Laura MacFarlane is a Calgary-based partner with Field Law, the practice group leader of the firm’s Intellectual Property and Technology Group, a Registered Canadian Trademark Agent as well as being active member of the firm’s Insurance, Labour + Employment and Dispute Resolution groups. In her broad roles, Laura provides a range of legal services and strategic advice to clients across many industries both domestically and internationally.

Laura has particular experience in advising clients on contentious intellectual property matters in all areas including trademarks, patents, copyright, and trade secrets. She is a skilled advocate both in and out of the courtroom. She also has significant experience negotiating favourable resolution for her clients. When assisting intellectual property clients in her capacity as a trademark agent, Laura’s work in clearing, protecting and commercializing her client’s brands and managing their trademark portfolios spans a wide range of industries, which often includes technology, consumer goods, heavy industrial machinery, lifestyle brands, food, beverage and restaurants, among others.

In her employment practice, Laura provides strategic advice on a range of topics, with a particular focus on the intersection of employment matters and intellectual property rights; acting for employers, employees and contractors. In her insurance practice, Laura acts primarily on behalf of insurers in the course of claims defense on a variety of matters including casualty, motor vehicle, accident benefits, property loss, personal injury, professional liability, errors and omissions and bad faith claims. Laura also acts on a range of general dispute matters not covered in her other areas of practice, most often in respect of contractual disputes and defamation claims.

Value to Clients

Laura’s extensive work with clients who tend to have a large, well-known online presence, has given her invaluable knowledge when it comes to navigating this increasingly important space and the legal issues that accompany it. 

“I learn about my clients' business at the outset of a file. I do this because I recognize that the client’s experience and industry-specific knowledge is a tremendous asset to have and helps me in finding them the right legal solution to meet their needs. The client is the keeper of much of the relevant knowledge I need to do my job. Tapping into this resource and working with the client allows them to share some ownership over the file. In my experience, this collaboration ultimately yields better outcomes.” 

Outside the Office

Laura’s keen eye for design and love for interior decorating has allowed her to transform her home and work spaces into carefully curated, well-designed productivity retreats. When she isn’t redecorating her own – or her friend’s – home or office, she’s planning her next food-inspired getaway.