Innovation – Chester Law

Apr 24

Chester named Chair of EDCC’s “Entrepreneur & Innovation Committee”

By Jim Chester Blog, Community, Innovation, News

The Greater East Dallas Chamber of Commerce (EDCC) has formed a new Entrepreneur and Innovation Committee (E&I).

The new committee was recently created to reach a broader audience within the East Dallas community and meet the growing networking and information-sharing needs of the community’s entrepreneurs in the IT/technical and creative industries.

Chamber member Jim Chester, a Lakewood area attorney and founder of Chester & Jeter LLP, was named the founding chairman of the new E&I Committee.

“I was thrilled when Jim came to me with his ideas,” said Chamber Chair Darlene Ellison. “His vision includes tapping into the growing population of entrepreneurs in the Greater East Dallas community who are in the technology and creative industries, and providing networking to increase business opportunity synergies amongst the members. Jim is the perfect Chamber member to lead the charge.”

The Entrepreneur and Innovation (E&I) Committee was formed to announce to the local and regional business community that East Dallas is a hub of innovation and entrepreneurship by spotlighting area start-ups and emerging companies, as well as innovation-based companies and resources. By “Innovation”, the Committee intends to encompass two distinct yet interrelated areas: technical (IT, ecommerce, computers, software, etc.) as well as creative (PR, advertising, graphic design, web design, photographers, fashion, writers, etc.) innovators.

Of the new E&I Committee, Chester states: “I am excited to be a part of this initiative of the Chamber. There are already a number of entrepreneurs and innovative companies located in (or with ties to) East Dallas, so one of our primary roles will be to provide opportunities and places for these folks to gather, network, share ideas, and get assistance, resources and support. Once folks see what the Chamber has to offer entrepreneurs and innovators like themselves, I expect that many will not only want to join the Chamber, but will get involved in the E&I Committee and its projects, as well as other Chamber activities – bringing new ideas and energy along with them.”

“As an additional benefit,” adds Chester, “we hope that, by showcasing East Dallas as a hub of innovation and entrepreneurship, we will encourage more companies to start or relocate their operations to the area.

“As the E&I Committee grows and evolves, we expect to implement a number of initiatives over the next few years,” Chester declared. “But our present focus is to start with a couple of core projects, build some momentum, and then go from there.”

The E&I Committee is off to a fast start: it has already launched a mentor program in coordination with the Chamber’s Young Professionals group to match emerging innovators and entrepreneurs with more experienced business professionals.

In addition, the E&I Committee is currently promoting its inaugural “E&I”-centric happy hour networking event on May 28th at Times 10 Cellars. Also in May, the E&I Committee is providing the an entrepreneur-oriented speaker and topic for the EDCC’s Brown Bag Lunch Series at C.C. Young on May 16th. Similar additional events are planned later in 2014.

Some proposed projects include The Entrepreneur And Start-Up Training Development Sessions (or “E.A.S.T.”) which will provide training for start-up businesses to go from “idea to enterprise” to include entity formation, tax issues, banking/accounting etc. A second, more advanced level of training would help people manage growth and handle “next stage” development issues such as office space, employees, branding, IT, etc.

Future plans include more ambitious projects such as partnerships with area schools in the promotion of the entrepreneurship and innovative careers, annual EDCC awards for area innovators and entrepreneurs, and even the establishment of an East Dallas innovation-oriented business incubator.

About the EDCC. The Greater East Dallas Chamber works to promote the civic, cultural, business and educational interests in the East Dallas area. For more information www.eastdallaschamber.com.

