the firm's post-grant practitioners are some of the most experienced in the country.

Advanced Search

Technologies

Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
    LEARN MORE
    Chemicals
    Chemicals
    Chemicals LEARN MORE
    Consumer Products
    Consumer Products
    Consumer Products LEARN MORE
    Digital Health
    Digital Health
    Digital Health
      LEARN MORE
      Electronics & Software
      Electronics & Software
      Electronics & Software LEARN MORE
      Energy & Renewables
      Energy & Renewables
      Energy & Renewables
        LEARN MORE
        Heavy Industry
        Heavy Industry
        Heavy Industry LEARN MORE
        Life Sciences
        Life Sciences
        Life Sciences LEARN MORE

        Services

        Fast Facts

        About Our

        Law Firm

        About Our Law Firm

        Headquartered within steps of the USPTO with an affiliate office in Tokyo, Oblon is one of the largest law firms in the United States focused exclusively on intellectual property law.

        LEARN MORE +
        Get to know our

        History

        Get to know our History

        1968
        Norman Oblon with Stanley Fisher and Marvin Spivak launched what was to become Oblon, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt, LLP, one of the nation's leading full-service intellectual property law firms.

        LEARN MORE +
        Our Local and

        Global Reach

        Our Local and Global Reach

        Outside the US, we service companies based in Japan, France, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, and farther corners of the world. Our culturally aware attorneys speak many languages, including Japanese, French, German, Mandarin, Korean, Russian, Arabic, Farsi, Chinese.

        +EUROPEMIDDLE EASTJAPAN
        A few of our

        ACCOLADES

        A few of our ACCOLADES

        Oblon's professionals provide industry-leading IP legal services to many of the world's most admired innovators and brands.

        LEARN MORE +
        OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUR

        Career

        OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUR Career

        From the minute you walk through our doors, you'll become a valuable part of a team that fosters a culture of innovation, client service and collegiality.

        LEARN MORE +
        A few ways to

        GET In Touch

        A few ways to GET In Touch
        US Office

        Telephone: 703-413-3000
        Learn More +


        Tokyo Office

        Telephone: +81-3-6212-0550
        Learn More +

        Downloadable

        Patent Forms

        Downloadable Patent Forms

        The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued final rules implementing the inventor's oath or declaration provisions of the America Invents Act (AIA) on August 14, 2012.

        LEARN MORE +
        Stay informed with

        Our Blogs

        Stay informed with Our Blogs

        Life Sciences Blog
        The AI Patent Blog

        LEARN MORE +
        Yorikatsu Hohokabe, Ph.D.

        Yorikatsu Hohokabe, Ph.D.

        Senior Advisor ∙ Tokyo Office
        E: yhohokabe@oblon.com
        T: +81-3-6212-0555
        Join My LinkedIn Network
        Download My vCard
        Download Summary PDF
        Download Detailed PDF

        Biography (Japanese)

        工学博士、CLP
        波々伯部 自克
        シニア・アドバイザー

        波々伯部 自克（ホホカベ ヨリカツ） 博士は、化学特許出願・権利化プラクティスグループ及びIP取引プラクティスグループのシニア・アドバイザーです。波々伯部氏はオブロンの弁護士やクライアントに技術的アドバイスをしたり、弁護士とクライアントとの英語/日本語のコミュニケーションを円滑にしたり、東京事務所の業務の支援を行っています。

        波々伯部氏は、オブロンに入所前は、日本の多角的化学・製造企業であり年間売上高が100億ドル以上の昭和電工(株)に40年近く勤務し、その間昭和電工において常務執行役員(上級技監)、全社の知的財産業務の責任者として知的財産部長を務め、また新事業開発部のグループ長や全社の研究開発マネジメントの職責を担いました。

        また昭和電工在籍中、波々伯部氏のプラスチック眼鏡レンズに関する特許 (及びその技術) は日本の某製造会社に譲渡されました。

        波々伯部氏は、現在日本ライセンス協会理事、米国問題WGリーダー、および米国問題（関西）WGリーダーならびにLES Internationalの会員委員会の共同委員長を務めています。その他AIPPI Japan会員、日本化学会会員でもあります。

