I have been practicing in the area of intellectual property law since 1991.  I established Ann Carlsen & Company in 2005 as a law firm providing legal advice in the area of intellectual property law.  My practice is restricted to matters involving trade marks, copyrights, industrial designs, trade secrets, intellectual property transfers, licensing, and franchising.  I have the professional expertise and experience to assist clients in determining the availability of trade marks, acquiring trade mark, copyright and industrial design registrations, enforcing intellectual property rights, and assigning and licensing intellectual property, including technology and franchises.  I am also a registered trade mark agent recognized by the Canadian Trade Marks Office and the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

I was employed by Coastal Trademark Services from 1998 to 2005, limiting my practice to trade mark law, including conducting trade mark availability searches, prosecution of trade mark applications in both Canada and the United States, and working with associates in foreign jurisdictions to obtain international trade mark registrations.

I was an associate with Swinton & Company (now Miller Thompson) from 1991 to 1996, and with Kerfoot Cameron from 1996 to 1998.  During this time, I gained experience in intellectual property law, commercial transactions, and civil litigation.  More specifically, this experience included: obtaining trade mark, copyright and industrial design registrations; advising clients on protection strategies for software, games, books and related merchandising, and implementing such strategies; negotiating and drafting documentation for franchises, software licenses and technology licensing agreements.