Ask a Lawyer Anything

An open Q&A session with a local lawyer with expertise in IP and all things small business.

Presented By:

Suzanne Sjovold

Suzanne combines her technical background in Neuroscience with over 10 years of intellectual property (IP) legal experience to effectively develop and manage her clients’ IP assets. As a registered patent and trademark agent, Suzanne’s practice is focused on clients in the life sciences space, including those involved in novel medical devices, chemical compounds, biologics, and pharmaceuticals. Suzanne also assists clients with protecting mechanical devices, clean energy technologies, and new technologies in the oil and gas sector. Additionally, Suzanne provides clients with legal opinions on issues such as patentability, trademark registerability, freedom-to-operate, due diligence analysis, and IP portfolio management. Suzanne’s clients include a broad range of early stage and established companies, as well as post-secondary institutions.

Suzanne grew up in Lethbridge and attended the University of Lethbridge, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience. After completing her Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the University of Alberta, Suzanne attended law school at the U of A with an aim to practice intellectual property, bridging the gap between the scientific and legal spheres. Prior to joining North & Company, Suzanne was a partner at a regional law firm where she was the head of one of the largest intellectual property groups in Western Canada.

Suzanne feels very fortunate to be back in Southern Alberta surrounded by her extended family. When Suzanne’s not in the office, she spends every spare moment downhill skiing or mountain biking in Fernie with her husband Travis and their two daughters.

Kayla Plausteiner

Kayla grew up in the southern Alberta area and completed her Bachelor of Arts Degree, majoring in philosophy at the University of Lethbridge. After completing her undergraduate degree, Kayla decided to venture outside of Alberta and attended the Queen Mary University of London, where she completed her Bachelor of Laws.

After her return to Canada, Kayla was drawn to North & Company because of their involvement in the local community and the broad range of legal services they offer.

Kayla was drawn to the legal profession because of the evolving and ever-changing nature of the law. She enjoys and appreciates that each client has their own unique set of circumstances and the law will apply in different and interesting ways.

Outside of the firm Kayla is a world traveler, ready to go anywhere and everywhere. She also enjoys the outdoors and takes every opportunity she can to go to the lake, hike or golf in the summer and ski or skate in the winter. Kayla also finds pleasure in spending quality time with friends and family, whenever she finds the time.

WESTEM programming is mandated to support rural/remote Southern Alberta women; does not include Calgary.