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Martin S. Chester

Partner

Overview

Marty is a Chambers-ranked attorney whose combination of trial experience and strategic insight make him a powerful ally for clients facing critical legal challenges. He excels before juries, judges and arbitrators, making him a trusted advocate in high-stakes litigation. Client feedback elicited by Chambers USA includes: “Marty is an exceptional litigator, adviser, and trusted partner. He thinks strategically about legal issues and how they impact the business, as well as business solutions to legal and quasi-legal issues.”

Trial Advocacy & Complex Commercial Disputes

Marty is a seasoned trial lawyer who understands that litigation must serve his client’s business needs. When complex litigation goes to trial, Marty is an experienced and effective first-chair advocate. He has tried cases and litigated disputes before courts and arbitration panels around the country on issues including trade secret misappropriation, breaches of restrictive covenants, commercial contracts, fiduciary duty disputes, business torts, and issues affecting securities broker-dealers. Before cases get to trial, Marty works with clients to craft litigation strategy, which has resulted in getting cases dismissed before trial, or leading opposing parties to settle the case. 

Trade Secret & Restrictive Covenant Litigation

Businesses regularly seek Marty’s help to protect their most important assets: information and people. Marty represents clients on both offense and defense, bringing affirmative litigation to safeguard trade secrets and enforce restrictive covenants, and defending against claims of misappropriation or covenant violations. His deep skill and experience enable Marty to navigate complex cases while protecting clients’ interests and ensuring their competitive edge.

Based on his litigation experience of seeing how disputes arise, Marty advises clients on proactive strategies to safeguard sensitive business information and implement effective restrictive covenants so that clients can minimize risks and fortify protections before disputes arise.

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

  • Chambers USA — Minnesota, Litigation: General Commercial, 2024-25
  • Minnesota Super Lawyers — Business Litigation, 2013-24; Rising Star, Business Litigation, 2012
  • Best Lawyers® — Commercial Litigation, 2019-25
  • Minnesota Lawyer — Attorneys of the Year, 2012
  • Faegre Drinker — Pro Bono Award, 2024
  • Faegre Drinker — Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2023-24
  • 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.