Sara Dastgheib-Vinarov – Tate & Lyle PLC

Sara Dastgheib-Vinarov is not your typical corporate attorney: she wears multiple legal and scientific hats as the global legal head of intellectual property & innovation at Tate & Lyle, a London-headquartered publicly listed company with a 165-year history of ingredient innovation. With over 4500 employees worldwide, Tate & Lyle is a leader in providing the food and beverage industry with solutions that make food healthier and tastier. At Tate & Lyle, Sara blends her deep scientific expertise with legal acumen to get people to work together to safeguard the company’s cutting-edge innovations.

Sara Dastgheib-Vinarov | Tate & Lyle PLC | Global Legal Head of IP & Innovation

With a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Notre Dame and a law degree from Marquette University, Sara is licensed to practice law in multiple states and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.  Sara uses her skills to analyze complex scientific advancements while assessing legal risks.  She operates seamlessly with her in-house clients at the intersection of science and law to significantly strengthen Tate & Lyle’s intellectual property strategy and build its innovation culture.

Sara firmly believes that “for any organization to be successful, its culture and strategy must be inextricably intertwined- like a DNA double helix!”

Born in Shiraz, Iran, and raised in the United States, Sara’s unique international perspective has been instrumental in her global role at Tate & Lyle. She has spent nearly 13 years helping the company facilitate business opportunities worldwide and mitigate risk by navigating super competitive, complex IP landscapes. She ensures the R&D and manufacturing innovations identified at the different centers of technical excellence are protected, defended, and monetized. Her approach is deeply collaborative, working closely with scientists, engineers, and business leaders to integrate IP considerations at every product lifecycle stage.

As one example of her collaborative leadership in safeguarding the company’s innovation, Sara instituted and personally conducted onboarding sessions with new scientists and engineers, ensuring they grasped the importance of IP protection from day one. The scientists then know who to turn to with IP developments, questions, or concerns.

Sara’s journey into law was shaped by her scientific training, which started in college when she worked as an undergraduate researcher studying Rhodium II chemical catalysis at Trinity University and the enzyme NADPH-CrytochromeP-450 reductase at the University of Texas Health Science Center.  After earning her biochemistry degree from Trinity University, she worked briefly in their Cardio-metabolic Division at Procter & Gamble before pursuing her Ph.D. in the University of Notre Dame’s integrated graduate program in “Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology.” Her experiences in research-intensive environments created her interest and laid the groundwork for her transition into intellectual property law.

“Understanding the complexities and nuances of scientific innovation from firsthand experience has enabled me to effectively advocate for our brilliant scientists and negotiate legal protections that drive strategic business initiatives,” she says.

Making IP a strategic asset

One of Sara’s most significant accomplishments at Tate & Lyle has been shifting the company’s IP function and mindset from a cost center to a revenue-generating asset. With 25 years of experience as a lawyer in law firms and in-house, she understands how to leverage IP as a powerful shield and a strategic tool for business growth.

By fostering an IP-conscious culture within the company, she has successfully turned legal challenges into profit-generating opportunities, negotiating complex, multi-party, international agreements and ensuring that Tate & Lyle’s innovations remain at the forefront of the industry. Her proactive and interdisciplinary approach has led to integrating IP considerations into multiple business functions, from R&D to sales and procurement.

Sara’s ability to speak the language of scientists has been a game-changer for Tate & Lyle. Unlike traditional attorneys who may struggle to grasp the technical nuances of scientific discovery, Sara’s technology background enables her to engage in efficient and meaningful scientific discussions with researchers – instead of playing a game of telephone between scientists and outside counsel.  Tate & Lyle benefit from her clear communication with both sides. This credibility and mutual respect have helped her establish a bridge between the legal and R&D teams to mitigate risk. She is also deeply involved in ensuring that IP considerations are baked into the innovation process. Sara has been proactive in embedding IP awareness and elevating the role of IP as a strategic business asset throughout the company, from junior scientists to C-suite executives.    Beyond curating and growing a high-impact IP portfolio at Tate & Lyle, Sara has played a key role in shaping external collaborations with university technology transfer offices and industry competitors. Her expertise has allowed her to transform legal challenges into business opportunities, turning potential threats into income-generating agreements and long-term win-win partnerships. Her reputation as a strong advocate and fierce negotiator is bolstered by her ability to break down highly technical scientific issues into legally sound and commercially viable strategies, making her an influential figure in the field of intellectual property.