        また波々伯部氏は、その他 (独)理化学研究所 社会知創成事業アドバイザリー・カウンシル委員長 (2011)、LES International化学・エネルギー・環境委員会共同副委員長 (2005－2006)、同委員会共同委員長(2006-2008)、LES International特許・技術ライセンス委員会共同副委員長 (2010－2011)、LES International 投資委員会共同委員長 (2011-2015)、同委員会副委員長（2015-2020）、LES International 会員委員会共同副委員長（2015-2017）、同委員会共同委員長（2017-present）、LES International Graduate Student Business Plan Competition一次審査委員 (2009－2014)、日本ライセンス協会理事 (2006－2008, 2010－2012, 2020－現在)、日本ライセンス協会副会長 （2012-2020）、日本知的財産協会常務理事 (2000－2001) 及び監事 (2003－2004)、(財)工業所有権協力センター理事 (2003－2008)、(財)日本特許情報機構評議員 (1999－2008)、 (社)日本経済団体連合会知的財産委員会委員及び同企画部会委員 (2003－2007)、山形大学工学部運営諮問会議委員 (2004－2008)、(社)科学技術と経済の会技術経営会議技術移行促進委員会及び技術移行実践委員会ワーキンググループメンバー (1977－1980) 等、数々の要職を歴任しました。

        波々伯部氏はCertified Licensing Professional Inc.より、日本を含む東アジアで初めて CLP (認定ライセンシングプロフェッショナル) に認定されました。またGlobal IP IntelligenceからLES Internationalの化学・エネルギー・環境・材料Distinguished Fellowの称号を与えられました (2014)。またLES InternationalからLESI Service Recognition Certificate (2018) およびPresident’s Service Recognition Award (2022) を授与されました。

         

        波々伯部氏は、東京工業大学において化学工学の工学士、工学修士、工学博士号を取得しています。また、米国メリーランド大学にて客員研究員を務めました。

        Education

        • Tokyo Institute of Technology (Ph.D.)
          • Chemical Engineering
        • Tokyo Institute of Technology (M.S.)
          • Chemical Engineering
        • Tokyo Institute of Technology (B.S.)
          • Chemical Engineering
        • University of Maryland
          • Research Associate (Department of Chemistry)

        Accolades

        • Certified Licensing Professional (CLP) (2011-present), awarded by Certified Licensing Professionals, Inc.
        • Named as Licensing Executives Society International (LESI) Chemicals Energy Environment and Materials (CEEM) Distinguished Fellow by Global IP Intelligence (2014).
        • Awarded Service Recognition Certificate by LESI (2018)
        • Awarded President's Service Recognition Award by President of LESI (2022)
        • Awarded Certificate of Merit by LESI (2023)

        Languages

        • Japanese

        Professional Affiliations

        • RIKEN Cluster for Innovation Advisory Council (RCIAC), Chair (2011)
        • Licensing Executives Society International (LESI), Delegate of LES Japan for LESI Board of Delegates (2012 - 2016); Co-Chair, Investment Committee (2011 - 2015); Co-Vice Chair, Investment Committee (2015 - 2017);  Vice Chair, Investment Committee (2017 - present); Vice Chair, Patent & Technology Licensing Committee (2010 - 2011); Co-Chair, Chemicals, Energy & Environment Committee (2006 - 2008); Vice Chair, Chemicals, Energy & Environment Committee (2005 - 2006); Licensing Executives Society International (LESI), Co-Vice Chair, Membership Committee (2015 - 2017); Co-Chair, Membership Committee (2017 - 2023); A First-Round Judge for Graduate Student Business Plan Competition (2009 - 2014)
        • Licensing Executives Society (LES) Japan, Vice President (2013 - 2020), Director and Board Member (2020 - present, 2010 - 2013, 2006 - 2008)
        • Licensing Executives Society (LES) USA & Canada, Committee Member, Chemicals, Energy, Environment & Materials Committee (2009 - 2012)
        • Association Internationale pour la Protection de la Propriété Intellectuelle (AIPPI), Japan (2009 - present)
        • The Chemical Society of Japan (1965 - present)
        • Industrial Property Cooperation Center (Japan), Director (2003 – 2008)
        • Japan Patent Information Organization, Councilor (1999 – 2008)
        • Council for Deliberation of Yamagata University’s Faculty of Engineering (Japan), Councilor (2004 - 2008)
        • Nippon Keidanren, Committee on Intellectual Property and Sub-Committee on Policy Planning, Committee Member (2003 - 2007)
        • Japan Intellectual Property Association, Managing Director (2000 - 2001), Auditor (2003 - 2004)
        • Japan Techno-Economics Society, Working Group for the Promotion of Technology Transfer and for the Practice of Technology Transfer under the Consortium on Management and Technology (1977 - 1980)
        • Japan Business Research Institute, Study Committee for Strategic Management of Intellectual Property, Member (1999 - 2006)

        Services

        Technologies