- Founder
- Founder's Message
- Owner
- Owner's Message
SHUSAKU YAMAMOTO is the Founder of SHUSAKU·YAMAMOTO. He founded the Firm on September 20, 1979. His practice focuses on the worldwide procurement, defense and enforcement of patents in the biotechnology, chemical, biopharmaceutical, electronics materials, life sciences, medical device & pharmaceutical industries.
Professional Experience
Mr. YAMAMOTO has handled numerous complex, high profile and landmark Japanese patent prosecution & litigation matters, patent invalidation actions for chemistry, biotechnology, biopharmaceuticals, electronics clients.
Mr. YAMAMOTO has also represented clients in patent litigation proceedings before the Supreme Court of Japan, the Intellectual Property High Court of Japan and the Osaka and Tokyo District Courts. Some of his representative infringement cases include: Method for making a selected protein, NANBV diagnostics & vaccines, Mixing apparatus of multi-composition polyurethane resin, Cooking unit for processing foods, Tissue adhesive & production method, Access control method, authentication system & device, Balloon catheter, Ablation apparatus using laser beam & method, HCV antigens for use in immunoassays for anti-HCV antibodies, Apparatus for monitoring nucleic acid amplification reaction, Mass spectrometer apparatus & method, Fluoroether compositions & methods for inhibiting their degradation in the presence of a Lewis acid and Force, acceleration, and magnetism detection device.
Mr. YAMAMOTO has also represented numerous patent & trademark clients in de novo reviews of numerous JPO Board of Appeals' decisions at the Tokyo High Court and Intellectual Property High Court.
Mr. YAMAMOTO counsels clients on intellectual property matters including the strategic development of patent and trademark portfolios, technology licensing, risk assessment, for example, via clearance surveys, non-infringement and invalidity analyses, and the enforcement of patent and trademark rights. He has extensive experience in the Japanese, United States, European and worldwide patent prosecution in all areas of biotechnology, chemistry, biopharmaceuticals, medical devices, and electronics.
Prior to qualification as a patent attorney, Mr. YAMAMOTO was employed as a researcher at Kikkoman Co.
Publications
Mr. YAMAMOTO is the author of numerous articles that have been published in leading IP law journals and publications like:
- Journal of the Patent & Trademark Office Society
- NATURE Biotechnology
- Biotechnology Law Report
- Journal of Intellectual Property Law & Practicev
- Journal of International Biotechnology Law
- European Intellectual Property Review
- Journal of BioLaw & Business
- BNA's World Intellectual Property Review
- Patent World
- Managing Intellectual Property
- Journal of Patent Management
He is the Japan News Correspondent of European Intellectual Property Review and a Member of the Editorial Board for Managing Intellectual Property.
Speeches & Lectures
He has lectured extensively on Japanese IP law at the invitation of prestigious universities, international trade & legal organizations, law associations & corporations:
- American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA)
- BIO - Biotechnology Industry Organization (USA)
- CLE International (USA)
- Intellectual Property Owners (IPO) Association (USA)
- Deutscher Verband der Patentingenieure und Patentassessoren e.V. (Germany)
- various U.S. State Bar Intellectual Property associations.
- Nikkei Biztech Symposium (Japan)
- Osaka University (Japan)
- Kyoto University (Japan)
- Tohoku University (Japan)
- Kobe University (Japan)
- Otaru University of Commerce (Japan)
- Sojo University (Japan)
- Doshisha University (Japan)
- The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ (Japan)
- Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting (Japan)
- MDRT Japan, Sony Life Insurance Co.
- Kinki Bio-Industry Development Organization (Japan)
- Semba Keizai Club (Japan)
- Urban Innovation Institute (Japan)
- The Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Japan)
- National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology Kansai (Japan)
- Saito Hills Club (Japan)
- Senri Rotary Club (Japan)
Professional Activities
- Visiting Professor of Technology Transfer, Nara Institute of Science & Technology (1999)
- Adjunct Lecturer, Graduate School Department of Applied Biochemical Engineering, Osaka University (2000)
- Designated Professor(Intellectual Property), Osaka University (2003-2004)
- Consulting Patent Attorney, Osaka University (2004-)
- Invited Professor, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University (2005-)
- Visiting Professor, Sojo University (2006-)
- Adjunct Lecturer, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University (2007-)
Honors & Awards
- Recommended Individual Prosecution - iAM 1000 - The World's Leading Patent Practitioners 2012 to 2017
- Cover Feature, The Lawyers Nov. 2004 & Jan. 2009 (Japanese)
- Leading Lawyer in Intellectual Property for Japan in AsiaLaw Leading Lawyers - A Guide to Asia's Leading Commercial Lawyers, 2003
- Recommended IP Firm, ASIA-PACIFIC LEGAL 500, 2001 to 2017
- Euromoney Guide to the World's Leading Patent Law Practitioners, 1995, 1997 & 2000
Memberships
- Japan Patent Attorneys Association
- Japan Intellectual Property Association
- Bio-Industry Association
- Japan Trademark Association
- Asian Patent Attorneys' Association
- Osaka Chamber of Commerce
- Association Internationale pour la Protection de la Propriete Industrielle (AIPPI)
- Licensing Executives Society
- International Patent and Trademark Association
Bar & Court Admissions
- Japanese Patent Office (1974)
- Litigation Certified Japanese Patent Attorney (2004)
Education
- Osaka University, B.S. (Biochem.) (1966)
- Catholic University of America Law School, studied US intellectual property law, (1978-1979)
- USPTO Patent Academy Training Course (1978-79)