Sarah Konz
Sarah assists clients in addressing the transactional issues related to their intellectual property (IP).
Sarah Konz focuses on negotiating and drafting agreements in the areas of complex procurement arrangements, patent licensing, technology development and transfer, product manufacturing, distribution and sales, original equipment manufacturing (OEM) arrangements, maintenance and support, content creation and distribution, marketing and advertising services, and other IP licenses. Her practice also involves resolving complex IP issues in the context of public and private company mergers and acquisitions, and she has significant international experience, including in IP protection, holding company, transfer pricing, and international distribution issues. Sarah also has experience counseling clients regarding trademark, copyright, and domain name protection and enforcement issues.
Areas of focus
Education & Credentials
Education
- Seattle University School of Law, J.D., summa cum laude, Managing Editor, Seattle University Law Review, 2007
- University of Nevada, Reno, B.S., Resource Economics, with high distinction
Bar and Court Admissions
-
Colorado
Related Employment
- Federal Trade Commission, Northwest Region, Seattle, WA, Intern, 2006
Impact
Professional Leadership
- Perkins Coie Pro Bono Committee, Denver Office Chair, 2022-present
- Perkins Coie’s Privacy Minors Program, Leader, 2022-2023
- Selected by Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce Leadership Foundation to participate in six-month program introducing local business and civic issues, the opportunity to learn from community leaders, volunteer opportunities, and networking and mentorship opportunities to promote civic, professional and personal growth, 2016
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver, Associate Board of Directors, 2014-2016
- International Trademark Association, Academic Committee Member, 2010-2013
- Colorado Intellectual Property American Inns of Court, Presenting Member, 2012-2013
Insights
Professional Experience
Technology Transactions & Privacy
- Represented Trimble in negotiations to extend and broaden its grade control solutions joint venture with Caterpillar.
- Established strategic contractual joint venture with German company on behalf of public biofuels company for carbon capture verification technology offering and carbon credit trading platform.
- Successfully negotiated $25 million transaction for critical infrastructure technology on behalf of publicly traded national grocery store chain
- Negotiated numerous multimillion-dollar desktop license and cloud service agreements, as well as outbound source code license agreements to support strategic product integrations, on behalf of large, public multinational multimedia, creativity, and digital marketing software company
- Supported electric utility provider, large public brewery, and privately-owned apparel company with procurement of software-as-a-service products and other technology through counseling, negotiation, and drafting
- Assisted multinational conglomerate HVAC, fire, and security equipment manufacturer with delivery of consumer goods smart device to the domestic and international marketplace via drafting of terms of service, sales and refund policies, product warranty documentation, and managing foreign counsel for jurisdictionally-required variations to the foregoing
- Supported clients in bringing software-as-a-service and mobile apps to market through counseling and drafting appropriate terms of service, end-user license agreements, and other consumer/end user facing legal documentation
- Represented numerous clients in support of international business operations, including drafting intercompany licenses and transfer pricing documentation, intercompany service agreements, and international product distribution agreements
- Successfully negotiated CCPA and GDPR-compliant data protection and processing agreements in connection with numerous cloud service/IT procurement transactions on behalf of numerous public and private companies
- Assisted numerous clients, including large electric utility provider and integrated family office management company, in documenting data security programs, including internal security policies and external data security commitments
Manufacturing, Distribution & Supply Agreements
- Represented cosmetic manufacturer in connection with numerous international distribution agreements
- Represented consumer apparel company with international manufacturing agreements and related codes of conduct
- Represented gasket company in connection with manufacturing and supply agreements
- Represented public biofuels company with biocatalyst supply agreements
- Represented healthcare product manufacturer and supplier with group purchasing agreements and distribution arrangements
Patent Licensing & Other IP Transactions
- Lead original content and media buy deals on behalf of large, multinational technology company focusing on e-commerce, cloud computing, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence (AI).
- Represented public biofuels company with patent portfolio purchase.
- Successfully closed a highly negotiated, complex, exclusive patent license agreement in the gene therapy space for public pharmaceutical company in conjunction with strategic acquisition of the licensee
- Represented semiconductor manufacturer in connection with obtaining an exclusive patent license in connection with high-performance programmable logic devices
- Represented public clean tech company with patent licensing in connection with international and domestic technology development and collaboration agreements
- Represented public biofuels company to develop a strategic partnership with large Indian bioenergy and critical process equipment company to produce biofuels for sale in Southeast Asian market
- Drafted and negotiated various forms of intellectual property-related agreements, including inbound and outbound patent and software license agreements, technology transfer agreements, distribution agreements, joint and independent development agreements, coexistence agreements, nondisclosure agreements, and trademark consent to use agreements
Intellectual Property and Technology Support for M&A Transactions
- Represented Trimble in connection with its formation of a multi-billion dollar precision agriculture joint venture with AGCO.
- Represented LiveRamp in its acquisition by Acxiom Corp.
- Represented Titan Aerospace in its acquisition by Google, Inc.
- Represented Imperial Parking Co. in its acquisition of Pacific Parking Management
- Partner with deals teams to drive corporate transactions by leading identification and resolution of IP issues, including: management and oversight of IP due diligence; counseling on and negotiating IP issues material to deal; drafting and negotiating ancillary IP-related agreements, such as transition services agreements and IP assignments; and post-closure integration of acquired company technology and recordation of relevant IP documents to reflect accurate ownership
- Counsel private and public company clients prior to strategic investments and/or acquisitions regarding IP ownership issues arising from use of employees and contractors for IP creation, and resolve material issues concerning IP ownership and use rights
Pro Bono
- Secured permanent status for deported veteran via successful Joint Motion to Reopen and Dismiss Removal Proceedings without Prejudice in collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security.
- Secured repatriation of deported veteran via successful petition to Department of Homeland Security’s ImmVets program.
- Secured the release of Cameroonian refugee from ICE detention in connection with habeas corpus petition to federal District Court of Minnesota
- Drafted Suggested List of Issues Prior to Review for an international human rights organization’s submission to 129th session of the U.N. Human Rights Committee regarding Islamic Republic of Iran’s Compliance with International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Treaty