James C. Byrne

Joliet, Illinois
Senior Partner
phone (815) 726-4311
fax 815-726-6828
email James

James C. Byrne joined the law firm of Spesia & Ayers in July of 2006 as a senior partner. Although a life long resident of Joliet, he attended and graduated from Quigley Seminary in Chicago in 1953 and received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration (personnel management) from Loyola University in 1957; he earned his law degree from Loyola University in 1960.

During Mr. Byrne's 48 years of practice, he has covered a very broad area of the law including adoption, bankruptcy, real estate, commercial transactions, estate planning and criminal law. He has trial experience in the areas of insurance defense, commercial litigation, criminal defense, child custody and eminent domain.

For the past 25 years, Mr. Byrne's legal representation has primarily involved counseling his clients and handling litigation in the areas of insurance defense, employment law (including discrimination matters), school law, commercial real estate, and church related issues. Mr. Byrne's clients include a variety of churches, religious entities and charitable organizations.

Mr. Byrne maintains active membership in the National Association of Diocesan Attorneys; National Employment Lawyers Association; National Education Law Association; American Bar Association; Illinois State Bar Association; Chicago Bar Association (past Chairman of the Professional Fees Committee); Will County Bar Association (past Chairman of the Employment Law Committee); and the DuPage County Bar Association.

Areas of Practice:
    General Civil and Trial Practice
    Insurance Defense
    Not-For-Profit
    Religious Entities
    School Law
    Employment Discrimination
    Sexual Abuse Cases

Litigation Percentage:
   60% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Bar Admissions:
   Illinois, 1961
   U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois, 1961

Education:
   Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Chicago, Illinois, 1960 - J.D.

   Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois, 1957 - A.B.

Representative Clients:
    Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet
    Catholic Charities
    St. Vincent DePaul Society
    Mantellate Sisters

Past Employment Positions:
   James C. Byrne & Associates, Owner, 1964 - 2006

   Legal Aid Bureau of Chicago, States Attorney, 1961 - 1964