Jim Chester

Jim Chester is a Professor of Practice at the Cox School of Business, Southern Methodist University (SMU), teaching Business Law and Entrepreneurial Legal Strategies courses. He transitioned to full-time faculty after serving as an adjunct professor at Cox since 2019, following 20 years as an adjunct law professor at Baylor Law School and teaching roles at the University of Dallas and Texas A&M-Commerce.

His educational background includes:

• LL.M in International Business Law, University of Houston Law Center
• Juris Doctor, South Texas College of Law
• Bachelor's in Economic and Political Science, Texas A&M-Commerce

Professor Chester's expertise spans business law with specialized focus on technology transactions, startup legal frameworks, real estate risk management, and intellectual property. His practical industry experience informs his authorship of key legal handbooks including Transferring Intangibles: Playbook for Buying & Selling a Technology Based Business and Legal Playbook: Negotiating & Drafting Software Development Agreements, bridging academic theory with entrepreneurial application.

He founded VENTAC, an innovative subscription-based legal platform providing affordable resources for startups through tiered membership models (VENTAC CORE and VENTAC+), featuring legal forms, expert consultations, and discounted attorney services via a network of Provider Law Firms.

Active in civic leadership, Chester serves on the Heath City Council and Economic Development Corporation board. His entrepreneurial ventures include Chester's Grilling Blend (a nationally distributed spice product) and award-winning salsa that placed third in the State of Texas competition.