Sally Paterson
Executive, Lawyer (NZ), Patent & Trade Mark Attorney (AU, NZ) BSc LLB (Hons)
LLB (hons) – Bachelor of Laws (Hons, 1st class))
BSc – Bachelor of Science (biological sciences)
Barrister & Solicitor (High Court of New Zealand)
Registered Patent Attorney (AU, NZ)
Registered Trade Mark Attorney (AU, NZ)
Email: sally.paterson@pearceIP.law
Tel: +64 (0) 4 886 1199
Sally is a senior Trans-Tasman Patent and Trade Mark Attorney, and a New Zealand registered lawyer with over 20 years’ experience in IP. Sally’s particular expertise is in life sciences, drawing from her background in biological sciences.
Sally is well respected in the New Zealand IP community for her broad ranging skills in all aspects of intellectual property advice, protection and enforcement.
Sally has extensive experience securing registration for patents, designs and trade marks in New Zealand, Australia and internationally, providing strategic infringement, validity and enforceability opinions, acting in contentious disputes including matters before the courts of New Zealand and before IPONZ and IP Australia, and advising on copyright and consumer law matters.
Whilst Sally’s skills are applicable to a broad range of industries, her particular expertise is in the fields of life sciences, including pharmaceuticals, biopharmaceuticals, biotechnology, chemistry, health, medical technologies (med-tech), agriculture technology (ag-tech), animal health/veterinary science, food technology (food-tech), and environmental sciences.
Sally is a member of IPSANZ, IPTA and the New Zealand Law Society, and is a Fellow of NZIPA.
Pearce IP Awards
Chambers and Partners
Global - Intellectual Property (2025)
Asia Pacific - Intellectual Property (2025)
Asia Pacific - Intellectual Property (2024)
Legal 500 Asia Pacific
Market Leading Intellectual Property Firm (2025)
Market Leading Intellectual Property Firm (2024)
Market Leading Intellectual Property Firm (2023)
Asia IP
Tier 3 for IP Proscecution (2024)
Tier 3 for IP Proscecution (2023)
IAM Patent 1000
Bronze for litigation (2023, 2022, 2021)
Bronze for prosecution (2024, 2023, 2022, 2021)
Australian Law Awards (Lawyers Weekly)
Finalist – Women in Law Awards – Boutique Diversity Firm of the Year (2022)
Finalist – Intellectual Property Team of the Year (2022)
Winner – Intellectual Property Team of the Year (2021)
Managing IP Stars
Patent Prosecution (2024, 2023, 2022)
The Only Leading Female Owned Life Sciences focussed IP Firm (2023)
Pearce IP ranked firm (2021)
World Trademark Review
Silver - Litigation and Prosecution Australia (2025)
Bronze - Litigation and Prosecution New Zealand (2025)
Litigation and Prosecution Australia (2024)
Women in Business Law Awards - APAC
Shortlisted – Australian Firm of the Year (2022)
Lexology Legal Influencer
Australasia – Healthcare and Life Sciences (Q2 2024, Q1 2024, Q4 2023, Q3 2023, Q2 2023, Q3 2022, Q2 2022, Q1 2021, Q4 2020)
Cross-border – Healthcare and Life Sciences (Q2 2024, Q1 2024, Q4 2023, Q3 2023, Q2 2023, Q1 2023)
Australasian Lawyer
Top Boutique Firm (2024)
5-Star Intellectual Property Law Firm (2021)
Doyles Intellectual Property
Doyles Leading Intellectual Property (2021, 2020)
Doyles Recommended Intellectual Property (2021)
OUR VISION
By 2027, be the premier life sciences IP practice in
Australia and New Zealand.