Hobbies
    Fishing

  • Patent Attorney

    Masaki Nakahara

    Technical Fields Structures, Mechatronics, Software
    Masaki Nakahara
    Certifications and others
    Patent Attorney; Patent Infringement Litigator; Qualified Supervisor for Energy Management, Scaffolding Construction Chief Supervisor, Crane Operation Technician, Supervisor for Hazardous Operation Associated with Oxygen Depletion and Hydrogen Sulfide
    Background
    1995
    M.S., Precision Engineering, School of Engineering, the University of Tokyo (Thesis Subject: Research on Insertion of Thin Rod Using Magnetic Levitation Mechanism)
    1995
    Worked as an engineer and supervisor at Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc.
    2006
    Passed Patent Attorney Examination
    2007
    Joined NII Patent Firm
    2007
    Registered as Patent Attorney (Registration No. 15322)
    2008
    Qualified as Patent Infringement Litigator
    2009
    Completed Patent Affairs Training Course, BKSB LLP (Virginia, U.S.)
    Special skills
    Preparation of patent applications related to machinery inventions
    Hobbies
    Travelling, Family Activities

  • Patent Attorney

    Jyunichi Komata

    Technical Fields Electricity, Machinery
    Jyunichi Komata
    Certifications and others
    Patent Attorney
    Background
    2001
    B.S., Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Doshisha University
    2001
    Worked at Kyoto Denkiki Co., Ltd. (involved in intellectual property services and production engineering services)
    2004
    Worked at Kishimoto & Associates
    2006
    Qualified and Registered as Patent Attorney (Registration No. 14846)
    2011
    Joined NII Patent Firm
    Special skills
    Preparation of patent applications and documents for response to Office Action
    Hobbies
    Travelling, Visiting Cafes

  • Patent Attorney

    Yasuhiko Hino

    Technical Fields Machinery, Mechatronics, Network
    Yasuhiko Hino
    Certifications and others
    Patent Attorney; Patent Infringement Litigator
    Background
    1990
    B.S., Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering Science, Osaka University
    1990
    Worked as a sales representative for scientific and engineering calculation services (structure, fluid, chemistry) at RECRUIT CO., LTD.
    1992
    Worked as an instructor and a manager of instructors at English Kids Network
    1996
    Worked as an Internet Division chief at AXIS Inc.
    2001
    Worked as a Web director and technical director at KOHGA Corporation
    2004
    Joined NII Patent Firm
    2007
    Qualified and Registered as Patent Attorney (Registration No. 15561)
    2008
    Completed Patent Affairs Training Course, BKSB LLP (Virginia, U.S.)
    2009
    Qualified as Patent Infringement Litigator
    Special skills
    Working to define and develop inventions, preparation of patent applications and documents for response to Office Action
    Hobbies
    Music, Playing Guitar, Watching Soccer Matches

  • Patent Attorney

    Kenichiro Kidou

    Technical Fields Machinery, Electricity
    Kenichiro Kidou
    Certifications and others
    Patent Attorney
    Background
    1987
    B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Doshisha University
    1987-2014
    Worked at Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (designed facilities and served as patent liaison in Production Engineering Unit, and then involved in patent application and acquisition matters in Intellectual Property Department)
    2005
    Passed Patent Attorney Examination
    2008
    Registered as Patent Attorney (Registration No. 15819)
    2014
    Worked at Nishizawa Patent Firm
    2015
    Joined NII Patent Firm
    Special skills
    Preparation of patent applications and Intellectual property stragety planning
    Hobbies
    DVD viewing (Star Trek)

  • Patent Attorney

    Hiroaki Sumii

    Technical Fields Software, Information Processing
    Hiroaki Sumii
    Certifications and others
    Patent Attorney; Information Technology Engineer, 1st Class; Application Engineer; Technical Engineer (Database)
    Background
    1996
    B.S., Mathematics School of Science, Kobe University
    1996
    Involved in the design and development of business applications (accounting systems and sales management systems) as an systems engineer at NTT DATA Sekisui Systems Corporation (formerly known as Sekisui Systems Corporation)
    2008
    Passed Patent Attorney Examination
    2009
    Joined NII Patent Firm
    2009
    Registered as Patent Attorney (Registration No. 16342)
    2010
    Completed Patent Affairs Training Course, BKSB LLP (Virginia, U.S.)
    Special skills
    Preparation of patent applications related to software inventions
    Hobbies
    Jogging

  • Patent Attorney

    Seiji Santo

    Technical Fields Software, Machinery, Mechatronics
    Seiji Santo
    Certifications and others
    Patent Attorney; Information Technology Engineer, 1st Class
    Background
    1997
    B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kyoto University
    1999
    M.S., Energy Conversion Science, Graduate School of Energy Science, Kyoto University
    1999-2007
    Worked at JGC Corporation (involved in consultation and systems design for manufacturing businesses)
    2007
    Joined NII Patent Firm
    2009
    Passed Patent Attorney Examination
    2010
    Registered as Patent Attorney (Registration No. 16812)
    2013
    Completed Patent Affairs Training Course, BKSB LLP (Virginia, U.S.)
    Special skills
    Preparation of patent applications related to software inventions and documents for response to Office Action
    Hobbies
    Watching Sport, Reading Books

