Martin S. Chester

Partner

Overview

Marty Chester is an experienced trial attorney who helps businesses protect some of their most valuable assets: information and people. Marty specializes in trade secret and restrictive covenant litigation. He also has extensive experience in helping clients solve disputes involving commercial contracts and business torts, and issues involving securities broker-dealers and other financial products.

Trade Secret and Restrictive Covenant Litigation

Marty has won noncompete cases in front of juries, at the injunction stage and on appeal. He helps clients nationwide enforce noncompetes and restrictive covenants, defend against claims of violating these covenants, and counsels clients on how to use noncompete agreements effectively. Marty also helps businesses protect their sensitive trade secrets, and has litigated cases nationwide involving claims of misappropriation of trade secrets.

Marty has particular experience seeking and defending against motions for injunctive relief and winning injunctions to enforce noncompete and nonsolicit agreements for clients. He is a chapter author on using noncompetes to protect trade secrets and goodwill in the acclaimed book, "The Secrets to Winning Trade Secret Cases" (Thomson West 2009).

Trial and Other Advocacy

When complex litigation goes to trial, Marty is an experienced and effective first-chair advocate. Comfortable before juries, judges and arbitrators, he persuasively presents clients’ cases, helping them achieve success in difficult situations. Marty is also an experienced advocate in pretrial proceedings, regularly arguing motions in federal and state courts.

Prior Experience

Before becoming an attorney, Marty worked as a legislative assistant to the late Congressman Martin Olav Sabo of Minnesota.

Personal Interests

Marty enjoys spending time with his wife and kids, biking around one of the many lakes of Minneapolis, and Star Trek.

Credentials

Bar Admissions

Minnesota

Court Admissions

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
U.S. Court of Federal Claims
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin

Clerkships

U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, Hon. John R. Tunheim, 2001-2003

Education

University of Chicago Law School
J.D. Law Review (2001)

Brown University
A.B. (1994)

Insights & Events

Other Perspectives
  • The Defend Trade Secrets Act: Trends & Developments in 2018
    Panelist, The Knowledge Group webcast, April 2018 
  • Trade Secrets as Part of the Decision Tree for Protecting Software Inventions
    Panelist, Licensing Executives Society Annual Meeting, October 2017
  • The Path to Defend the Trade Secrets Act
    State Bar of Wisconsin 11th Annual Intellectual Property Academy, July 2015
  • Non-Compete Advice and Litigation — Big Changes After Sysdyne
    Minnesota CLE, September 2015
  • Winning Your Non-Compete Case
    Hennepin County Bar Association, 2014

Leadership & Community

Pro Bono

  • Civil Rights
  • Volunteer Lawyers Network Housing Court Project
  • Habeas Corpus

Civic Activities

  • Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas — Past President
  • Twin Cities Cardozo Society — Steering Committee

Firm Leadership

  • Hiring Committee

Honors

  • Minnesota Super Lawyers — Business Litigation, 2013-23; Rising Star, Business Litigation, 2012
  • Best Lawyers® — Commercial Litigation, 2019-24
  • Minnesota Lawyer — Attorneys of the Year, 2012
  • Faegre Drinker — Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2023
  • Arthur T. Pfefer Memorial Award for outstanding leadership by a young lawyer — Twin Cities Cardozo Society, 2007
Awards Methodology
No aspect of these recognitions has been approved by the highest court of any state.
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