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2018 March Issue (March. 8, 2018)

Topics from Sonoda & Kobayashi
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called women “Japan’s most underutilized resource“ andvowed to create a society in which women more actively participated. Sonoda & Kobayashi is proudthat it has given women, who occupy nearly half of management positions, plenty of opportunities
to shine. To honor Woman’s Day, Sonoda & Kobayashi is pleased to publish a special newsletter
highlighting the talented women who contribute so much to our firm.

“Our philosophy to share equal opportunities and responsibilities regardless of gender dates backto the firm's foundation. And as a firm that is still young and growing, as a firm that holds theambition of building a workplace where everyone shares joy in the achievements of others andappreciates the time spent with colleagues, we do not have room for prejudice of any kind.”
Yoshitaka Sonoda, Managing Partner

Yumiko TOCHINOChief Operating Officer
Ms. Tochino, one of the founding members of Sonoda & Kobayashi, has actively helped build andexpand the firm since its creation. She has developed a broad range of skills in her different
positions, as an English to Japanese translator, as well as a paralegal and expert in Trademark andDesign. Keen on delivering the best quality work for our clients, along with improving work
efficiency and everyone’s satisfaction, she quickly developed a work flow and quality control systemin our firm. Climbing the so-called “corporate ladder,” the marathon runner and mother of two,
became a shoo-in to supervise engineers, IT, and administrative departments. Ms. Tochino became
partner of Sonoda & Kobayashi IP Services Company Ltd in December 2014. Acting currently as
Chief Operating Officer, she coordinates and supervises the general work flow of the firm, andmore specifically, oversees in total 40 of our members.
Yoko Nagatomo
Translation department manager

https://mailchi.mp/4ff287320fc7/sonoda-kobayashi-japan-ip-news-bulletin-1214453?e... 2018/11/06

<< Test Last Name >><< Test First Name >>, SONODA & KOBAYASHI Japan IP ... Page 2 of 6Ms. Nagatomo entered our firm as a passionate English to Japanese translator. Her major in theperformance arts, her qualification as a guide-interpreter and her previous career as a hotel
concierge helped her feel at ease and build confidence in an English speaking environment. Upon
joining our firm in 2014, she rapidly took over the management of our Translation Department,
organizing its work flow and supervising a team of 20 members. The mother of a 6 year-old, Ms.
Nagatomo enjoys dancing, skateboarding, and stays fascinated by how the English and Japanese
languages can differ, which gives her an insight on how humans are different and similar at thesame time.

“As Japan’s gender gaps in income and leadership opportunities remain prevalent, I feel grateful tohave been given such interesting challenges and responsibilities early on in my career, upon joining
Sonoda & Kobayashi.”Diane Beylier-Cyranoski
Chihiro OGAWA
Administrative department manager
In her previous work life, Ms. Ogawa was a system engineer. For the past ten years, she has beennavigating, with no difficulty, into our database, docketing software and clients’ portals. Though
she is an expert concerning paralegal matters, she keeps herself abreast of all IP law changes . A
flamenco dancer and mother of two, Ms. Ogawa became manager of our Administrative
Department in 2017 and overviews a team of 20 –mainly female – colleagues.

Nicole BIGLER
Director of International Affairs
As a karate champion during her younger, athletic years, Nicole Bigler is used to fighting toimpose her talents, especially in male-dominated fields. Coming back to Japan after having spent an
exchange year during university, she deepened her understanding of the Japanese language andculture before joining our firm in 2013. Making the best of her previous managerial positions, andafter quickly learning the differences between IP law and clients’ needs, she succeeded in gaining
the trust of our clientele and the approval of our Japanese co-workers. She currently heads theDepartment of International Affairs and is a member of the board of directors.
“In a society that is often viewed by outsiders as misogynistic, Sonoda & Kobayashi fiercely defies
this stereotype. With a high percentage of female employees, many of whom are in high level
positions, I feel positive towards my future career progression as a woman.”Natalie Crick

Harumi KOKAJI
Patent Attorney
Ms. Kokaji is one of our patent attorneys who specialize in telecommunications. As an inventor of adozen patents concerning wireless technology during her position as a researcher, she took thepatent bar in 2006 and joined us to pursue her career in the IP field. She has been, since then,challenging herself going abroad to meet our clients’ needs and to advise them on Japanese patent
law, becoming one of our key female patent attorneys to represent Sonoda & Kobayashi out ofJapan.

