I advise entrepreneurs, start-ups and privately-held companies of all sizes in a variety of industries regarding trademark, copyright, and trade secret protection, licensing & enforcement in the US and abroad, and I regularly represent clients before the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the US Library of Congress (Copyright Office).

In addition, I assist companies in international business transactions and joint ventures. To date, I have advised clients on business deals involving almost 100 countries. I also coordinate with foreign counsel on legal projects around the world on behalf of U.S. clients, and serve as legal advisor to foreign companies doing business with or in the U.S.

To be an effective international business attorney, I must also have significant experience and expertise handling domestic business matters, including entity formations, transactions, acquisitions, and other legal issues commonly faced by my clients.

My international practice also involves advising clients regarding international trade regulations, including compliance and enforcement issues involving Customs/import and export laws, ITAR, and the FCPA. I have represented numerous clients before US Customs & Border Protection, US Department of Commerce, US Department of Defense Trade Controls, the Office of Foreign Asset Controls, the US International Trade Administration, and other state, federal and foreign governing bodies and agencies. In addition to being admitted to practice law in Texas and Washington, DC., I am a licensed US Customs Broker.

In addition to my work at the firm, I am an adjunct professor of law at Baylor University Law School, teaching courses on International Trade Law and International Business Transactions. I also previously served as an adjunct professor of Business Law at the University of Dallas.

Fellow, Dallas Bar Foundation (2010 - Present)
"Rising Stars Under 40," by Law & Politics Magazine published in Texas Monthly and Texas Rising Stars Magazines (2008, 2009)
"AV' Preeminent" Peer Review Rating by Martindale Hubbell'
Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation (2009 - Present)
Member, Texas Bar College (2008 - Present)
Alumni Ambassador Award, Texas A&M University, Commerce (1998)

Founder/Director, DARN Lawyers Network, (2004-Present)
Founder/Chairman, DFW-STCL Alumni Network, (2008-Present)
Member, Pro Bono College of the State Bar of Texas (2000-2004)
Member, State Bar of Texas (IP and International Law Sections)
Member, Dallas Bar Association
Member, District of Columbia Bar Association
Member, Customs & International Trade Bar Association
Member, International Trademark Association (INTA)
Member, American Intellectual Property Lawyer Assoc. (AIPLA)

"Financing Int'l Trade," International Small Business Development Center, Ft. Worth 2010
"Implementing an Effective FCPA Compliance Program," Texas Minority Counsel Program Annual Conference 2010
"Combating Counterfeits," 47th Ann. IP Law Conf., Cntr. for Amer. & Int'l Law, 2009
"Protecting IP in International Trade, Texas Bar Assn Annual Mtg., 2009
"Basic of Intellectual Property Protection," Collin County Bar Assn (Plano) 2009
"Domestic vs. Int'l Contracts," Inst. Supply Chain Mgmt. (San Antonio) 2009
"Keys to Int'l Trade Compliance," Inst. Supply Chain Mgmt. (Waco) 2008
"Export Controls and Technology," DBA Computer Law Section 2008
"Legal Aspect of Int'l Trade," Ft. Worth Int'l. Center 2008
"Financing Int'l Trade," Ft. Worth Int'l. Center 2008
"Keys to Int'l Trade Compliance" Inst. Supply Chain Mgmt. (Wichita, KS) 2008
"Overview of IP Law," Professionals Roundtable of Dallas 2007
"Overlap between IP and Trade Law," DBA Computer Law Section 2006

Co-author, "Proactive Approaches to the IP Licensing Process." Intellectual Property Licensing Strategies, 2011 ed.: Leading Lawyers on Edcuation Clients, Drafting Licensing Agreements, and resolving Disputes (Inside the Minds). (West, Aspatore Books 2010)
"Protecting Intellectual Property" eSide Supply Management (July/August 2009)
"Protecting IP in International Trade," (Headnotes, July 2009)
"PRO-IP to Target Counterfeiters," (Texas Lawyer, Feb 2, 2009
"Chester's Practical Guide to Int'l Trade Regulation" (Baylor Univ Law 2008)
"Comparing Int'l & Domestic Contracts," eSide Supply Management (Fall 2008)
Editor-In-Chief, Trade & Innovation Law Update (2003-Present)
"Convergence of IP and International Trade Law,"(Natl. Law Jrnl. 2005)
"Case Study: Potential Trademark Infringements"(Jrnl. of Bus. & Econ. Res., 2005)
"In the Zone: Creating Profits Thru Savings Using FTZs,"(Texas Lawyer, July 4, 2005)

Director, Dallas Housing Crisis Center (2008-Present)
Director, STCL Alumni Association, (2009-Present)
President, Lakewood Neighborhood Association (2005-2006)
Advisor, Global Business Program, University of Dallas (2004-2006)
Advisor, Foreign Trade Institute, University of Texas at Dallas (2005-2006)

State of Texas, 1997
District of Columbia Bar, 2004
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas, 1998
U.S. Court of International Trade, 1998

Immediately prior to joining the firm, I was a shareholder in a mid-sized downtown Dallas law firm, where I chaired both the IP and international business practice groups. I also previously worked in-house at a major multinational energy company, and for international business & intellectual property boutique law firms.

Following football (Pro, college & fantasy), politics and world events, minor league baseball, DIY projects around my home in Lakewood, tennis, and sailing. I also enjoy spending as much time as I can with my wife and four children.

J. F. (Jim) Chester

Courses Taught
International Business Transactions
International Trade Law