James J. Banks

 

James J. Banks combines a distinguished legal career with a solid business background.  He joined the Law Offices of Samuel V. P. Banks in 1988 and established his practice in Real Estate, Land Use and Zoning Law. He has successfully built the firm into a leader in these areas, successfully managing some of the most complex legal issues.

Mr. Banks’ clients range from large real estate developers to the family business owner. He has significant experience representing clients before the Chicago City Council, City of Chicago Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), City of Chicago Plan Commission and numerous governmental bodies.

Mr. Banks serves on a number of boards, including as a Director of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority. He is a founder of Belmont Bank & Trust in Chicago and currently serves as its Chairman.

 

Admissions

• Illinois, 1988
• U.S. District Court for Northern District of Illinois, 1988

Education

• Loyola University of Chicago College of Law, J.D. 1988
• Loyola University, B.A., 1985

Sara Barnes

Associate

Sara Barnes joined the firm in November 2011 and concentrates her practice in Zoning and Land Use, Licensing and Commercial Litigation for both public and private companies and individuals. Her clients include contractors, developers, property owners, private business owners, publicly traded companies, healthcare institutions, government entities and other licensed professionals.

Ms. Barnes has represented clients in the U.S. and Europe in matters involving breach of commercial contract, commercial liability, contract interpretation, construction defect and catastrophic loss.

She interned with the National Legal Center in Washington, D.C. and spent a semester abroad at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, where she assisted European banks with the initial implementation of the Euro.

 

Admissions

• Illinois, 2004
• U.S. District Court for Northern District of Illinois

Education

• DePaul University College of Law, J.D. 2004
• Michigan State University

Honors

• Member of Cambridge Who’s Who of Female Executives, Professionals and Entrepreneurs

Nicholas J. Ftikas

 

Nicholas J. Ftikas joined the firm in 2008 and focuses his practice on Zoning and Land Use, Licensing and Municipal Code matters.

Mr. Ftikas’s clients include homeowners, developers and corporations who require zoning and land use counsel. He often appears on behalf of these clients before the Chicago City Council, City of Chicago Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), and City of Chicago Plan Commission. He has also handled matters in Administrative Hearings and before the Building Court Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County.

He is highly adept in handling residential and commercial projects involving planned developments, variations, special uses, appeals, billboards and signage entitlements, licensing and permitting matters and other governmental regulatory issues. He also does the transactional work related to leasing, purchasing and selling residential and commercial real estate throughout the Chicago area.

 

Admissions

• Illinois, 2007

Education

• The John Marshall Law School, J.S. 2007
• The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2003