Kazuhiro KIMURA

VICE PRESIDENT
Patent Attorney/MBL, LL.M.
former Chief Administrative Judge of the JPO

BiographyKazuhiro KIMURA is a registered patent attorney in Japan. He is a graduate of Niigata University, where he majored in Law. After completing his studies at the university, Mr. Kimura joined the Morioka District Court. He was in charge of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) at the Tohoku Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry. Mr. Kimura then worked at the Trade Policy Bureau of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the SME Agency before joining the Japan Patent Office (JPO). While at the JPO, he was involved in the planning of trademark examination standards and trademark systems as well as trademark examination. Since retirement from his last position as Chief Administrative Judge of Division 37 of the Trial and Appeal Department, he has been working for IP law firms.

ServicesIP (intellectual property) services, including trademark and design procurement and prosecution, research and investigation, trials, appeals and litigation

Practice AreasTrademarks and Designs

EducationFaculty of Law, Niigata University (B.A. in Law)
Hitotsubashi University Business School, MBA (M.A. in Law and Public Policy)
Franklin Pierce Law Center / University of New Hampshire School of Law, LL.M

ExperienceMorioka District Court
Tohoku Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry
Trade Agreement Administration Division (TRIPS Agreement), Trade Policy Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)
Trademark Examiner (miscellaneous textiles), Examination Division, Japan Patent Office (JPO)
Director, Trademark Examination Standards Office, Trademark Division, JPO (preparation of examination standards for new types of trademarks)
Senior Chief Examiner (Industrial Services), Examination Division, JPO
Chief Administrative Judge, Division 37, Trial and Appeal Department, JPO
IP law Firms

MembershipJapan Patent Attorneys Association (JPAA)

ActivitiesMember of Working Group on Trademark Examination Standards, Industrial Structure Council, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

LanguagesJapanese and English

Hobbies & InterestsWalking