- Corporate Law
- Business Formation
- Business Transactions“Mr. Kottaras has been our personal attorney for over 8 years. He assisted us with the purchase of our first home and we have called on him for a variety of reasons since then, including problems we had with a contractor and for advice on various business transactions. His advice has been invaluable and he has always been very responsive to our needs.”
- Employment ContractThe Law Office of James Kottaras has a proven history of results in protecting the best interests of its clients. Our dedication to quality, competency and personal attention to the client’s needs ensures a positive outcome and an atmosphere of integrity and trust.
- Real Estate Litigation“I have known Mr. Kottaras for several years. Actually, he was the seller's attorney when I purchased my condo. I really liked his professionalism and expertise of real estate law. I asked for his card, thinking I may use him in the future once I decided to sell. Well, I did and I have worked with him on several transactions and referred him to others as well. It is always important to have good representation when dealing with real estate of any kind.”
- Premises Liability
- Real Estate TransactionsThe sale or purchase of a commercial property is significantly more involved and complicated than buying a home. While commercial and residential transactions are similar in that the buyer and the seller in each transaction must negotiate the cost of the property and the terms of the sales agreement, there are additional steps that a buyer should take when purchasing commercial real estate to ensure that the property is a sound investment. For example, in most commercial real estate transactions, there is a grace period known as the due diligence period, during which the buyer can conduct investigations regarding the property. The buyer should determine whether the property previously has been involved in litigation, assess whether there are any zoning restrictions on the property, and identify and eliminate any environmental concerns. Chicago real estate lawyer James Kottaras can guide you through this process.
- Land Use and Zoning
- Landlord-Tenant DisputesIn Illinois, a landlord can evict a tenant for failing to pay rent, breaching a term of a lease, or holding over after a lease has ended. A landlord who wishes to evict a residential tenant must comply with the Illinois Forcible Entry and Detainer Act (the Act) and with any local ordinances pertaining to residential tenants. For example, in Chicago, landlords must abide by the Chicago Residential Landlord Tenant Ordinance (the Ordinance). The Act and the Ordinance set forth strict requirements regarding notice and the process of filing an eviction action and enforcing an eviction order. If a landlord does not adhere to them, the landlord's attempts to evict a tenant may be ineffective. For example, a landlord must provide notice to a tenant prior to filing an eviction action, but the notice requirements vary depending on why the landlord wishes to evict the tenant. Additionally, notice must be served on the tenant via a method deemed valid under the law.
- Personal InjuryDuring law school, Mr Kottaras received valuable training working as an intern for two civil court Judges. Upon graduating from law school, Mr. Kottaras began working with a local law firm, where he honed his litigation skills, mostly representing real estate developers and personal injury clients. Having become dissatisfied with the personal injury side of the firm’s practice, he decided to leave and open his own firm. Our Law Office first opened its doors in the Chicago-Loop (near Madison & LaSalle St.) in 1993, and has been in continuous operation ever since. In 1997, Mr. Kottaras became the general counsel for a local real estate developer and owner of several Chicago-Loop office/commercial buildings, where he further honed his skills in real estate leasing, litigation and transactional law. After the developer retired, Mr. Kottaras became a fully-independent practitioner. Since then, he has been providing clients with the most competent and insightful legal representation in eviction cases, real estate leasing and transactions and real estate-related litigation. Mr. Kottaras is also a licensed Managing Real Estate Broker and Title Agent for Chicago Title Insurance (CTI) and Professional National Title Insurance (PNTN) and has represented sellers and buyers in numerous closings in Chicago and throughout suburban Cook County, Illinois.
- Estate PlanningLitigation can become a financial drain for a company, and even more so for an individual. It can deplete corporate resources and impair a company's ability to achieve its growth objectives. For the individual, litigation can be also be emotionally distressing.