Meet Our Talent
Bernadette Cornel
Attorney
What did you like most about your work?
Experiencing and learning about Japanese IP practice is what I like the most about my work. The intensive and expansive patent prosecution and litigation environment in Japan provides me with an opportunity to gain more practical knowledge of the IP law. Being exposed to the dynamics of the Japanese patent system and its interplay with the various national patent systems around the world is something that I will always be grateful for. Working with a team of professionals with different backgrounds and skillsets and being guided by highly competent senior colleagues also change the approach to learning and working into a multidimensional one.
What sort of work did you get and was it challenging?
My primary responsibility involves compliance with the various national patent offices' requirements, like the JPO and USPTO. I am also involved in IP transactions & recordals, assignments & designs, licensing, litigation and invalidation portfolio management and due diligence matters which is very interesting. The challenge comes in having to balance between our duty to respond to the client's needs by providing them with the most reasonable, cost-efficient and expeditious course of action, and our obligation to ensure compliance with some stricter requirements especially in Japan. It is rarely a case of one size fits all and just because something works in one country does not mean it will work everywhere, especially Japan. So it takes a certain level of professional maturity, creativity and coordination to explain and bring clients onboard with our solution. However, with a strong team alongside you, the client's desired outcome is achieved.
What was the most difficult aspect of adjusting to work in Japan?
Day-to-day activities, where communication with the non-English speaking locals is inevitable, require creativity and a great deal of patience and this was the most difficult adjustment for me. Ultimately, learning some basic Japanese words and phrases is a must, not an option. It'll be a tough in the beginning but if I can pull through, anyone can.
How did you cope with the stresses of working and living in Japan?
It is continuous endeavor and I take it one day at a time, keeping in mind that resting sufficiently at the end of each day is as important as working hard during the day. Constant communication with family and friends back home keeps me inspired and driven, and maintaining a good working relationship with my co-workers makes the stress more manageable. Socializing with co-workers on the weekends also helped me de-stress and recharges my energy.
What has been your fondest experience in Japan?
The various colors of Japan in every turn of the season never fail to fill me with wonder. I have always been a nature-lover and Japan is definitely a perfect place to have a direct joyful contact with every beautiful thing, big or small, that nature has to offer. Visiting well-known places like Kyoto, Nara, Tokyo, Kanazawa, Shirakawa, Kobe and Koyasan, including the certain areas in Osaka, also comes with a bonus, i.e. a free educational tour of your own, as little touches of the Japanese culture and tradition are amazingly interwoven with their natural environment.
What advice would you give to entry level recruits?
Never lose sight of your goal. For as long as you remain driven by purpose, you will always find meaning in any work that you do. To work for the Firm is to work for growth both professional and personally. Everyone is expected to take responsibilities and execute tasks with confidence, competence and candor. An entry level recruit is not expected to know everything at the onset, but no one is exempt from doing their best in acquiring a comprehensive know-how involving the science, legal and compliance know-how in the speediest way possible. The objective is for one to be able to work independently but cooperatively with the team, and contribute to the final work product that this firm generates on a daily basis.