About Chester & Jeter LLP. Chester & Jeter LLP is a Dallas, Texas law firm providing comprehensive legal services to innovation-based companies doing business in the US, around the world, and on the web. Its mission (and passion) is helping entrepreneurs and emerging companies solve problems and protect their interests. Chester & Jeter LLP delivers value by providing business-savvy, cost-effective solutions to legal challenges. The firm offers a wide array of business legal solutions, such as business entity formation (LLCs, corporations, etc.), trademarks and other intellectual property, technology transactions, contracts, ecommerce, employment law and dispute resolution. Additional information about the firm and its attorneys may be found at www.chester-law.com

Apr 23

Jim Chester Named to D Magazine “Best Lawyers in Dallas” List

By Jim Chester Innovation, Intellectual Property, News

Jim Chester Named to D Magazine “Best Lawyers in Dallas” List

J. F. (Jim) Chester, founding partner in the Dallas-based business & innovation law firm of Chester & Jeter LLP has been selected for inclusion in D Magazine’s 2014 list of “Best Lawyers in Dallas.”

Chester will be listed in the computer and technology law practice section, although his practice also covers a broad range of intellectual property, business, technology and international transactional matters.

Chester stated, “There are a number of lists and awards out there, but this one is of special significance because it is based on recommendations from colleagues in the Dallas legal community. To be recognized by such an esteemed group of legal professionals in my own city is truly an honor.”

About Chester & Jeter LLP

Chester & Jeter LLP is a Dallas, Texas law firm providing comprehensive legal services to innovation-based companies doing business in the US, around the world, and on the web. Its mission (and passion) is helping entrepreneurs and emerging companies solve problems and protect their interests. Chester & Jeter LLP delivers value by providing business-savvy, cost-effective solutions to legal challenges. The firm offers a wide array of business legal solutions, such as business entity formation (LLCs, corporations, etc.), trademarks and other intellectual property, technology transactions, contracts, ecommerce, employment law and dispute resolution. Additional information about the firm and its attorneys may be found at www.chester-law.com

Feb 26

An 18-Wheeler with better Gas Mileage than your SUV?

By Jim Chester Blog, Innovation, Intellectual Property, International Business, News

Pedestrians passing by the Energy Department headquarters in Washington, D.C., on February 19 saw quite a strange sight—an ultra-modern 18-wheeler, Class 8 tractor-trailer parked outside the headquarters building. This is no ordinary truck—it’s called a SuperTruck, a demonstration vehicle that is part of the Energy Department’s SuperTruck initiative. This program’s goal is to develop tractor-trailers that are 50% more efficient than baseline models by 2015.

The truck on display, developed by heavy-duty manufacturers Cummins and Peterbilt, has exceeded this goal. Since 2010, the truck has demonstrated a 20% increase in engine efficiency and a 70% increase in freight efficiency, reaching over 10 miles per gallon under real world driving conditions on a Class 8 tractor-trailer. In comparison, an average Class 8 truck typically gets 5.8 miles to the gallon. This accomplishment is so impressive that the SuperTruck served as a backdrop to President Obama’s announcement of new fuel economy standards for heavy-duty vehicles.

Improving the efficiency of long-haul tractor-trailers is one of the many ways that the United States can reduce the amount of petroleum we use and the carbon pollution we produce. Commercial trucks, which include Class 8 vehicles, haul as much as 80% of the goods transported in the country. Although they only make up 4% of vehicles on the road, they use about 20% of the fuel consumed. For the complete story, see the EERE Blog

SOURCE: US Dept of Energy

Dec 15

EU Proposes New Law on Protection of Trade Secrets

By Jim Chester Innovation, Intellectual Property, International IP

On November 28, 2013, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a new directive on the protection of undisclosed know-how and business information (trade secrets) against their unlawful acquisition, use, and disclosure. Trade secrets, otherwise known as “confidential business information” or “undisclosed information,” are used by a large number of companies to safeguard a wide range of different information, including, for example, such things as the manufacturing process of Michelin tires, the technology and know-how used in Airbus aircraft, and Google’s search algorithm. (Press Release, European Commission, Commission Proposes Rules to Help Protect Against the Theft of Confidential Business Information (Nov. 28, 2013).)

