Mr. Carlson practices corporate law, focusing on mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance and complex strategic relationships. He has served as general counsel for national and regionally-based companies in their acquisitions and sales and joint venture activities and as local counsel on major national acquisition projects. He has served as special counsel to boards and independent board committees, as counsel for private foundations, and as counsel for private profit and non-profit entities in public-private projects.

Mr. Carlson is active in the legal community as past chairman of the Business Law Section of the Washington State Bar Association and long-term member of the Section Executive Committee. He is a past chair and long-term member of the Washington State Bar Association Corporate Act Revision Committee. He is the Washington liaison to the ABA Committee on Corporate Laws.

Mr. Carlson is chairman of the board of trustees of the Washington Research Foundation, member of the University of Washington Foundation board, past president of the University of Washington Law School Foundation, past chairman and member of the board of trustees of Cornish College of the Arts, is a trustee of the Pilchuck Glass School and was a two term member and vice chair of the Washington State Arts Commission. He is also a fellow of the American Bar Foundation.