Darya’s love of science combined with her knowledge of intricate patent law concepts brings great value to the clients she serves. She enjoys the intellectual challenge of tackling cases involving complex inventions, and her creative approach to problem solving serves her well in drafting and prosecuting patents in the U.S. and abroad.

“Combining complex legal and technical concepts is often tricky, and I find great satisfaction and a deep sense of accomplishment in developing and articulating nuanced patentability arguments or breaking down complicated legal theories into an easily understandable explanation”.

Darya finds the best crafted patent strategies are products of a highly collaborative process between client and practitioner. She sees her role as not only to provide expertise in patent law, but also to ensure clients understand how their intellectual property fits into the greater legal landscape. By working closely together, both she and her client are in the best position to provide the insight necessary to devise a robust strategy and achieve the best results for protecting the client’s invention.

“While developing a deep understanding of the invention is crucial , I believe it is equally important that my clients understand the concepts and processes involved in patent law, which are often incredibly complex. For example, when an inventor is fully informed of the legal challenges we may face in obtaining patentable claims, they are better able to make strategic decisions or to offer expert knowledge as we brainstorm solutions. In turn, this allows me to develop an informed strategy that provides the strongest protection possible for their invention.”

Darya has extensive hands-on experience at the research bench. As a research associate at the RTI International Metabolomics Resource Core, she developed a metabolomics workflow to improve detection of drug-induced liver injury and studied the effects of protein kinase inhibitors on the cellular metabolism of acute myeloid leukemia cells. Darya’s graduate research included developing a large-scale behavior-based zebrafish screen for neuroactive drugs at the UCSF Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, as well as research on the physiological roles of activity-induced double-stranded DNA breaks in neurons at the Gladstone Institutes.

While at UCSF, Darya interned with the Office of Technology Management, where she facilitated university technology commercialization and IP management by analyzing novel technologies, assisting with patent applications, and conducting market intelligence research. With experience from both the research and business worlds, she is well-positioned to recognize the considerations of both perspectives and the interplay between them.

Darya’s practice includes all aspects of U.S. patent procurement, as well as coordinating foreign associates to obtain patent rights abroad. She also has experience in supporting freedom to operate analyses, analysis of third-party patents, and IP due diligence.