One of the most notable ways Sara has driven commercial value through IP is by integrating patent protection and freedom to operate considerations early in product development. By working directly with R&D teams, she ensures that innovation is captured quickly, evaluated and then protected before it reaches the market, securing competitive advantages for Tate & Lyle. This proactive approach has led Tate & Lyle to a stronger, more valuable IP portfolio, making IP an integral part of the company’s commercial toolkit and, thus, financial strategy.

Building a culture of awareness

A firm believer in education and mentorship, Sara has spearheaded initiatives to train Tate & Lyle employees as IP Champions, embedding IP awareness across different functions from R&D to HR and finance. In her onboarding sessions with new scientists, she tailors her discussions to the scientists’ backgrounds and departments to ensure they understand the importance of protecting their work. Her proactive engagement extends beyond routine legal advice—she actively builds relationships with employees, making herself available for one-on-one training and group sessions, which help to spark and nurture a culture of innovation.

“This approach has led to an increased and higher quality of invention disclosures because more employees recognize the importance of safeguarding their discoveries – whether it results in a trade secret or patent filing,” she explains.

Sara’s global perspective also plays a critical role in her work. Having traveled extensively and worked with diverse teams across continents, she understands the nuances of cross-cultural communication and collaboration. Her strategic approach to nurturing a culture of innovation is rooted in her ability to build relationships, treat everyone respectfully, and be responsive. Sara is committed to acknowledging every employee’s email within 24 hours- even if it is simply to say thank you for your email.

As she says, “People simply want to be heard and know a meaningful response is forthcoming.” This level of dedication has made her not just a legal advisor but a trusted partner in the company’s innovation journey.

Being a mentor

Beyond her contributions to Tate & Lyle, Sara is passionate about mentoring the next generation of STEM professionals and seeding the next generation of IP champions. As a thought leader at the intersection of science and law, she also speaks regularly on IP-related issues. She collaborates with experts to explore the intersection of legal frameworks and emerging scientific breakthroughs. Over the years, her writing has been featured in peer-reviewed science journals and industry publications. In fact, as a junior lawyer, Sara was invited to the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C., to present her findings on options to harmonize global patent protection for structural genomics inventions.

“Getting invited to speak at the National Academies based on an article I wrote (in my free time) was one of the biggest highlights of my legal career,” Sara says.

In speaking at conferences, collaborating on articles that provide practical legal advice on trade secret protection, antitrust, CRISPR technology, and advising on complex agreements, she continues to push the boundaries of what it means to be a scientist-lawyer.

As an attorney who refuses to “stay in her lane,” Sara has taken on responsibilities beyond traditional IP work. She works closely with Tate & Lyle’s marketing, regulatory, and sustainability teams, ensuring that IP considerations are embedded in every aspect of the company’s business.

“Whether reviewing a press release or a presentation before a major trade show or advising on competitive legal risks associated with collaborating with a company or a new Idea for a product launch, I have elevated the IP role as an invaluable resource for multiple departments,” she notes.

Sara’s career exemplifies the power of continuous learning and interdisciplinary expertise. By bridging the worlds of science and law, she has played a vital role in securing Tate & Lyle’s place as an industry leader, ensuring its innovations remain protected, profitable, and impactful for years. Building a culture of innovation and transforming IP into a strategic advantage has made her a valuable part of Tate & Lyle’s continued success.

Whether guiding researchers in structuring their ideas for patent applications or navigating complex global legal frameworks, Sara remains a driving force in ensuring that Tate & Lyle’s pioneering advancements remain protected and commercially valuable.

Sara’s impact extends beyond the corporate world. As a mother of two independent young adults, she has instilled in her children the values of education, perseverance, and global citizenship.

Alongside her husband, a fellow foreign-born attorney (with a PhD in biochemistry and an MBA in finance), she has embraced an international perspective in her personal and professional life, recognizing the importance of cross-cultural understanding and respect in today’s interconnected world. Her ability to navigate complex technical, legal and business issues and build meaningful relationships worldwide has been a cornerstone of her success, making her a trailblazer in intellectual property law.