Darby Chan
Partner
Darby Chan focuses his practice on patent prosecution and strategic IP counseling for health care and life sciences companies, particularly at the intersection of engineering and medicine. He advises clients on building, protecting, and leveraging patent portfolios that support product development, financing, and long-term growth.
For almost two decades, Darby has worked with start-ups and emerging growth companies across the health care and life sciences ecosystem, guiding them through all aspects of patent strategy. His experience includes patent portfolio development, drafting and prosecuting U.S. and international patent applications, formulating domestic and foreign filing strategies, and conducting freedom-to-operate, patentability, and validity analyses. His work spans a wide range of novel technologies, including biomedical imaging, robotic surgery, neurotechnology, diagnostics, digital health, research tools and instruments, and therapeutic medical devices, including drug-device combinations.
Darby also routinely supports clients through financing events ranging from seed-stage rounds to secondary public offerings, as well as strategic acquisitions. He has served as patent counsel to companies involved in more than $2 billion in venture financings or acquisitions since 2021 and regularly conducts IP due diligence on behalf of potential acquirers, investors, and strategic partners.
In addition to his client work, Darby regularly provides guest lectures and coaching on intellectual property and patent topics for university entrepreneurship programs, including Stanford BioDesign, Stanford Bioengineering courses, and similar initiatives nationwide.
Representative Experience
- Represented ARTIS Ventures in its expanded Series A financing of Luminate, raising US$21m.*
- Represented Galvanize Therapeutics in its Series C financing of US$100m.*
- Represented Eight Sleep in its Series D financing of US$100m.*
- Represented Pulnovo Medical in its Series C financing of US$100m and its investment by EQT Group.*
- Represented Evidity Health Capital in its Series D financing of GT Medical Technologies, raising US$37m.*
- Represented Gynesonics in its acquisition by Hologic for US$350m.*
- Represented Bolt Medical in its acquisition by Boston Scientific for US$600m upfront, with up to US$300m in milestone payments.*
- Represented Neo Medical in its Series B financing of up to US$68m.*
- Represented Novo Holdings in its financing of Magenta Medical for US$105m and its acquisition of a majority stake in Single Use Support.*
- Represented Fractyl Health in its initial public offering, raising US$110m.*
- Represented Aquea Health in its Series A financing of US$7m.
- Represented SmartLens in its Series A financing of US$6m.*
- Represented Nalu Medical in its Series B financing of US$104m.*
- Represented Rani Therapeutics in its initial public offering, raising US$73m.*
- Represented Exo Imaging in its Series B financing of US$40m and its Series C financing of US$220m.*
- Represented Ceribell in its Series C financing of US$53m.*
- Represented Earlens in its Series B financing of US$33m and its Series C financing of US$21m.*
- Represented Cardiva Medical in its acquisition by Haemonetics for US$475m upfront, with US$35m in milestone payments.*
- Represented Nine Continents Medical in its acquisition by Coloplast for US$145m upfront, with additional milestone payments.*
*Matters handled prior to joining Foley.
Affiliations
- Member, California Bar Association, Intellectual Property Law Section
- Member, California Bar Association, Business Law Section