© 2013 The Texas Lawbook.
By Natalie Posgate
Staff Writer for The Texas Lawbook
Jones Day is the first law firm to commit significant support to Dallas’ new think-tank for startup businesses: the Dallas Entrepreneur Center.
The Dallas Entrepreneur Center (DEC) opened in June to support and grow local startup businesses. It offers low-cost office space, discounted PR services and coordinated events, programs and training to startups that need help launching their new businesses off the right foot.
Jones Day is a “Circle of Innovation” sponsor, which means the firm has committed two years of capital support and industry-specific expertise, including classes for members and pro bono legal services to the DEC.
According to Hilda Galvan, a Dallas partner who practices IP litigation at Jones Day, classes are set to begin at the DEC next week. Senior associates and young partners from the firm will teach startups about common business structures and legal issues associated with businesses such as tax and IP issues.
Galvan said the sponsorship reaps multiple benefits. In addition to exposing young Jones Day attorneys to startups and providing the firm more pro bono opportunities, the sponsorship supports the entire Dallas community and economy.
“Creating and supporting innovation in the Dallas community is important to the community as a whole,” said Galvan, who was an early advocate for establishing the sponsorship. “If you can [make] the startup community successful, then the City of Dallas benefits on all levels.”
She added that this support will also help the Dallas legal community in the long run.
“The hope is that these small businesses will be successful, and when that happens it creates opportunities for law firms to represent them on new deals,” Galvan said.
Jones Day decided to become a Circle of Innovation sponsor after the Dallas Regional Chamber – which the firm is heavily involved with – became one. Galvan said some of the firm’s attorneys are on the Chamber’s Innovation & Capital Committee, which aims to connect technical and capital leaders in North Texas in hopes of increasing technology jobs and capital in the Dallas community.
Other Circle of Innovation sponsors include The Dallas Morning News and Dallas venture capital firm Trailblazer Capital, among others.
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