Jim Saranteas

Background

About Jim Saranteas

Work hard. Do the right thing. Treat everyone with respect. Instilled in Jim by his parents, those values are the cornerstone of his law practice. He is noted for his zealous advocacy, prudent counsel, meticulous attention to detail, and faithful diligence in ensuring clients receive comprehensive representation. Jim focuses his practice on plaintiff personal injury work and commercial disputes, such as those between shareholders or partners, and other commercial matters, like breach of contract. The son of Greek immigrants, Jim grew up around a broad spectrum of customers of the commuter coffee shop his parents owned for 40 years on Chicago’s South Side. There, he developed an ability to listen attentively and build rapport with people expressing a wide range of views. This translates into a professional calm that guides clients. To accomplish his dream of becoming an attorney, Jim attended Loyola University Chicago School of Law at night while working full-time selling mostly ergonomic material handling equipment and positioning devices used in manufacturing. After law school, Jim spent a dozen years working with Belgrade and O’Donnell, P.C, a well-known boutique admiralty and maritime firm. There, Jim represented clients mostly as a defense attorney. He also prosecuted insurance coverage and property damage cases. For 15 years, Jim has been an appellate advocacy coach at Loyola University Chicago School of Law. He guides students in moot law competitions, with several students winning top oral advocacy, brief and team awards nationally. In 2007, he was selected Advocacy Coach of the Year. In 2012, the Board of Governors chose him for its prestigious St. Bellarmine Award for his distinguished contributions to the legal community. An active member of the Chicago Bar Association, Jim serves as an investigator for the organization’s Judicial Evaluation Committee. Also, he is a member of the Hellenic Bar Association and The Lawyers Club of Chicago.