James Dash

James (Jim) M. Dash concentrates his practice in real estate-related litigation, with an emphasis on construction (including mechanic’s lien claims), as well as title insurance defense work. Jim’s clients include a number of companies whose businesses are in, or related to, the construction industry.

Although Jim prefers to resolve disputes by agreement, when an agreement cannot be reached, his effective work in the courtroom has led to a number of client-favorable, published opinions that have helped shape Illinois law regarding construction and mechanic’s liens.

Jim is a frequent speaker at seminars at which he teaches methods for resolving construction disputes, including mechanic’s liens, to title companies, construction company representatives and other attorneys.

Among other positions, Jim is or has been the 2017-18 Chair of the Illinois State Bar Association Construction Law Section Council; the 2018-19 Secretary of the Board of the Wisconsin Bar Association Construction and Public Contract Law Section, the 2018-19 President of the Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys; and a member of the Joint CBA-ISBA Committee that drafted the comprehensive revisions to the Illinois Mechanics Lien Act that became law in 2006.

Jim also is the editor of a chapter for the second edition of Turner on Illinois Mechanics Liens, the most authoritative treatise on the subject. A member of the Chicago Bar Association, Jim serves on the Real Property Law Committee and the Construction Law & Mechanic’s Lien Subcommittee, of which he is a past chair.

He is also a past member of the American Bar Association Forum on Construction Industry and Section on Litigation and currently serves on the Title Counsel and Legislative Committees of the Illinois Land Title Association. Jim is admitted to practice in Illinois, Texas and Wisconsin and numerous federal courts.

Education:

• University of Houston Law Center, J.D., 1985
• Loyola University Chicago, B.A., 1982

Memberships:

• Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys,
• Chicago Bar Association,
• Illinois State Bar Association,
• Illinois Land Title Association,
• Chicago Business Network,
• Wisconsin Bar Construction and Public Law Section,
• Rogers Park Builders Group,
• Southside Builders Association,
• PowerHouse Smart, and
• Associated General Contractors of Wisconsin.