Asia-Pacific
Practice Areas
Patent Prosecution, Patent litigation, and Transactions & Licensing
Career
TMI Associates (2014 - Present) ;
Microsoft Japan Co., Ltd. (Director of IP, Japan, 2011 - 2014);
Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, USA (2007 - 2011);
SOEI USA, PC, Mountain View, USA (2005 - 2007);
Oliff & Berridge PLC, Virginia, USA (2004 - 2005);
Soei Patent & Law Firm, Tokyo (1997 - 2007);
Professional Memberships
Japan Patent Attorneys Association (1996);
California (2012)
Personal
Japanese calligraphy, Karate
Expert in these Jurisdictions
Japan / Global
Languages Spoken
Japanese / English
Experience
Toyotaka Abe advises clients on patent prosecution, patent litigation, transactions (including patent sales and acquisitions) and licensing, government relations, and other related matters, drawing on the legal and business expertise he has gained through extensive experience in both in-house and law firm roles. Before joining TMI Associates in 2014, Mr. Abe served as Director of Intellectual Property at Microsoft Japan. He originally joined Microsoft in 2007 at its headquarters in Redmond, Washington, where he handled international patent matters across Asia.
Prior to joining Microsoft, Mr. Abe practiced patent law for 10 years at law firms in Japan and the United States, working on patent matters in electrical engineering, semiconductors, software, mechanical engineering, and other technical fields. He is licensed as a patent attorney in Japan and an attorney-at-law in California.
Publications
ARTICLE “Effective Utilization of Patents under Article 102 of Japanese Patent Act” JIPA International Committee, IP Management
TREATISE "Cooperation with Hardware Resources in Computer-related inventions" Intellectual Property Management
TREATISE "Strategic Directions of the IP management of Japanese Corporations" Intellectual Property Management
ARTICLE "Foreseeability of Damages under Article 102 of Japanese Patent Act " JIPA Patent Committee, IP Management
BOOK "Legal Practice Q&A in the new Internet Era" (3rd edition) Nihon Kajo Publishing (co-author)
ARTICLE "Effectiveness of Amendments during the PCT International Phase" JIPA International Committee, IP Management
BOOK "Comparative Study of Japanese, U.S., and European Patent Law" Economic and Industrial Research Association
Education
Nagoya University, Graduate School
M.S.
1995 - 1997
Nagoya University
B.S.
1991 - 1995
Awards
IAM Global Leaders (2022 - 2025)
IAM
Patent Prosecution - Gold (2020 - 2025)
IAM
Patent Transactions – Highly Recommended (2020 - 2025)
IAM
Patent Litigation – Silver (2024 - 2025)
IAM
IAM Strategy 300 – The World's Leading IP Strategists (2016 - 2025)
IAM
Patent Star (2024 - 2025)
MIP