Keiko SHISHIDA
Patent Attorneyhttps://mailchi.mp/4ff287320fc7/sonoda-kobayashi-japan-ip-news-bulletin-1214453?e... 2018/11/06

<< Test Last Name >><< Test First Name >>, SONODA & KOBAYASHI Japan IP ... Page 3 of 6Ms. Shishida is a Chemical expert with a unique background. Indeed, before becoming a patent
attorney and joining our team in 2014, she spent 11 years in the police force. Pursuing her dream tobecome a detective – a very rare position for a woman in Japan -she put into practice her technicalskills to work as a chemical analyst playing a key role in investigations. Although women
represented only 10% of the police force at that time, her determination led her to a chief position
after a few years. Her interest in IP started with getting a patent on her own invention of a chemical
substance detection kit. Having been motivated from this experience, she is an essential asset in ourdomestic department, panelist and speaker in IP events, particularly successful at gaining newJapanese clients and at further prosecuting and defending the IP rights of our current Japaneseclientele.

“ As a female foreigner in Japan, I feel very at ease working at Sonoda & Kobayashi. The matureenvironment provides great opportunities for career promotion to woman.”Yan Hui Wang
Fumi KATOH, PhD
Patent EngineerDr. Katoh is an expert in the field of animal physiology, who joined the Life Science Department ofour firm in 2014. Author of many publications during her career, she received her PhD for her
research concerning the osmotic and ionic regulation mechanisms of bodily fluids, and just finisheddrafting a thesis on studies on product by process claims. While working full time, she recently
undertook a master program of IP law, graduating in March 2018. Having performed post-doctoral
research at the University of Alberta and St. Francis Xavier University in Canada, she has atremendous command of the English language and a natural ease in a foreign working environment.
Fumi Katoh has been traveling abroad to advise our clients, make presentations on recent case law
and has become a key representative of our biology prosecution and litigation teams.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called women “Japan’s most underutilized resource“ andvowed to create a society in which women more actively participated. Sonoda & Kobayashi is proudthat it has given women, who occupy nearly half of management positions, plenty of opportunities
to shine. To honor Woman’s Day, Sonoda & Kobayashi is pleased to publish a special newsletter
highlighting the talented women who contribute so much to our firm.

“Our philosophy to share equal opportunities and responsibilities regardless of gender dates backto the firm's foundation. And as a firm that is still young and growing, as a firm that holds theambition of building a workplace where everyone shares joy in the achievements of others andappreciates the time spent with colleagues, we do not have room for prejudice of any kind.”
Yoshitaka Sonoda, Managing Partner

Yumiko TOCHINO
Chief Operating OfficerMs. Tochino, one of the founding members of Sonoda & Kobayashi, has actively helped build andexpand the firm since its creation. She has developed a broad range of skills in her different
positions, as an English to Japanese translator, as well as a paralegal and expert in Trademark andDesign. Keen on delivering the best quality work for our clients, along with improving work
efficiency and everyone’s satisfaction, she quickly developed a work flow and quality control systemin our firm. Climbing the so-called “corporate ladder,” the marathon runner and mother of two,
became a shoo-in to supervise engineers, IT, and administrative departments. Ms. Tochino became
partner of Sonoda & Kobayashi IP Services Company Ltd in December 2014. Acting currently as

https://mailchi.mp/4ff287320fc7/sonoda-kobayashi-japan-ip-news-bulletin-1214453?e... 2018/11/06

<< Test Last Name >><< Test First Name >>, SONODA & KOBAYASHI Japan IP ... Page 4 of 6

Chief Operating Officer, she coordinates and supervises the general work flow of the firm, andmore specifically, oversees in total 40 of our members.
Yoko Nagatomo
Translation department manager
Ms. Nagatomo entered our firm as a passionate English to Japanese translator. Her major in theperformance arts, her qualification as a guide-interpreter and her previous career as a hotel
concierge helped her feel at ease and build confidence in an English speaking environment. Upon
joining our firm in 2014, she rapidly took over the management of our Translation Department,
organizing its work flow and supervising a team of 20 members. The mother of a 6 year-old, Ms.
Nagatomo enjoys dancing, skateboarding, and stays fascinated by how the English and Japanese
languages can differ, which gives her an insight on how humans are different and similar at thesame time.

