Kirsi Ekström is an experienced trademark and IPR professional with over 30 years of experience in the protection, enforcement, and management of trademarks and domain names.

Kirsi's expertise covers a broad range of intellectual property rights. She has served as a specialist and lecturer at numerous international conferences and working groups and has participated in the preparation of the comprehensive reform of Finland's trademark law.

Kirsi conducts trademark searches to ensure availability, registrability, and freedom to operate; advises on trademark strategies, and manages global trademark portfolios for brand owners. She is both an EU trademark attorney and an authorized trademark attorney in Finland, representing clients in trademark prosecution in the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the Finnish Patent and Registration Office. Additionally, Kirsi advises and supports companies of all sizes in the strategic management of brand rights and other IP rights. She is a knowledgeable, precise, and goal-oriented professional who enjoys working with clients and is committed to high-quality service.

Before joining Kaulo & Partners, Kirsi held a long-term position as Director of Corporate Trademarks & IPR at a publicly listed telecommunications company, where she was responsible for strategic planning, prosecution and enforcement of IP rights. Her career includes numerous product naming projects, international rebranding initiatives, and trademark portfolio evaluations in connection with corporate transactions, as well as business consulting on trademarks and domain names. This has given her a solid, hands-on foundation for sharing her expertise with companies of all sizes.

Areas of Expertise

Trademarks, domain names, trademark watch and competitor monitoring, brand right strategy.

IP Career

  • Director, Corporate Trademarks & IPR, Telia Group 1999 – 2024
  • Trademark Attorney, Keijo Heinonen Oy 1989 -1998


Fiduciary Positions

  • Member of the Brand of the Year 2025 jury (the Finland Chamber of Commerce)
  • Member of the Signum Award jury 2022–2023
  • Member of the Finland Chamber of Commerce IPR Committee 2007–2024, the last two terms as Vice Chairman of the Committee
  • Member of the Working Group for Trademark Law Reform in Finland 15.8.2016 – 15.02.2018


Education and Qualifications 

  • Authorized Trademark Attorney in Finland 2015
  • EU Trademark Attorney 2002
  • BBA, Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences in Finland 1989


IPR Sector Memberships 

  • The Finnish Association for Industrial Property Rights


Domestic and International Recognitions 

  • Medal of Merit by the Finland Chamber of Commerce 2024
  • Finnish Corporate IP Star by Managing Intellectual Property (MIP) in 2016 and 2017