Christina Wehrle

Biotechnology Specialist

“The work and Firm environment will be challenging, but when you're working with great colleagues who habitually maintain an affirmative can do attitude, in spite of whatever is thrown at them, then you know you're part of something special!”

 

What was the most difficult aspect of adjusting to work in Japan?

The work culture was certainly very different from what I was familiar with in Canada. I had read about what to expect in terms of Japanese business culture, and the reality is that everyone worked extremely hard. This was immediately apparent. Once you're immersed in it, you're not alone and you become at peace with it, allowing you to settle into your work routine.

How did you cope with the stresses of working and living in Japan?

I was fortunate to make close friends at work and outside work, and that helped tremendously in the relatively painless transition from Canada. I truly value the friendships that I've made in Osaka, and we're still close even though we're scattered all over the world. Work never interferes with your weekend, so we incessantly arranged fun nights out and frequent weekend trips to everywhere in the greater Osaka region, Japan and all over Asia.

What has been your fondest experience in Japan?

Taking advantage of the travel opportunities within and around Japan! Kyoto, Kobe and Nara are only 30 min by train from Osaka! There are cheap flights to the southern Okinawan islands. The bullet trains are convenient to reach places like Tokyo and Hiroshima for day or weekend trips. It's easy to find organized trips to go snowboarding in Nagano, or to beach parties along the Japanese coast. The rest of East Asia is a quick direct flight away. Or it seems like you can always find a festival happening right in Osaka, and the Osakan nightlife is amazing. There's too much to mention. On all of these experiences, I really enjoyed socializing with friends and exploring new places.

What sort of work did you get and was it challenging?

The work pushes you to be as much as you can be. Through on-the-job training, I found myself being given substantial amounts of responsibility on client matters (mainly patent prosecution matters and eventually higher stakes invalidation matters) because my seniors recognized my willingness to get involved. The work required thoroughness and attention to detail, which I cannot stress enough is fundamental of anything and everything that is done at the firm. At the same time, curiosity and asking questions are equally important, whether it's seeking further clarification on a client's instructions, or seeking additional information from an associate so you give them the most suitable strategy for success.

It is fundamental to note that intellectual property is a discipline grounded in logic. It requires you to be analytical and provide reasoning for submissions based on the applicable principles and rules presented in any given situation. Developing this structured thought process is criticial in the work as often you are presented with complex problems and you have no choice but to unpick the issues and resolve them with the reasoning tools that are available. Every case that I worked on was unique, requiring me to use my brain constantly to provide solutions tailored to the specific problems at hand.

What did you like most about working?

In my role as I had a significant amount of responsibility, acting as the lead specialist on patent matters and being in the trenches, so to speak, vis-à-vis the matter. Through this I can really get to know the client's technology very well and understand their objectives and can deliver them in the best way possible. It's gratifying being able to see a patent case through from start to finish, knowing that you've turned in the best possible outcome that the clients were looking for. How challenging the work is really depends on the individual. If you prove yourself early and show promise for more challenging work, you will get it. The work isn't easy but it is hugely rewarding when you get it right. I liked that I learned something new every single day.

What advice would you give to entry level recruits?

The work and Firm environment will be challenging, but when you're working with great colleagues who habitually maintain an affirmative can do attitude, in spite of whatever is thrown at them, then you know you're part of something special!