About

Sarah is a Partner at Collyer Bristow, specialising in Commercial, Intellectual Property, and Technology law.

She advises businesses on the commercialisation and licensing of patents, brands, technology, and AI solutions, and has extensive experience in tech and IP-focused M&A transactions. Her work often centres on helping clients structure contracts, manage data, and adapt to legal uncertainty in rapidly changing markets. She works across borders and industries wherever innovation and regulation meet.

Sarah’s experience includes several years in senior in-house specialist IP roles within the financial and insurance sectors, where she led on matters involving software as a service, data protection, and data licensing. She advises clients on integrating AI solutions into their products and services and advises on third-party supplier agreements.

Dual qualified in England & Wales and New Zealand, Sarah began her career at Baldwins, a New Zealand patent attorney firm, before moving to the IP/ IT team at Linklaters in London. She was a non-contentious partner at Carter-Ruck & Partners, before working in-house and then joining Norton Rose Fulbright in their London office, after the pandemic. She joined Collyer Bristow earlier this year.

Because her career spans both private practice and in-house roles, she brings a commercial perspective that adds a valuable dimension to the skills expected of a highly accomplished lawyer. She is known for her pragmatic advice and ability to simplify complex issues.

Contact Sarah

Recognition

  • "Sarah Coe stands out for thinking power and friendliness."

    Client feedback

Sarah's work highlights

AI FinTech project

Advising entrepreneur on AI based financial services offering in new venture; preparation of all IP licensing and assignment agreements; advising on strategic supplier, proof of concept agreements and AI / Open Source Software (OOS) platform development plans.

Bupa Global website set-up

Advised the e-commerce digital division of Bupa; handled all web related legal, cybersecurity and data protection issues world-wide and advised Bupa’s global business units on all technology, consumer, e-commerce and digital queries for their healthcare related investments, sponsorships and/or global marketing campaigns.

Commercial/tech transactional advice

Supporting French tech company during RFP process for ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) UK based project and support on negotiating Term Sheet with favoured supplier SAP.

Financial data licensing and platform agreements:

Advising CME Group on its global EMEA e-commerce and financial service contracts provided by its IT based subsidiaries; updated customer T&Cs, negotiated data licensing agreements with banks and global financial institutions; advised on compliance, confidentiality and data controller concerns; prepared IP/IT clauses of commercial and financial documentation.

IP licence

Prepared licence agreement for UK company seeking to license its super yacht ceramic coating products and services to a US based licensee; heads of terms; IP licence and assignment agreements for internal restructuring; overseeing portfolio management by instructing overseas trade mark agents; strategic commercial advice to management as required.

IP/ Tech EMEA corporate divestment of assets

IP transactional support on corporate M&A matters including the divestment by a leading UK petroleum company of its Swiss holdings; preparation of key licensing and transitional agreements governing the migration of the IP/IT assets to the new owner.

Patent Pool negotiations and joint venture

Conducted commercially sensitive negotiations for Japanese automotive company client seeking to invest in UK high-tech company owning patented silicon chip technology; carried out due diligence and worked with the corporate team structuring the project and joint venture, including instructing patent agent on patent pool with my client, several large German manufacturers and the silicon chip provider.

Template Trade Mark agreements

Preparing template supply, licensing and distribution agreements for Costa Coffee products in the EEA, supporting in-house legal team with brand management for new owner’s distribution network.

Unregistered software and database sale

Undertook full due diligence on all IP/ IT and commercial contracts for a management sale of a leading fund data specialist company in Luxembourg to Deutsche Bank; part of EMEA client project team to oversee all client in-house commercial/ IP/IT teams during business sale; prepared IP/IT sections of tender documentation; reviewed all trade mark and domain name registrations; updated client contracts; reviewed tech supplier platform development agreements; reviewed tech supplier licences.

Data Protection training

Collyer Bristow’s Data Privacy team offers live, interactive, engaging and practical training sessions on a variety of privacy-related topics.

Data Protection training

Publications

  • Corporate Know-How Guides: Subsidiary v Branch

    Establishing a business presence in the UK can be a transformative step for an overseas company. This guide explores the key differences between setting up a subsidiary or registering a branch, helping you navigate critical considerations like liability, financial reporting, and setup processes. Whether you’re looking to test the UK market or plan a long-term investment, this guide provides clarity on the most suitable structure for your needs.

    Discover our latest Corporate Know-How guides.

     

    Download now

  • Share-Classes-Corporate-guide-cover

    Corporate Know-How Guides: Share Classes

    Creating new share classes can be a useful way of attracting new participants, allowing a company to offer shares that are particularly focussed towards their desired investors. Whether you are considering re-organising the ownership of your business or are keen to understand the most suitable structure for a planned investment, this guide can help you with some common questions in relation to share classes.

    Discover our new series of Corporate Know-How guides.

    Download now

  • Getting a business ready for sale-Corporate guide-Cover

    Corporate Know-How Guides: Getting a Business Ready for Sale

    Prior to approaching the market or agreeing terms with a prospective buyer, undertaking adequate preparations for sale can contribute to a smoother transaction for all parties. In this guide, we look at some key questions to consider in respect of the readiness of a business for a potential sale.

    Discover our new series of Corporate Know-How guides.

    Download now

  • Corporate-know-how-guide-share-buybacks-cover

    Corporate Know-How Guides: Share Buybacks

    Put simply, a share buyback is where a company purchases its own shares from an existing shareholder. In this guide, we will look at some key aspects of share buybacks in relation to private limited companies incorporated in England & Wales.

    Discover our new series of Corporate Know-How guides.