According to a survey, one in five companies in the European Union has been beset by at least one attempt of trade secret theft during the last ten years. In general, trade secrets do not enjoy the same legal protection as inventions, because no exclusive right applies to the confidential information. At present, some EU members have no specific law on the protection of trade secrets while others have differing rules in place.

The proposed directive is designed to harmonize common rules on trade secrets across the EU by establishing a common definition of trade secrets and to facilitate access to national courts for victims of abuse of trade secrets, in order to allow them to seek redress. Among the remedial measures available, in addition to monetary compensation, will be the removal of trade secret infringing products from the market.

The proposal will be submitted to the Council of the EU and the Parliament for review and adoption.

SOURCE: US Library of Congress, Global Legal Monitor

Sep 15

Homeland Security Launches Smart Phone App to Locate Suspect Child Predators

By Jim Chester Grab Bag, Innovation

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is launching a new smartphone app – the first of its kind in U.S. federal law enforcement – designed to seek the public’s help with fugitive and unknown suspect child predators. All tips can be reported anonymously through the app, by phone or online, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The most urgent case involves an unidentified man wanted for producing child pornography involving the sexual abuse of a 10 to 12-year-old girl. This “John Doe” is an unknown suspect and is believed to be living somewhere in the United States or Canada, but he could be anywhere in the world. The first video file was discovered by Interpol and submitted to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children in 2006. The full series was last seen by HSI special agents in Los Angeles in 2013 during execution of a search warrant. The four videos show the prepubescent girl being sexually abused by an adult male with short brown hair and blue eyes. In the videos, the offender has a full beard and wears glasses. Both he and the child are seen in a room with wood paneled walls with framed photos, a black computer, desk with sewing machine and brown patterned curtains.

In addition to profiling John Doe cases like this, the new smartphone app contains photos and information about known fugitives in HSI criminal cases involving sexually abused and exploited children.

“When children are being sexually abused and exploited, it’s a race against the clock to rescue the child and bring the predator to justice,” said ICE Acting Director John Sandweg. “These investigations are one of our highest priorities, and in today’s world, we need to be technologically savvy and innovative in our approach.”

ICE’s Office of Public Affairs developed the app with special agents from HSI’s Cyber Crimes Center (C3)and field offices across the country in order to seek the public’s help with information about child predators wanted for criminal prosecution.

“The creation and launch of this application provides ICE another useful tool to reach the public,” said ICE Director of Public Affairs Brian Hale. “We recognize that people receive a great deal of information on their mobile devices and we are hopeful that this app will encourage them to submit tips about suspects and to learn more about our work investigating child exploitation crimes.”

The Operation Predator App enables those who download it to receive alerts about wanted predators, to share the information with friends via email and social media tools, and to provide information to HSI by calling or submitting an online tip. Additionally, the app enables users to view news about arrests and prosecutions of child predators and additional resources about ICE and its global partners in the fight against child exploitation.

Currently, the app can be downloaded from Apple’s App Store or iTunes. ICE is also planning to expand compatibility to other smartphones in the near future.

HSI is requesting that anyone with information about John Doe or the other fugitives profiled to contact the agency in one of two ways: Call the ICE Tip Line, which is staffed 24-hours a day: (866) 347-2423 from the U.S. & Canada or (802) 872-6199 from anywhere in the world, or complete an online tip form atwww.ice.gov/tips/.

Individuals should not attempt to apprehend the suspect personally.

HSI’s Victim Identification Program seeks to rescue child victims of sexual abuse and exploitation and bring the perpetrators to justice.

These investigations are part of Operation Predator, a nationwide HSI initiative to protect children from sexual predators, including those who travel overseas for sex with minors, Internet child pornographers, criminal alien sex offenders and child sex traffickers. HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-347-2423 or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-843-5678.

HSI is a founding member and current chair of the Virtual Global Taskforce, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse.

SOURCE: ICE

Jul 04

CHESTER pllc Declares Independence

By Jim Chester Innovation, Internet / eCommerce, News

In keeping with the spirit of July 4^th, Dallas-based business & innovation law firm CHESTER pllc is “declaring independence … from paper.”

