Akira is a member of our Intellectual Property Group, focusing on intellectual property and litigation, with an emphasis on the chemical and electrical arts.
Akira frequently represents clients before U.S. district courts, the U.S. International Trade Commission, and the U.S. Patent and Trade Office (USPTO). Clients often call on him to help navigate technically challenging intellectual property disputes spanning a wide range of technologies. He has experience across all facets of litigation, having managed litigations from start all the way through trial. Akira is registered to practice before the USPTO as a patent attorney and has argued in inter partes review proceedings.
Examples of technologies that Akira works with include:
Akira is ranked by the 2022 edition of The Legal 500 Asia Pacific as a Next Generation Partner in Japan: Intellectual Property and Japan: Dispute Resolution.
He received his B.A. from Swarthmore College in chemical physics and J.D., cum laude, from Washington University School of Law. He is fluent in Japanese.
Show More(International Trade Commission, 337-TA-1128 and 1129) Represented Nikon respondents in patent investigation involving semiconductor lithography machines.
(International Trade Commission, 337-TA-1119) Represented Socionext respondents in patent investigation involving image/video processing systems on chips (SoCs). Achieved a complete victory with findings of non-infringement, invalidity, and no domestic industry.
(International Trade Commission, 337-TA-1059) Represented Nikon respondents in patent investigation involving software for digital cameras.
(International Trade Commission, 337-TA-855) Represented complainant Hitachi Metals in patent investigation involving sintered rare earth magnets. Case settled on favorable terms.
(International Trade Commission, 337-TA-841) Represented Fujitsu respondents in patent investigation involving computer peripherals. Case settled on favorable terms.
(W.D. Tex.) Representing Socionext in patent infringement action involving image/video processing SoCs.
Case No. 18-1802 (D. Del.) Representing Chugai in patent infringement action involving antibody recycling technology
Case No. 8:18-cv-01582 (M.D. Fla.) Represented Mitsui Chemicals in trade secrets action involving irrigation technology. Case settled on favorable terms.
Case No. 2:17-cv-03221 (C.D. Cal) Represented Nikon in patent infringement action involving software for digital cameras.
Case No. 1-14-CV-267609 (Cal. Super. Ct.) Represented Toshiba in disqualification litigation over Paul Hastings’s breach of its duty of loyalty. Obtained a preliminary injunction disqualifying Paul Hastings.
(Multijurisdictional litigation) Represented Toshiba in multijurisdictional litigation involving SK Hynix’s theft of Toshiba trade secrets relating to NAND flash memory. Case settled on favorable terms.
Member of team that successfully handled high-profile smartphone cases in Japan.
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