Meet Our Talent
Lisa Mandrusiak
Biotechnology Specialist
How did you cope with the stresses of working and living in Japan?
As with any demanding career, keeping a good work-life balance is crucial. I enjoyed using physical activity to reduce stress, and trained for and competed in an Olympic distance triathlon while working at the Firm.
What was the most difficult aspect of adjusting to work and life in Japan initially?
The office takes care of a lot of the administrative details that would be most challenging upon arrival, so most of the adjustments were personal. Although I enjoyed working with Japanese people and made many friends during my time in Osaka, I found it challenging at first to get to know Japanese people well -- they tend to be very friendly, but reserved.
What were your top three memorable leisure experiences while in Japan?
Camping on Shikoku, yearly snowboarding trips to Niseko in Hokkaido, and visiting Naoshima, a small fishing island with many contemporary art installations and buildings designed by Tadao Ando.
What sort of work did you get and was it challenging?
On a daily basis I was a liaison between English speaking clients and the Japan Patent Office. This required developing a thorough understanding of Japanese Patent Law and the invention encompassed in each patent application assigned to me. With this knowledge I would review Official Actions from the Japan Patent Office and develop strategies to overcome rejections with the goal of obtaining allowance of a patent application. After discussing my proposal with a Japanese Patent Attorney, I would prepare a document explaining my strategy to the client and answer any questions the client may have. On occasion other major projects would arise such as drafting invalidity or noninfringement opinions or assisting in litigation projects.
Did you enjoy the work?
I enjoyed the challenge of all the work I received at SHUSAKU YAMAMOTO and enjoyed it so much I decided to go to law school after in order to continue with this field of work.