Sarah Neil
Senior Associate
Sarah Neil is a Chartered Trade Mark Attorney and has been recognised by Managing IP and Legal 500 as a Rising Star. Sarah advises on the full range of trade mark, design and copyright matters, including clearance, protection and enforcement of IP rights. Sarah advises a wide range of clients from SME’s to global conglomerates and her clients act in a range of industries including telecommunications and technology, financial services, fashion and food and drink. Sarah loves all things digital and enjoys when her professional work overlaps with her personal interests giving her the opportunity to work on matters related to AI and the metaverse, gaming, anime and Japanese culture.
Sarah is a member of AA Thornton’s internal Diversity & Inclusion committee and has a particular passion for social mobility issues. Sarah is regularly involved in outreach programmes aimed to provide opportunities to those from backgrounds who do not traditionally enter the legal profession and she collaborates closely with the Sutton Trust. Sarah has been recognised by WIPR’s 100 most influential women in IP as a Trailblazer for her work in this area.
“Very efficient and concise in communicating and proactively making proposals, making it easy for the client to respond.”
Legal 500 2023 Client Testimonial
“It is always reassuring to know that we have AA Thornton standing by to advise us all on IP and trade mark matters. Geoff Hussey and his team of lawyers and attorneys always provide us with first class advice and guidance. We would like to thank Sarah Neil for her great work on the recent sale of our European price comparison businesses to ZPG.”
Dan Caunt, Head of Legal, Admiral Group
"Sarah Neil is always on hand to offer great advice and always finds the solutions we need!"
Legal 500
"The 'excellent' A.A. Thornton & Co. 'goes the extra mile to provide outstanding customer service' and has expertise in both contentious and non-contentious matters."
Legal 500
“We have been very impressed with the highly professional level of service and support we have received from everyone at AA Thornton. They have taken us from success in the Intellectual Property Office to success at the Court of Appeal and we would highly recommend the way that AA Thornton’s trade mark attorneys work closely with their litigators to achieve outstanding results. Dan Byrne and Sarah Neil have provided solid and strategic advice, always steering us right in light of our commercial objectives.”
Bill Stirling, Managing Director, ABP Technology Limited
"AA Thornton renders tailored trademark and IP services to a distinguished clientele."
WTR 1000
- Copyright
- Design Rights
- Domain Names
- Trade Marks
- Insurance
- Telecommunications
- Food & Drink
- Cleantech (Clean Technology)
- Advising in relation to all aspects of trade mark clearance and searching, filing and prosecution of trade mark applications.
- Advising in relation to enforcement of trade mark and design rights and handling the prosecution and defence of opposition, revocation and invalidity proceedings before the UK IPO and EU IPO.
- Advising in relation domain name disputes under the UDRP and at Nominet and assists with domain name portfolio management.
- Advising in relation to design rights and handling the prosecution of design applications.
- Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (CITMA)
- She joined AA Thornton in 2012
- Sarah Qualified as a UK Chartered Trade Mark Attorney in 2015
- Sarah was promoted to Associate in 2018
- Sarah was promoted to Senior Associate in July 2020
- BA Hons Law, University of Cambridge
- Certificate in Trade Mark Law and Practice, Queen Mary, University of London
- Professional Certificate in Trade Mark Practice – Nottingham University
- Qualified as a UK Chartered Trade Mark Attorney in 2015
- European Trade Mark and Designs Attorney
- Legal 500 Rising Star
- Managing IP Rising Star
- WIPR’s Top 100 Women in IP – Trailblazer for work related to Diversity and Inclusion
- Recognised as ‘Leading Associate’ by Legal 500 UK 2024
- Recognised as ‘Rising Star’ in IP Stars by Managing IP 2024
