Jani Kaulo has 17 years of experience in the protection, enforcement and commercialisation of trademarks. He manages global trademark portfolios of major companies and represents clients of all sizes in trademark prosecution in the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the Finnish Patent and Registration Office. He assists companies in creating global brand protection strategies and drafts trademark related agreements. Jani also acts as a litigator in the Finnish and European Union courts representing clients in trademark related cases. He has represented more than 200 global brand-owners in seizures of counterfeits in the Finnish customs. During his career, Jani has successfully represented clients in many remarkable cases. Managing IP publication chose the latest case C 772/18 handled by Jani and Maria Puronvarsi as the impact case of year 2020 in Finland.  

Jani is a regular speaker in IP related seminars and events. He is also a popular expert commentator in brand protection related matters in media and has written several articles in different publications in the field of IP. In addition to trademark law, Jani drafts various types of commercial agreements. 

Among clients, Jani is endorsed for being responsible, reliable, practical, and efficient in protecting clients’ interests. Jani has been ranked as a leading trademark professional in Finland by World Trademark Review 1000 since 2016. 

Jani graduated from the law faculty of the University of Turku (LLM in 2004), and he holds an MBA from the University of Bolton (2012), which he completed in Vietnam. Before founding Kaulo & Partners, Jani worked as an Associate at Castrén & Snellman, Attorneys Ltd. (2004-2007), Attorney-at-law at Heinonen & Co, Attorneys-at-law Ltd. (2007-2008) and Attorneys-at law Juridia Ltd. (currently Eversheds Sutherland, 2008-2009) and as Partner at Kolster (2012-2021).  

Jani also serves as a Supervisory Board Member (2019-2023) and International Trade Committee Member (2020-2023) at the ECTA, and in addition, as the Chair of Finland-South East Asia Business Association (part of FinnCham).


Areas of Expertise

Trademarks, design rights, domain names, trade names, copyrights, anti-counterfeiting, trade secrets, contracts.


Lawyer Career 

  • Kaulo & Partners, Licensed Legal Counsels, Ltd., Managing Partner, Co-founder 2021-  
  • Kolster Ltd., IP Lawyer 2012-2017, Associate Partner 2017, Partner 2018-2021 
  • Juridia, Attorneys-at-law, Ltd. (currently Eversheds Attorneys Ltd.), Associate 2008, Attorney-at-law 2009 
  • Heinonen & Co Oy, Attorneys-at-law, Ltd., Associate 2007-2008 
  • Castrén & Snellman, Attorneys-at-law, Ltd., Trainee 2004, Associate 2005-2007 


Education and Qualifications 

  • European trademark and design attorney 2015 
  • Authorized trademark attorney 2014 
  • MBA, University of Bolton 2012 
  • Finnish Bar Exam 2009 
  • Master of Laws, University of Turku 2004


International Recognition 

  • Leading Trademark Professional in Finland, 2024, World Trademark Review (WTR1000)
  • Leading Trademark Professional in Finland 2023, Who’s Who Legal (WWL)
  • Managing Intellectual Property (MIP) 2023, Trademark Star
  • Leading Trademark Professional in Finland, 2023, World Trademark Review (WTR1000)
  • Leading Trademark Professional in Finland, 2022, World Trademark Review (WTR1000)
  • Leading Trademark Professional in Finland, 2021, World Trademark Review (WTR1000)
  • IP Leader in Finland, 2021, World IP Review
  • Leading Trademark Professional in Finland, 2020, World Trademark Review (WTR1000)
  • Leading Trademark Professional in Finland, 2019, World Trademark Review (WTR1000)
  • Leading trademark professional in Finland, 2018, World Trademark Review (WTR 1000)
  • Leading IP professional in Finland, 2017, Managing Intellectual Property 2017 IP Stars
  • Leading trademark professional in Finland, 2017, World Trademark Review (WTR 1000)  
  • Leading trademark professional in Finland, 2016, World Trademark Review (WTR 1000)  


Fiduciary Positions 

  • ECTA: Member of the China Task Force 2018-2020, Member of the Supervisory Board 2019-2023, Member of the International Trade Committee 2020-2023 
  • Finland-South East Asia Business Association: Member of the Board 2015-, Vice-Chairman 2017, Chairman 2018- 


Publications in English

  • IP for Europe's Next Brands, 2015, The Handbook of European Intellectual Property Management, 4th edition, Kogan Page, UK 
  • Seizure of Counterfeit Goods at the Finnish Custom, Sep 26, 2013, IPRinfo 3/2013 
  • Establishment of a Foreign-Investment Enterprise in the People's Republic of China, 2005, Multikustannus, Finland 


Client Industries 

  • Automotive 
  • Communications and media 
  • Consumer goods 
  • Financial services 
  • ICT 
  • Media and entertainment 
  • Public services 
  • Health care 
  • Industrial equipment 
  • Software 
  • Pharmaceuticals & medical products 
  • Utilities / cleantech 
  • Telecommunications 
  • Fashion 
  • Food and beverages 
  • Education export 


IPR Sector Memberships

  • Association of Finnish Patent Attorneys 
  • Finnish AIPPI Group – International Association for the Protection of Industrial Property 
  • ECTA – European Communities Trade Mark Association 
  • FICPI – International Federation of Intellectual Property Attorneys 
  • Association of Finnish Lawyers


JANI KAULO: HOW I BECAME A LAWYER AND AN ENTREPRENEUR