The Dallas-based global business & innovation law firm of CHESTER pllc is pleased to announce that it will begin to exclusively (to the extent possible) use e-signatures starting July 4, 2013. These e-signatures will be used on all firm documents.

For the past several months, the firm has been beta testing various services, and chose July 4^th to formally adopt an e-signature based system.

The firm has been low-paper since its inception, and has evaluated new paperless technologies once they have become available and been proven reliable. Hosted servers, scan and shred policies, paperless invoicing, and other similar paper-free options have been adopted over the years. Using e-signatures will further transform the way the company handles documents that need to be signed and move it one step closer to become a truly “paperless” law firm.

Jim Chester, CHESTER pllc’s CEO and founding principal, says, “The practice of law is constantly changing, and we are proud to be pioneers in that regard. We seek to offer an alternative to large, expensive firms by providing quality legal services for the core legal issues faced by technology and innovation-based clients at a reasonable cost. Adopting state-of-the-art technology maximizes the quality of service that we can provide to our clients and helps us cut costs, which translate into savings that are passed onto our clients.”

“Going paperless helps us reduce costs, space, and our environmental footprint, while creating a document control system that is reliable, searchable, and scalable” said the attorney.

In addition to its adoption of cutting-edge paper-reduction technologies, CHESTER pllc also utilizes cloud-based servers, hosted phone service, AppleTV based presentation screens that can beam wirelessly from Macbook Airs. Breaking from traditional law practices, CHESTER pllc keeps all client records in a digital format, which makes files easy to sort and search, and ultimately maximizes efficiency.

This step towards becoming a ‘paperless’ law firm reinforces the CHESTER pllc mantra of being ‘innovative legal counsel for innovative companies,” Chester adds.

CHESTER pllc is a Dallas, Texas law firm providing comprehensive legal services to innovation-based companies doing business in the US, around the world, and on the web. Its mission (and passion) is helping entrepreneurs and emerging companies solve problems and protect their interests. CHESTER pllc delivers value by providing business-savvy, cost-effective solutions to legal challenges. The firm offers a wide array of business legal solutions, such as business entity formation (LLCs, corporations, etc.), trademarks and other intellectual property, technology transactions, contracts, ecommerce and dispute resolution. Additional information about the firm and its attorneys may be found at www.chester-law.com.

Feb 01

Jim Chester Speaks at DISD’s Career Day Event

By Jim Chester Blog, Community, Innovation, Intellectual Property, International Business, News

Jim Chester explains "intellectual property" to first graders using a "Star Wars" branded notepad as an example

J. F. (Jim) Chester, founding partner in the Dallas-based business and intellectual property law firm of CHESTER pllc, recently spoke to students at Lakewood Elementary School as part of in Dallas Independent School District’s (DISD) career day event.

Chester, whose law practice involves commercial IP, technology transactions and international business/trade matters, also teaches courses on International Trade Law and International Business Transactions at Baylor University Law School. Chester spoke to a class of first graders and fifth graders about his practice, educational background and experience.

“At CHESTER pllc, we believe in the power of innovation and creative thinking,” notes Chester. “We strive to help our clients, our team members, and our community innovate. Participating in community service events such as DISD career day is a vital part of our firm’s mission.”

About CHESTER pllc

CHESTER pllc is a Dallas, Texas law firm providing comprehensive legal services to innovation-based companies doing business in the US, around the world, and on the web. Its mission (and passion) is helping entrepreneurs and emerging companies solve problems and protect their interests. CHESTER pllc delivers value by providing business-savvy, cost-effective solutions to legal challenges. The firm offers a wide array of business legal solutions, such as business entity formation (LLCs, corporations, etc.), trademarks and other intellectual property, technology transactions, domestic and international contracts, and e-commerce matters. Additional information about the firm and its attorneys may be found at www.chester-law.com.