  • Patent Attorney

    Masaaki Sobajima

    Technical Fields Optics, Electricity
    Masaaki Sobajima
    Certifications and others
    Patent Attorney;Ph.D. in Energy Science; Senior Radiation Protection Supervisor
    Background
    1999
    Ph.D., Energy Conversion Science, Graduate School of Energy Science, Kyoto University
    1999
    Worked at Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (involved in research and development)
    2005
    Worked as Fixed-term Patent Examiner at JPO
    2012
    Passed Patent Attorney Examination
    2013
    Joined NII Patent Firm
    2013
    Registered as Patent Attorney (Registration No. 19080)
    Special skills
    Search for Prior Art
    Hobbies
    Drive

  • Patent Attorney

    Toshiya Takami

    Technical Fields Electricity, Information Processing, Machinery
    Toshiya Takami
    Certifications and others
    Patent Attorney; Applied Information Technology Engineer
    Background
    2003
    B.S., Undergraduate School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kyoto University
    2003
    Worked at Victor Company of Japan, Limited (involved in development of deflection yoke and optical pickup (CD/DVD dual wavelength integrated device))
    2010
    Worked at FUJITSU TEN TECHNOLOGY., INC (involved in designing of car navigation system and acquisition of product certification)
    2011
    Joined NII Patent Firm
    2013
    Passed Patent Attorney Examination
    2014
    Registered as Patent Attorney (Registration No. 19663)
    Special skills
    Preparation of application documents
    Hobbies
    Guitar (and air guitar), Japanese fencing (second grade)

  • Patent Attorney

    Hideto Manno

    Technical Fields Electricity, Information Processing, Circuit
    Hideto Manno
    Certifications and others
    Patent Attorney; Chief Telecommunications Engineer; First-class Technical Radio Operator for On-the-Ground Services; Fundamental Information Technology Engineer; Official Business Skill Test in Book-keeping: 2nd Grade
    Background
    2008
    M.Eng., Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University
    2008-2014
    Worked at Hosiden Corporation (involved in analog circuit design, high-frequency circuit design, embedded software development, etc.)
    2014
    Joined NII Patent Firm
    2018
    Passed Patent Attorney Examination
    2019
    Registered as Patent Attorney (Registration No. 21743)
    Special skills
    Preparation of patent applications
    Hobbies
    Music Appreciation

  • Patent Attorney

    Shota Shimada

    Technical Fields Electricity, Information Processing, Semiconductor, Machinery
    Shota Shimada
    Certifications and others
    Patent Attorney, Applied Information Technology Engineer
    Background
    2005
    B.S., Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kyoto University
    2007
    Joined NII Patent Firm
    2011
    Traveled overseas (Asia, Europe, Africa, South America, Antarctica, etc.)
    2013
    Rejoined NII Patent Firm
    2021
    Passed Patent Attorney Examination
    2021
    Registered as Patent Attorney (Registration No. 22567)
    Special skills
    Preparation of patent applications
    Hobbies
    Foreign travel (102 countries visited as of 2023)

  • Patent Attorney

    Hiroyuki Iizuka

    Technical Fields Communications, Information Processing, Physics
    Hiroyuki Iizuka
    Certifications and others
    Patent Attorney, Technical Engineer (Network), Software Design & Development Engineer, Teaching License (high school science)
    Background
    1999
    B.S., Physics, Faculty of Science, Kanazawa University
    2001
    M.S., Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Graduate School of Natural Science & Technology, Kanazawa University
    2001
    Worked at NEC Communication Systems, Ltd. (involved in development of communication equipment (e.g., router, LAN switch, Wi-Fi access point), and research and development of new communications technology)
    2011
    Joined NII Patent Firm
    2021
    Passed Patent Attorney Examination
    2021
    Registered as Patent Attorney (Registration No. 22573)
    Special skills
    Preparation of patent applications and documents for response to Office Action
    Hobbies
    Table tennis, Shogi (Japanese chess), Woodworking, Tending goldfish, Tending plants

  • Patent Attorney

    Katsuki Yamada

    Technical Fields Information Processing, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Blockchain, Mechatronics
    Katsuki Yamada
    Certifications and others
    Patent Attorney, JDLA Certificate (Passed JDLA Deep Learning for General 2023#2)
    Background
    1999
    B.S., School of Informatics and Mathematical Science (Computer Science Course), Faculty of Engineering, Kyoto University
    2001
    M.S., Communications and Computer Engineering, Graduate School of Informatics, Kyoto University
    2008
    Joined NII Patent Firm
    2022
    Passed Patent Attorney Examination
    2023
    Registered as Patent Attorney (Registration No. 23020)
    Special skills
    Preparation of Japanese and foreign patent applications (drawings)
    Hobbies
    Traveling, Road bike, Book reading, Learning new IT techniques, Foreign social networking via the internet