Joined IP Bridge: 2018
Previous Company: SONY

・Mr. Kishida has 16 years of experience in patent application, licensing negotiations, and litigation involving patents in various technological fields from his career at SONY. His wide scope of experiences includes cases not only within Japan but also internationally, including patent litigation in the US, China, and Europe, in addition to US International Trade Commission investigations.

・At IP Bridge, he handles license negotiations and patent litigation in the semiconductor field. He is also engaged in negotiations with various companies for IP procurement.

He served on the First International Affairs Committee of Japan Intellectual Property Association (FY2015~FY2017), and has been selected as one of the IAM Strategy 300 Global Leaders for three consecutive years since 2019.

Joined IP Bridge: 2014
Previous Companies: Sanyo, Panasonic

・Mr. Yoshimura has worked in the firle of intellectual property throughout his 20-year career. He has extensive experience in patent prosecution, licensing negotiations, patent litigation, and IP-related M&A, primarily in the electronic devices industry. He has also played a key role in high-profile patent litigation, settlement negotiations, and contract execution involving Japanese LCD companies, generating several hundred million U.S. dollars in IP revenue for his company.

・He possesses comprehensive expertise across the entire IP lifecycle, from the creation and acquisition of IP rights to licencing, litigation, and ultimately value realization.

・At IP Bridge, in addition to leading licensing activities Mr. Yoshimura is responsible for the innovation business, which provides IP support and investment for startups, SMEs, and universities, while promoting effective IP strategies to foster innovation.

He also serves as an IP Expert for Japanese governmental support programs, including IPAS, INPIT and iAca.

Joined IP Bridge: 2020
Previous Company: Panasonic

・At Panasonic, Mr. Okuguchi worked as an engineer and sales representative in the factory automation field. He has contributed to mitigating business risks of Panasonic’s various businesses by concluding license agreements, litigations, and M&A in a variety of fields such as devices and home appliances.

・Prior to joining IP Bridge, his work went beyond the traditional patent utilization methods; he has succeeded in numerous advanced initiatives, such as the establishment of a specific purpose company and a joint licensing scheme that enable collaboration with other companies based on intellectual property. His work contributed to the company’s cumulative revenue of over 100 billion yen.

・At IP Bridge, as Managing Director of the Business Development Department, he oversees sourcing activities, including new business creation and IP acquisition. He is also responsible for the monetization of SEPs, including those related to video codec technologies.

Joined IP Bridge: 2025
Previous Company: Daiwa Securities

・At Daiwa, Mr. Chiba engaged in formulating the group’s mid-term management plan, creating new business opportunities, and managing overseas subsidiaries within the Corporate Planning Division. After serving as the head of corporate planning at the UK subsidiary, he assumed responsibility for corporate planning, investor relations (IR), and equity financing at the group’s real estate asset management company.

・At IP Bridge, he heads the Corporate Planning and Administration Departments starting in FY2026, with the aim of creating new business opportunities and achieving sustainable business growth.

・Certified Specialist of Intellectual Property Management, Certified Real Estate Transaction Specialist, Certified Member Analyst of the Securities Analysts Association of Japan

Joined IP Bridge: 2020
Previous Companies: NTT, NTT DOCOMO

・At NTT, Mr. Hanano was engaged in the research and development of Internet live streaming systems and demonstrated these technologies on commercial networks.

・He subsequently joined NTT DOCOMO, where he was responsible for the prosecution and monetization of 3G, 4G, and 5G standard-essential patents. Through strategic essentiality submissions to patent pools, he contributed to achieving the company’s highest-ever patent pool revenue.

・At IP Bridge, he is engaged in standard-essential patent licensing activities for cellular communications. He manages relationships with patent pools, oversees essentiality submissions, and is responsible for patent pool revenue management. He also leads technical discussions with potential licensees during bilateral negotiations and handles the technical aspects of infringement and validity challenges in litigation in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Brazil, China, and Japan.

・He has also contributed to the company’s participation in connected car and IoT patent pools, helping to generate royalty income from these programs.

Joined IP Bridge: 2021
Previous Companies: Japan Patent Office, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, NTT DATA INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT CONSULTING

・At the Japan Patent Office, he served as a patent examiner in technical fields including inorganic materials and electronic devices. Through conducting prior art searches and patentability examinations, he developed a strong foundation in patent evaluation and intellectual property analysis.

・He subsequently worked at operating companies and consulting firms, where he was engaged in patent analysis, technical analysis, and IP strategy consulting.

・At IP Bridge, he primarily conducts technical and patent analyses to support patent acquisition for licensing programs. He also provides IP-focused consulting services, offering strategic planning support for the effective use of IP across a wide range of industries.

・Qualification: Registered Patent Attorney (Japan)

Joined IP Bridge: 2026
Previous Companies: TTDC, Teijin, atama plus, etc.

・Mr. Muramatsu has extensive experience in a wide range of intellectual property (IP) activities at both major manufacturers and startups. His work spans diverse technical fields, including automotive, medical devices, and IT services, and encompasses the development and implementation of IP strategies, invention harvesting, patent filing and prosecution, contract management, and patent search and analysis, including IP landscape analysis.

・At startups, in addition to managing intellectual property, Mr. Muramatsu has handled legal and compliance matters, including contract administration, copyright management, and personal information protection.

・At IP Bridge, Mr. Muramatsu is engaged in consulting services for major corporations and provides IP support to startups and universities.

・Qualifications: Patent Attorney, Ph.D.

Joined IP Bridge: 2017
Previous Career: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

・Prior to joining IP Bridge, Ms. Kubo was engaged in the drafting of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) at the International Economy Division, Economic Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, with a focus on negotiations concerning Rules of Origin and Product Specific Rules (PSRs).

・At IP Bridge, she provides consulting services to major corporations and also participates in the Innovation Business Division, supporting startups through IP advisory services and investment activities.

・Qualification: AIPE-Certified Intellectual Property Analyst (Certified in March 2026)

Joined IP Bridge: 2024
Previous Company: IR Japan, Inc.

・Previously at IR Japan, Ms. Iwatake was engaged in IR/SR consulting for listed companies, supporting corporate value enhancement and strong company-shareholder relationships through data-driven analysis, including beneficial shareholder identification and proxy voting simulations.

・At IP Bridge, Ms. Iwatake holds concurrent roles in the Consulting Division and the Innovation Division, providing comprehensive IP support to clients ranging from large corporations to startups. She also supports universities in developing IP strategies, contributing to their successful acquisition of GAP funding.

・Qualification: AIPE-Certified Intellectual Property Analyst (Certified in March 2026)