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Sarah is a Partner and Head of our Life Sciences and Chemistry group. She specialises in the field of biotechnology, and has significant expertise and experience in the areas of antibody and TCR technology, synthetic biology, next-generation DNA sequencing technologies, proteomics and diagnostics.

She has a burgeoning practice in technologies where the life sciences intersects with other fields, including bioinformatics and digital health. For such technologies, an interdisciplinary approach is often required, for example when machine learning and AI are used in the life sciences field. Sarah enjoys working together with her colleagues across the firm as part of a truly interdisciplinary team to provide a bespoke experience to clients in these sectors.

With over 20 years’ experience, Sarah is skilled at handling all stages of the patenting process, from the initial stages of invention capture and drafting patent applications through international prosecution to EPO oppositions and appeals. Although she has a wide client base, she particularly enjoys using her formidable strategic and commercial skills to help clients achieve their business aims, whether those are raising further funds, initial public offering or launching a product. She is renowned for her brilliant client care, with IAM Patent, 2024 noting “She blends a commercially pragmatic approach with a personalised service and tailored solutions, to ensure her patrons come out on top.”

When not working with clients to develop and deliver their IP strategies, Sarah is responsible for the delivery of the Life Sciences & Chemistry group’s strategic plan. She also speaks regularly on aspects of European and UK patent practice and current IP issues in the life sciences.

“Outstanding patent prosecutor” Lau...focuses her practice on the field of biotechnology and brings an abundance of technical knowledge. She blends a commercially pragmatic approach with a personalised service and tailored solutions, to ensure her patrons come out on top. - IAM Patent, 2024

"The standout individuals are Nick Bassil, Jennifer Harris, Sarah Lau, and Mark Abthorpe. All have excellent technical knowledge and are great communicators." The Legal 500, 2023

Sarah was recognised in the 2022 editon of The Legal 500.

Qualifications

European Patent Attorney
Chartered UK Patent Attorney
IP Litigator - Patent
Representative before the Unified Patent Court (UPC) (2024)
BA (Hons) Natural Sciences (Zoology) - University of Cambridge (2001), specialising in molecular and cellular biology

Memberships

​Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA)
The Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office (EPI)

When tech met bio: collaborations in AI drug discovery Kilburn & Strode (2023)

AI technology and patenting in the life sciences part 1: Is AI-based life science innovation patentable?, Kilburn & Strode (2022)
 
AI technology and patenting in the life sciences part 2: When should AI-based life science innovation be patented?, Kilburn & Strode (2022)
 
AI technology and patenting in the life sciences part 3: Innovations made using AI, Kilburn & Strode (2022)

European Inventor Award highlights importance of cross-sector technologies, Kilburn & Strode (2021)

Patenting MedTech in Europe: key take-aways from part 1 of our Patent Power Half Hour webinar, Kilburn & Strode (2021)

Solving in-house counsel challenges in European IP: Transatlantic teamwork, Kilburn & Strode (2021)

Conversation with Sarah Lau in The Emergence of Life: From Chemical Origins to Synthetic Biology, Second Edition by Pier Luigi Luisi (Cambridge University Press 2016)

IP issues in relation to synthetic biology – presentation at Synthetic Biology Congress (October 2014)

Patent practice in the US post-Myriad – presentation at UK Bioscience Forum (October 2014)

Gene patenting in Europe and the US after Myriad – presentation at UK Bioscience Forum (October 2013)

‘Practical tips for protecting your inventions’, Microbiologist magazine, (March 2013)