Sue Mclean

Sue McLean

Partner
Baker & McKenzie LLP

Biography

Sue is a partner in Baker McKenzie's IP, Data and Technology team based in London. Sue advises on complex technology and commercial deals and projects.

Sue has advised on technology projects for over 24 years. She advises on strategic technology deals including cloud, outsourcing, digital transformation and development and licensing. She also advises on a range of legal and regulatory issues relating to the development and roll-out of new technologies including AI, blockchain/DLT and crypto-assets. Sue is a key member of our global AI practice and leads on responsible AI governance and AI related transactional projects at the firm.

Sue co-leads our Commercial practice in London. On the commercial side, Sue's practice involves advising on a range of strategic commercial agreements including supply and distribution agreements, manufacturing agreements, warehousing and logistics agreements, IP licensing and assignment agreements, joint development agreements, collaboration agreements and franchising agreements. She also supports clients in preparing terms of business and related documentation for new offerings and coordinating global roll-outs.

Sue also co-leads our transactional practice in London supporting our Corporate teams and providing strategic support on the commercial, technology and intellectual property aspects of M&A transactions, including advising on complex and strategic ancillary commercial, IP and transitional agreements related to acquisitions, disposals, carve-outs and JVs.

Sue is ranked as a leading lawyer in Chambers for Information Technology & Outsourcing and Fintech Legal and in Legal500 for IT & Telecoms, TMT, Commercial Contracts and Fintech. Clients say of Sue: "She is pragmatic and focused on getting a sensible deal done" and "She quickly builds relationships with ease and leverages her network to gain valuable insight. Her knowledge of technology and the impact of existing and upcoming laws is evident. Her professionalism builds trust and we have been grateful for her responsiveness on urgent matters".

Practice Focus

Sue's practice involves advising clients across a range of sectors including TMT, healthcare, financial services, consumer goods and retail, EMI and IMT.

Sue is a key member of our global financial services industry group. She is also an active member of our HLS and CGR industry groups.

Sue is vice chair and a trustee of the Society for Computers and Law and founder and chair of the SCL Women in Tech Law network.

Representative Legal Matters

Technology and Digital

  • Advising a service provider to the financial services sector on its use and development of AI and GenAI including advising on IP considerations, vendor due diligence and updates to its approach to contracting, both with its vendors and financial services institutions.
  • Advising a luxury goods brand on AI law and regulation across the world, vendor due diligence questionnaires and key contract clauses for use when procuring AI systems and when procuring services which may involve the vendor’s use of AI systems.
  • Acting as go-to adviser for various healthcare companies on their AI governance frameworks including advising on their policies, procedures, risk assessments, contract terms and related issues.
  • Advising a global consumer goods company on its global AI governance framework, including advising on its AI policy, and developing standard operating procedures, risk assessment template and standard contract terms.
  • Advising a real estate sector company on its global AI governance framework including advising on their policies, procedures, risk assessments, contract terms and related issues.
  • Advised a digital platform on the international roll out of a new offering and related customer terms and payment services agreements.
  • Advised a leading global advisory, broking and solutions company, on its strategic participation in a blockchain platform for marine insurance, including advising on the licence agreement with the platform provider.
  • Advised a leading card scheme on its agreement with a UK bank for a new service offering, its standard terms for the offering and related compliance with EBA and PRA outsourcing rules.
  • Advised a Middle East investment company on its partnership with a global bank and technology provider to provide a new service offering to customers.
  • Advised a leading banking as a service provider on its standard services agreements, contracts with customers and compliance with outsourcing rules across a range of jurisdictions.
  • Advised a leading blockchain company on a range of commercial, corporate and regulatory matters.
  • Advised a range of customers and service providers in the financial service sector on
    their cloud and outsourcing deals and partnership and consortia projects, including strategic projects involving digital transformation, AI and blockchain.
  • Advised various customers on merchant agreements, payment services agreements and related platform terms.

Cloud and Sourcing

  • Advised a leading investment bank on a series of data centre services deals.
  • Advised a leading Swiss investment bank on its global cloud deals with AWS and Microsoft.
  • Advised a cloud vendor to the financial services sector in connection with SAAS agreements with various clients and product counselling support including in relation to DORA and AI.
  • Advised a cloud vendor to the financial services sector in connection with a range of product counselling support.
  • Advised a leading CRM services provider on DORA compliance.
  • Advised a global outsourcing provider on a series of IT outsourcing deals across the financial service sector.

Commercial

  • Advising a global manufacturing company on a broad range of indirect procurement agreements including IT, marketing, training and consultancy agreements under a managed service.
  • Run a global commercial managed services arrangement for a leading telecoms company covering a broad range of commercial and regulatory matters.
  • Advised PIF on a strategic tyre manufacturing agreement with leading Italian tyre manufacturer, Pirelli, relating to a joint venture between PIF and Pirelli concerning the establishment of a tyre manufacturing plant in KSA.
  • Advised a leading healthcare company on key transitional distribution and manufacturing agreements relating to the disposal of a consumer brand.
  • Advised a leading automative company on its partnership agreements with leading financial institutions concerning the offering of certain financing solutions to customers in Europe.
  • Advised a hotel group in relation to multiple commercial contracts (management services agreements, sub-franchise agreements and transitional services agreement) in connection with the disposal of various hotels.
  • Advised a leading fast service company on its UK franchise arrangements.

Corporate Transactions

  • Advised Ahli United Bank on its acquisition of Citi’s entire consumer banking business in Bahrain.
  • Advised S&P Global on the acquisition of Shades of Green business from Cicero.
  • Advised Revolut on the acquisition of ePOS software provider Nobly.
  • Advised Tencent on its investment in UK digital bank Monzo.
  • Advised Affirm on its acquisition of a buy now pay later company.
  • Advised Bank of China on its proposed acquisition of a European investment.
  • Advised Unilever on its acquisition of GSK's Health Food Drinks business.
  • Advised Diversey on its acquisition of Zenith Hygiene Group plc.
  • Advised PUIG on its acquisition of Dr Barabara Sturm skincare brand.
  • Advised a technology company on a series of acquisitions of technology companies in Europe.

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • Society for Computers & Law
  • Journal of Digital Banking - Member of Editorial Board

Admissions

  • England & Wales~United Kingdom (2000)

Education

  • College of Law at York (LPC) (1998)
  • University of Leeds (Law Degree) (1997)

Languages

  • English
  • French