Darby Chan is Of Counsel in the San Francisco and Palo Alto offices of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati and a member of the firm’s patents and innovations practice. His practice is focused on patent prosecution and counseling in the healthcare life science sectors, particularly where engineering intersects.
For over a decade, he has formulated and implemented patent strategies for start-ups and growth enterprises in healthcare and life sciences, a practice which includes patent portfolio development, patent drafting and prosecution, formulating U.S. and foreign filing strategy, conducting freedom-to-operate and product clearance analyses, conducting patentability and patent validity analyses, preparing for and responding to IP due diligence, and supporting license negotiations and litigation. Darby also routinely supports his clients for various financing rounds, from seed stage financings to secondary public offerings, as well as for strategic acquisitions. Since 2019, he has been patent counsel for companies involved in over $1 billion worth of venture financing or acquisitions. He is also experienced with conducting IP due diligence on behalf of potential acquirers, investors, and strategic partners.
Darby’s interest and experience has been advising companies with novel technologies in biomedical imaging, diagnostics, digital health, research tools and instruments, and therapeutic medical devices, among others. He enjoys giving back to the life sciences ecosystem by providing guest lectures or coaching on intellectual property and patents to university entrepreneurship programs and groups of students or faculty, including for Stanford BioDesign, Stanford Bioengineering courses, and similar initiatives nationwide.
Darby Chan is Of Counsel in the San Francisco and Palo Alto offices of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati and a member of the firm’s patents and innovations practice. His practice is focused on patent prosecution and counseling in the healthcare life science sectors, particularly where engineering intersects.
For over a decade, he has formulated and implemented patent strategies for start-ups and growth enterprises in healthcare and life sciences, a practice which includes patent portfolio development, patent drafting and prosecution, formulating U.S. and foreign filing strategy, conducting freedom-to-operate and product clearance analyses, conducting patentability and patent validity analyses, preparing for and responding to IP due diligence, and supporting license negotiations and litigation. Darby also routinely supports his clients for various financing rounds, from seed stage financings to secondary public offerings, as well as for strategic acquisitions. Since 2019, he has been patent counsel for companies involved in over $1 billion worth of venture financing or acquisitions. He is also experienced with conducting IP due diligence on behalf of potential acquirers, investors, and strategic partners.
Darby’s interest and experience has been advising companies with novel technologies in biomedical imaging, diagnostics, digital health, research tools and instruments, and therapeutic medical devices, among others. He enjoys giving back to the life sciences ecosystem by providing guest lectures or coaching on intellectual property and patents to university entrepreneurship programs and groups of students or faculty, including for Stanford BioDesign, Stanford Bioengineering courses, and similar initiatives nationwide.
- J.D., The George Washington University Law School, 2012Editorial Staff Member, American Intellectual Property Law Association Quarterly Journal
- M.Eng., Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, 2007
- B.S., Bioengineering: Biotechnology, University of California, San Diego, 2006
- Member, Intellectual Property Law Section, California Bar Association
- Member, Business Law Section, California Bar Association
- State Bar of California
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
- J.D., The George Washington University Law School, 2012Editorial Staff Member, American Intellectual Property Law Association Quarterly Journal
- M.Eng., Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, 2007
- B.S., Bioengineering: Biotechnology, University of California, San Diego, 2006
- Member, Intellectual Property Law Section, California Bar Association
- Member, Business Law Section, California Bar Association
- State Bar of California
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Select Representations
- Neo Medical (AR driven spinal surgery) through its September 2024 Series B financing of up to $68 million.
- Novo Holdings in its July 2024 $105 million financing of Magenta Medical (heart pump).
- Novo Holdings in its May 2024 acquisition of a majority stake in Single Use Support (pharmaceutical production process tools).
- Fractyl Health (metabolic disease device therapeutic) through its January 2024 initial public offering raising $110 million.
- Aquea Health (therapeutic ophthalmic device) through its August 2023 Series A financing of $7 million.
- SmartLens (diagnostic ophthalmic device) through its April 2023 Series A financing of $6 million.
- Nalu Medical (neurostimulation for pain) through its February 2022 Series B financing of $104 million.
- Rani Therapeutics (biologics delivery pill) through its August 2021 initial public offering raising $73 million.
- Exo Imaging (point-of-care ultrasound) through its August 2020 Series B financing of $40 million and July 2021 Series C financing of $220 million.
- Ceribell (EEG) through its April 2021 Series C financing for $53 million.
- Earlens (hearing aid) through its January 2021 Series B financing for $33 million and August 2021 Series C financing for $21 million.
- Cardiva Medical (vascular closure) through its January 2021 acquisition by Haemonetics for $475 million upfront and $35 million in milestone payments.
- Nine Continents Medical (neurostimuation for incontinence) through its November 2020 acquisition by Coloplast for $145 million upfront and further milestone payments.
Select Representations
- Neo Medical (AR driven spinal surgery) through its September 2024 Series B financing of up to $68 million.
- Novo Holdings in its July 2024 $105 million financing of Magenta Medical (heart pump).
- Novo Holdings in its May 2024 acquisition of a majority stake in Single Use Support (pharmaceutical production process tools).
- Fractyl Health (metabolic disease device therapeutic) through its January 2024 initial public offering raising $110 million.
- Aquea Health (therapeutic ophthalmic device) through its August 2023 Series A financing of $7 million.
- SmartLens (diagnostic ophthalmic device) through its April 2023 Series A financing of $6 million.
- Nalu Medical (neurostimulation for pain) through its February 2022 Series B financing of $104 million.
- Rani Therapeutics (biologics delivery pill) through its August 2021 initial public offering raising $73 million.
- Exo Imaging (point-of-care ultrasound) through its August 2020 Series B financing of $40 million and July 2021 Series C financing of $220 million.
- Ceribell (EEG) through its April 2021 Series C financing for $53 million.
- Earlens (hearing aid) through its January 2021 Series B financing for $33 million and August 2021 Series C financing for $21 million.
- Cardiva Medical (vascular closure) through its January 2021 acquisition by Haemonetics for $475 million upfront and $35 million in milestone payments.
- Nine Continents Medical (neurostimuation for incontinence) through its November 2020 acquisition by Coloplast for $145 million upfront and further milestone payments.
SELECT PUBLICATIONS:
- Contributor, “Managing IP Development and Capture at a Growing MedTech Start-Up,” The Life Sciences Report, Summer 2021
- Co-author with D. Portnow, "Utility Models and Design Patents: What You Should Know," The Life Sciences Report, Winter 2017
- Co-author with D. Portnow, "How to Expedite Examination of a Patent Application," The Life Sciences Report, Fall 2013
SELECT PUBLICATIONS:
- Contributor, “Managing IP Development and Capture at a Growing MedTech Start-Up,” The Life Sciences Report, Summer 2021
- Co-author with D. Portnow, "Utility Models and Design Patents: What You Should Know," The Life Sciences Report, Winter 2017
- Co-author with D. Portnow, "How to Expedite Examination of a Patent Application," The Life Sciences Report, Fall 2013
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