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Jonathan Askin

Jonathan Askin

Community Development

Neighborhood:

Boroughwide

Jonathan Askin devotes his career to enabling would-be Brooklyn innovators and entrepreneurs turn their ideas into sustainable ventures. He has been a tireless advocate for Brooklyn's tech startups.

About This Do Gooder:

In 2008, Jonathan started the Brooklyn Law Incubator & Policy (BLIP) Clinic), a program at Brooklyn Law School in which Jonathan and his law students provide free legal support Brooklyn based startups, who otherwise could not turn their ideas into sustainable ventures. The devastating effects of the financial crisis on New York's economy highlights the need to diversify and support innovation and entrepreneurship in Brooklyn. Without the free, creative legal support of Jonathan and his students, many of the potential entrepreneurs in Brooklyn would be hard pressed to proceed with their ventures. Jonathan also serves as an advocate for the otherwise powerless tech startups before government agencies to ensure that government crafts policy that encourages sustainable innovation and entrepreneurship, particularly for under-served communities.

Community Impact:

BLIP provides routine and first-impression legal support and business guidance to startups, including incorporations, contract drafting, web documentation, intellectual property protection, government and other policy advocacy and litigation support. Over the past two years, BLIP has served more than 100 clients who are advancing technology, the social good and environmentally-friendly ventures in Brooklyn. BLIP grew out of the recognition that the Internet and digital technology are forcing law and policy beyond traditional legal structures and strictures, and that we need to train a new generation of lawyers equipped to confront the changing needs of tech-oriented clients and a tech-oriented world. There is a profound need for a new generation of advocates who understand the nature of political and regulatory processes but also appreciate the needs of entrepreneurs whose ideas might be stifled by existing law and policy. Jonathan provides that training and support to Brooklyn.