The panel of tutors is made up of very experienced patent professionals from Australia, Europe, Japan and the United States of America, supported by FICPI's Training and Education Commission.
Dr. Axel von Hellfeld (Germany) Course Coordinator
Axel von Hellfeld is Senior Partner of WUESTHOFF & WUESTHOFF, Munich. He studied physics in Göttingen, Hamburg and at Dartmouth College, USA and qualified as a patent attorney in 1983. He has extensive experience in representing clients before the German and European Patent Offices and in infringement suits before various German Courts. He teaches patent law at a German University, is involved in the training of German patent attorneys, and is a frequent lecturer worldwide on various IP topics, including software protection.
Leon Allen (Australia)
Leon Allen is a patent attorney and a partner of the firm DAVIES COLLISION CAVE in Melbourne, Australia. His technical background is physics. He has over 20 years of experience in the preparation of patent applications, opposition proceedings, and infringement actions for enforcement of patents.
Jérôme Collin (France)
Jérôme Collin is a partner of Cabinet REGIMBEAU, Paris. He studied fundamental and applied physics and has a special background in software and systems of mobile communication. He is involved both in patent prosecution and litigation. He has a strong involvement in the training of future IP professionals. He lectures at the “Grandes Ecoles” and universities and served for many years as a tutor for European Patent Institute (epi).
Joseph A. Kolasch (USA)
Joseph Kolasch is a founding partner of BIRCH, STEWART, KOLASCH & BIRCH, Washington D.C. area, one of the leading IP Law Firms in the USA. He has a technical background in chemical engineering and more than 40 years of experience in IP, specializing in chemical, mechanical and design patents, and trade- marks. He is past president of the Patent Lawyers Club of Washington, D.C.
Dr. Peter Kolker (United Kingdom)
Peter Kolker retired from his position as Intellectual Property Manager of ZENECA and is now an independent consultant in IP matters. He is a British Chartered Patent Agent and a European patent attorney. He holds a D Phil. in chemistry from Oxford University. He was chairman of the Patents Panel of the Chemical Industries Association, a former chairman of the ABPI IP Committee and a member of the EFPIA patents working party. He is the author of “Global Patent Law” (PJB Publications, London 1998).
Dr. Shoichi Okuyama (Japan)
Shoichi Okuyama is a partner of OKUYAMA & CO, Tokyo. He has a first degree in both engineering (specialisation: electronics) and chemistry and obtained a Ph.D. in theoretical physical chemistry at the James Frank Institute in Chicago. He has more that 15 years of experience as a Japanese patent attorney. He is President of JPAA, a board member of AIPPI Japan and LES Japan, and also a member of APAA. He is a working group leader of the case law study group of AIPPI Japan.
Steffen Schmidt (Germany)
Steffen Schmidt is a partner of WUESTHOFF & WUESTHOFF, Munich. He qualified as a European Patent Attorney in 1991 after first gaining a degree in electrical engineering and computer science. He currently special- ises in prosecuting patents in electronics, telecommunications, software technology, electrical/ mechanical engineering as well as aerospace. He was a member of the Examination Committee for the European qualifying examination for many years.
Six of the eight FICPI tutors will be present during each segment of the course.