James C. Byrne – of Counsel

James C. Byrne joined the law firm of Spesia & Taylor in July of 2006 as a senior partner. Although a lifelong 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 56 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 33 years, Mr. Byrne’s legal representation has primarily involved counseling his clients and handling litigation in the areas of insurance defense, child sexual abuse litigation, employment law (including discrimination matters), school law, commercial real estate, church related issues, and probate/estate planning.  Mr. Byrne’s clients include a variety of churches, religious entities and charitable organizations.

Mr. Byrne maintains active membership in the National Diocesan Attorneys Association; National Employer 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.

Representative Clients:
Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet
Catholic Charities
Providence Catholic High School
Control Sales, Inc.
General Control Corp.
Camp Blessing, Inc.
Blockmasters Electronics