Interview with Stacy Feld

"Its really just been the result of a series of happy accidents." So states a modest Stacy Feld about her successful, nearly decade-long career in the healthcare industry, which has included stints in a molecular diagnostics company, one of the worlds most prominent biotechnology companies, and most recently, a VC firm investing in consumer-directed health and sustainable living.

Stacy credits Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, which she joined in 1998 after graduating from Vanderbilt Law School, with providing the foundation for her entry into the biotech and healthcare fields. It was by representing a diverse base of biotechnology and biopharmaceutical clients that Stacy deepened her scientific knowledge and discovered the rewards of representing companies whose vision is the discovery and development of life-saving products.

As first a summer associate and then a full-time associate in WSGRs technology transactions group (TTG), Stacy was involved with IP licensing transactions and strategic alliances for both public and private companies. In particular, she found the experience of advising biotech start-ups on their business strategies to be extremely satisfying as the companies businesses evolved and flourished. Another highlight was having the opportunity to join one of the firms corporate and securities teams for a biotech clients IPO. It was a fantastic learning experience and revealed a different side of the legal practice that I would not otherwise have had exposure to, she recalls.

Stacy cites Ken Clark and Ian Edvalson as mentors during her early legal career at the firm, and maintains close relationships with them to this day. The first piece of advice that Ken gave me about being a transactional attorney was to go read a stack of agreements, she says wryly. But, he gave me a lot of drafting opportunities, so I definitely credit him with my drafting skills and attention to detail.

In 2000, Stacy decided to join Third Wave Technologies, a molecular diagnostics start-up company that was one of her clients. Though she thoroughly enjoyed her work at the firm and was not initially interested in becoming an in-house attorney, Stacy was presented with a unique opportunity. I joined Third Wave as their director of licensing, with the possibility of transitioning into a broader role, she says. And, in fact, my position quickly evolved from a legal role into a business development role, in which I was not only responsible for in-licensing intellectual property to support product development, but also for sourcing and building strategic relationships with customers, collaborators, and suppliers.

After spending nearly four years at Third Wave, Stacy joined the business development group at Genentechalongside several other Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati alumnito gain experience in drug discovery and development and learn more about how diagnostic technologies are implemented in the drug-development process. There, she focused on sourcing and accessing novel therapies and diagnostics in oncology, immunology, ophthalmology, vascular biology, and metabolic diseases to strengthen Genentechs pipeline, and helped to drive the expansion of research and product development into new therapeutic areas.

When the announcement of Roches proposal to acquire the outstanding shares of Genentech was made last July, Stacy found herself being recruited by Physic Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on the convergence of technologies with consumer markets and investments in products and services enabling consumers to make more informed decisions about their health and their environment. Intrigued by Physics unique investment thesis and vision for her proposed role, as well as its excellent fit with her prior experience, she made the difficult decision to leave Genentech and join the company as a director this past January.

In my new role, I am responsible for exploring and making new investments in personalized medicine and predictive diagnostics, Stacy explains. Though Im just entering the venture community, what we do in terms of evaluating investments is not all that dissimilar to a buy-side business development or in-licensing deal. The difference is that instead of assessing the value of a particular asset, we focus more broadly on the entire company. A venture capital investment takes into account the companys leadership team and its capabilities as much as it does the business strategy and individual assets.

As she embarks on her new career in venture capital, Stacy is mindful of the importance of maintaining personal and professional relationships. As further evidence of this fact, she recently visited the firms Palo Alto office for a meeting with Ken, Ian, and a few other WSGR partners and associates to present Physic Ventures and to learn more about potential investment opportunities.

At the risk of sounding trite, the importance of the relationships built at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati cannot be underestimated, Stacy says. Although my time at the firm was somewhat abbreviated, during that time I built some of my most loyal and dedicated relationships, which have had an enduring impact on my personal and professional life. I look forward to reconnecting with many of my former WSGR colleagues and other alums in the future.

Stacy also counts technology transactions partner Sara Harrington among her close friends andwhen her schedule permitsoccasionally teams up with her to cater private parties and events. In fact, the two catered a TTG picnic at Foothill Park a few years back, at which Stacy was able to catch up with several of her former co-workers.

In addition to her budding catering career, Stacy devotes much of her spare time to serving on the board of trustees for the Northern California chapter of the Huntingtons Disease Society of America, a nonprofit organization that provides funding for research and services for families suffering with the disease. A resident of San Francisco, she also enjoys running, hiking, mountain climbing, and cycling.

When asked for the advice shed offer to fellow WSGR alumni, Stacy stresses the importance of keeping an open mind about pursuing new opportunities, even if at first glance they dont seem to fit a preconceived career path. While an opportunity may not initially sound like a good fit, it can make sense in the end, she says. Im a prime example of thisI cant say that I mapped out my career in healthcare, but the pieces all fit together really well now.