As Sonoda & Kobayashi’s primary patent litigator, Yoshitaka Sonoda handles appeals, invalidations and infringements for global clients, as well as negotiations for licensing and trade secret agreements. Dr Sonoda spent several years conducting research for the French Atomic Energy Commission. He has more than 30 years’ experience in IP in Japan, including 10 years as a director of a major Japanese IP firm before founding Sonoda & Kobayashi. Dr Sonoda holds a PhD in structural engineering from the University of Tokyo and a BS in structural engineering from Yokohama National University. He has expertise in nuclear technology, thermodynamics, electrical and mechanical engineering, liquid crystals, fluid mechanics, optics, computing, aeronautical and automotive engineering and electromagnetism. He speaks Japanese, English and French.