    Download now

  • corporate-know-how-guide-heads-of-terms-visual

    Corporate Know-How Guides: Heads of Terms

    In this guide we will look at heads of terms as they relate to the sale of a business or assets in England & Wales. Whether identified as “heads of terms”, a “letter of intent” or “heads of agreement”, these documents summarise the key terms of a proposed transaction.

    Discover our new series of Corporate Know-How guides.

    Download now

  • Corporate-know-how-guide-shareholder-rights-cover-visual

    Corporate Know-How Guides: Shareholder Rights

    Whether you are a minority shareholder concerned about what influence you can exert over a company’s affairs, or a founding shareholder, considering the amount of equity you would be prepared to sell to investors without losing control – this guide is here to help you understand what shareholders can do and when.

    Discover our new series of Corporate Know-How guides.

    Download now

  • Financial Services-slides-cover
  • Share v asset sales guide visual

    Corporate Know-How Guides: Share v. Asset Sales

    Share and asset purchases are the two methods of acquiring a business in the UK.

    Do you know their differences? The business of a sole trader or unregistered partnership can only be acquired through an asset purchase as there is no owning entity for the assets which can be acquired, while a share purchase can be used for the acquisition of all or part of the shares in a company which owns and operates a business.

    Discover our new series of Corporate Know-How guides.

    Download now

  • Corporate Know-How Guides: Selling a Business

    We look at the flip side of price structuring, instead focusing on how a seller could secure elements of the purchase price that are delayed – or at least obtain comfort around the buyer’s ability to pay them.

    Discover our new series of Corporate Know-How guides.

    Download now

  • Corporate Know-How Guides: Buying a Business

    When making an offer for a business, the question of when the consideration will be paid can often be just as important as how much will be paid. We look at four of the most common options available to prospective buyers (beyond upfront cash payments) and the risks/rewards posed by them.

    Discover our new series of Corporate Know-How guides.

    Download now

Sarah's colleagues

Sarah Coe

Qualification 1998

Specialising in...

About

Sarah is a Partner at Collyer Bristow, specialising in Commercial, Intellectual Property, and Technology law.

She advises businesses on the commercialisation and licensing of patents, brands, technology, and AI solutions, and has extensive experience in tech and IP-focused M&A transactions. Her work often centres on helping clients structure contracts, manage data, and adapt to legal uncertainty in rapidly changing markets. She works across borders and industries wherever innovation and regulation meet.

Sarah’s experience includes several years in senior in-house specialist IP roles within the financial and insurance sectors, where she led on matters involving software as a service, data protection, and data licensing. She advises clients on integrating AI solutions into their products and services and advises on third-party supplier agreements.

Dual qualified in England & Wales and New Zealand, Sarah began her career at Baldwins, a New Zealand patent attorney firm, before moving to the IP/ IT team at Linklaters in London. She was a non-contentious partner at Carter-Ruck & Partners, before working in-house and then joining Norton Rose Fulbright in their London office, after the pandemic. She joined Collyer Bristow earlier this year.

Because her career spans both private practice and in-house roles, she brings a commercial perspective that adds a valuable dimension to the skills expected of a highly accomplished lawyer. She is known for her pragmatic advice and ability to simplify complex issues.

Recognition

  • "Sarah Coe stands out for thinking power and friendliness."

    Client feedback

work highlights

AI FinTech project

Advising entrepreneur on AI based financial services offering in new venture; preparation of all IP licensing and assignment agreements; advising on strategic supplier, proof of concept agreements and AI / Open Source Software (OOS) platform development plans.

Bupa Global website set-up

Advised the e-commerce digital division of Bupa; handled all web related legal, cybersecurity and data protection issues world-wide and advised Bupa’s global business units on all technology, consumer, e-commerce and digital queries for their healthcare related investments, sponsorships and/or global marketing campaigns.

Commercial/tech transactional advice

Supporting French tech company during RFP process for ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) UK based project and support on negotiating Term Sheet with favoured supplier SAP.

Financial data licensing and platform agreements:

Advising CME Group on its global EMEA e-commerce and financial service contracts provided by its IT based subsidiaries; updated customer T&Cs, negotiated data licensing agreements with banks and global financial institutions; advised on compliance, confidentiality and data controller concerns; prepared IP/IT clauses of commercial and financial documentation.

IP licence

Prepared licence agreement for UK company seeking to license its super yacht ceramic coating products and services to a US based licensee; heads of terms; IP licence and assignment agreements for internal restructuring; overseeing portfolio management by instructing overseas trade mark agents; strategic commercial advice to management as required.

IP/ Tech EMEA corporate divestment of assets

IP transactional support on corporate M&A matters including the divestment by a leading UK petroleum company of its Swiss holdings; preparation of key licensing and transitional agreements governing the migration of the IP/IT assets to the new owner.

Patent Pool negotiations and joint venture

Conducted commercially sensitive negotiations for Japanese automotive company client seeking to invest in UK high-tech company owning patented silicon chip technology; carried out due diligence and worked with the corporate team structuring the project and joint venture, including instructing patent agent on patent pool with my client, several large German manufacturers and the silicon chip provider.

Template Trade Mark agreements

Preparing template supply, licensing and distribution agreements for Costa Coffee products in the EEA, supporting in-house legal team with brand management for new owner’s distribution network.

Unregistered software and database sale

Undertook full due diligence on all IP/ IT and commercial contracts for a management sale of a leading fund data specialist company in Luxembourg to Deutsche Bank; part of EMEA client project team to oversee all client in-house commercial/ IP/IT teams during business sale; prepared IP/IT sections of tender documentation; reviewed all trade mark and domain name registrations; updated client contracts; reviewed tech supplier platform development agreements; reviewed tech supplier licences.

Insights, News & Events

Data Protection training

Collyer Bristow’s Data Privacy team offers live, interactive, engaging and practical training sessions on a variety of privacy-related topics.

Data Protection training

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