From law firm owner to becoming a patent attorney in Japan with Maria Abe

Lawyer on Air

Maria Abe shows us that anything is possible with a little bit of an adventurous heart and a willingness to try new things even when you are unsure. Maria has navigated the challenges of starting her career during the World Financial Crisis of 2009 and takes us on a fascinating journey of how she came to be a practicing lawyer in Japan. A truly inspirational story for anyone who is feeling like the chips are stacked against you just now.

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In this episode you’ll hear:

• What Maria did when she graduated during the world financial crisis and legal jobs were highly contested
• How she started her own law firm with zero contacts and only a small amount of experience
• What brought her to Japan and how she navigated the job market even though she didn’t have the typical experience that is traditionally sought after
• What she likes about working at Vanguard Lawyers Tokyo.
• Her favourite book and other fun facts

About Maria

Maria is an associate at Vanguard Lawyers Tokyo, which was named Employment Law Firm of the Year and Boutique Law Firm of the Year in 2022 at the ALB Japan Law Awards this year. Maria focuses on employment law, disputes and investigations, as well as general corporate matters. Maria uses her knowledge and experience to help clients gain a more nuanced understanding of the Japanese legal landscape.

Prior to joining Vanguard, Maria worked at the patent firm, Sakamoto and Partners, gaining experience in the area of patent and trademark law.
Before coming to Japan Maria owned and operated her own law firm in the state of Ohio in the U.S. She was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 2011 and passed the U.S. patent bar in 2016. She recently was also admitted as a registered foreign attorney (Gaikokuho Jimu Bengoshi) under the laws of the State of Ohio in Japan and is a member of the Dai-Ichi Tokyo Bar Association.

Maria received her B.S. in physics from Dickinson College and her J.D. from Ohio Northern University.
Maria speaks English, German, and (some) Japanese. She is also a mother to a one-year-old daughter and a cat mom to a 6-year-old, one-eyed, rescue cat. Maria loves to travel and host house parties where she cooks for her guests.

Connect with Maria

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-abe-6a739321/

Links

Divino:http://divino-cucina.com/

Get on Board by Olga Mack

Episode with Akiko Yamakawa: https://www.catherineoconnelllaw.com/podcast/episode-two-akiko-yamakawa

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