“As Japan’s gender gaps in income and leadership opportunities remain prevalent, I feel grateful tohave been given such interesting challenges and responsibilities early on in my career, upon joining
Sonoda & Kobayashi.”Diane Beylier-Cyranoski
Chihiro OGAWA
Administrative department manager
In her previous work life, Ms. Ogawa was a system engineer. For the past ten years, she has beennavigating, with no difficulty, into our database, docketing software and clients’ portals. Though
she is an expert concerning paralegal matters, she keeps herself abreast of all IP law changes . A
flamenco dancer and mother of two, Ms. Ogawa became manager of our Administrative
Department in 2017 and overviews a team of 20 –mainly female – colleagues.

Nicole BIGLER
Director of International Affairs
As a karate champion during her younger, athletic years, Nicole Bigler is used to fighting toimpose her talents, especially in male-dominated fields. Coming back to Japan after having spent an
exchange year during university, she deepened her understanding of the Japanese language andculture before joining our firm in 2013. Making the best of her previous managerial positions, andafter quickly learning the differences between IP law and clients’ needs, she succeeded in gaining
the trust of our clientele and the approval of our Japanese co-workers. She currently heads theDepartment of International Affairs and is a member of the board of directors.
“In a society that is often viewed by outsiders as misogynistic, Sonoda & Kobayashi fiercely defies
this stereotype. With a high percentage of female employees, many of whom are in high level
positions, I feel positive towards my future career progression as a woman.”Natalie Crick

Harumi KOKAJI
Patent Attorney
Ms. Kokaji is one of our patent attorneys who specialize in telecommunications. As an inventor of adozen patents concerning wireless technology during her position as a researcher, she took thepatent bar in 2006 and joined us to pursue her career in the IP field. She has been, since then,challenging herself going abroad to meet our clients’ needs and to advise them on Japanese patent
law, becoming one of our key female patent attorneys to represent Sonoda & Kobayashi out of

https://mailchi.mp/4ff287320fc7/sonoda-kobayashi-japan-ip-news-bulletin-1214453?e... 2018/11/06

<< Test Last Name >><< Test First Name >>, SONODA & KOBAYASHI Japan IP ... Page 5 of 6Japan.

Keiko SHISHIDA
Patent Attorney
Ms. Shishida is a Chemical expert with a unique background. Indeed, before becoming a patent
attorney and joining our team in 2014, she spent 11 years in the police force. Pursuing her dream tobecome a detective – a very rare position for a woman in Japan -she put into practice her technicalskills to work as a chemical analyst playing a key role in investigations. Although women
represented only 10% of the police force at that time, her determination led her to a chief position
after a few years. Her interest in IP started with getting a patent on her own invention of a chemical
substance detection kit. Having been motivated from this experience, she is an essential asset in ourdomestic department, panelist and speaker in IP events, particularly successful at gaining newJapanese clients and at further prosecuting and defending the IP rights of our current Japaneseclientele.

“ As a female foreigner in Japan, I feel very at ease working at Sonoda & Kobayashi. The matureenvironment provides great opportunities for career promotion to woman.”Yan Hui Wang
Fumi KATOH, PhD
Patent EngineerDr. Katoh is an expert in the field of animal physiology, who joined the Life Science Department ofour firm in 2014. Author of many publications during her career, she received her PhD for her
research concerning the osmotic and ionic regulation mechanisms of bodily fluids, and just finisheddrafting a thesis on studies on product by process claims. While working full time, she recently
undertook a master program of IP law, graduating in March 2018. Having performed post-doctoral
research at the University of Alberta and St. Francis Xavier University in Canada, she has atremendous command of the English language and a natural ease in a foreign working environment.
Fumi Katoh has been traveling abroad to advise our clients, make presentations on recent case law
and has become a key representative of our biology prosecution and litigation teams.

LATEST IP NEWS IN JAPANJapan takes patent fights out of courtrooms
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/Policy-Politics/Japan-takes-patent-fights-outof-courtrooms

Our Firm
SONODA & KOBAYASHI, an intellectual property law firm, offers dependable legal services for intellectual
property in Japan. Our multinational team of 80 experts in technology, law, languages and international
communication has served companies from around the world and has gained a reputation for thoroughness andreliability. Our high standards, expertise and team work have defined us since the founding of our firm in 1998.

https://mailchi.mp/4ff287320fc7/sonoda-kobayashi-japan-ip-news-bulletin-1214453?e... 2018/11/06

<< Test Last Name >><< Test First Name >>, SONODA & KOBAYASHI Japan IP ... Page 6 of 6Visit Us
Sonoda & Kobayashi is located in Shinjuku, one of the main business districts in Tokyo. We welcome visitors andlook forward to seeing you at our office.

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