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Silver - Individuals: prosecution
“M & Partners are phenomenal. Their attention to detail, proactiveness and high quality of advice never cease to impress. Their forward-thinking approach, broad depth of technical knowledge and practical strategic advice make them a very capable and recommendable law firm in the patent field.” Previously known as MORIWAKI IP, the IP boutique has since merged with another mid-sized practice. Now, with offices in Kyoto, Osaka and Tokyo, the outfit is perfectly positioned to offer its services to clientele all over Japan – and the world. Leading the compact team is president Masashi Moriwaki, an electronics specialist with expertise in both prosecution and litigation. Previously an in-house expert for Matsushita and Panasonic, he is commercially minded and easily understands the clients’ needs. He has served as a part-time technical adviser to the IP High Court for 15 years. On the prosecution front, he recently assisted biotechnology outfit Shinbiosis in filing international patent applications. “Moriwaki-san is very open minded and adapts well to his European clients’ mindset. He is always on top of the matters and is competent at discussing and solving problems.”
Masashi Moriwaki is the founder and president of IP law firm M & Partners IP PC (MPIP).
Mr Moriwaki has broad experience in all aspects of IP law in Japan, including prosecution, litigation, licensing, opinions and evaluation. Prosecution of patent applications before the Japan Patent Office (JPO) is a focal point of his practice.
Mr Moriwaki graduated from Tokyo-Tech with a master’s in electronic devices, and from Nagoya-Tech with a BSc in electric and information technology.
Mr Moriwaki received his qualification as a patent and trademark attorney from the Japan Patent Attorney Association in 2000. As a patent attorney, he is qualified to represent clients in applications and litigation before the JPO and IP courts. From 2008 to 2022, he served as a part-time technical adviser to the Intellectual Property High Court.
MPIP is the product of the merger in 2022 between Moriwaki IP PC, a firm founded in 2002 by Mr Moriwaki, and Mori & Associates, a mid-sized IP law firm based in Osaka with a history of more than 40 years. Prior to founding Moriwaki IP, Mr Moriwaki had worked in-house as a patent attorney.
The firm’s rebranding was accompanied by a new global branding strategy to emphasise the firm’s position in the global IP market, particularly for international clients seeking skilled IP attorneys in Japan for the IP services listed below:
- PCT national phase entry into Japan;
- patent/utility model/design/trademark filing in Japan based on a basic application in a local jurisdiction /domestic application in Japan;
- handling of office action on notice of provisional refusal from the JPO in Madrid Protocol prosecution;
- copyright registration in Japan;
- appeal/opposition proceedings against the JPO;
- litigation against JPO administrative decisions at the IP High Court;
- civil action for infringement of IP rights in IP courts; and
- expert opinions on the above (strategies or opinions).