Caris Life Sciences, one of the most closely watched players in the burgeoning precision medicine market, has brought aboard outside counsel Russ Denton as its first general counsel.

Russ Denton, GC of Caris Life Sciences. Courtesy photo

Precision medicine is a corner of health care that tailors diagnostics and treatments based on their genetic or molecular profiling. Claris analyzes DNA, RNA and proteins to reveal a molecular blueprint that helps physicians and cancer patients make more precise and personalized treatment decisions.

The Irving, Texas-based company has attracted $1.3 billion in external financing since 2018, including $830 million in a funding round last year that valued the business as $7.8 billion.

Denton comes to Caris from Shearman & Sterling, where he has been a partner for four years. Before that, he was a partner at Andrews Kurth Kenyon and an associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom.

"Caris is leading a revolution in healthcare with novel approaches to categorize, visualize and target disease in ways never before possible," Caris CEO David Halbert said in a statement. He said Denton's "strong guidance and counsel has served us well, and will be invaluable as we continue to advance our mission."