Partner

Professional Experience

James Babowice has a varied litigation practice which emphasizes construction litigation, lien priority litigation, real estate litigation, mechanics liens, land use litigation, commercial litigation, and general business litigation.  Mr. Babowice also represents clients relative to zoning and land use issues before municipal bodies.  Mr. Babowice has tried multiple cases to conclusion over the past 30 years.  Mr. Babowice’s litigation experience includes the handling of disputes involving mortgage reformation, requests for injunctive relief, forgery, fraud, trespass, breach of contract, conventional and equitable subrogation, and easement issues such as easements by implication and prescriptive easements.

Mr. Babowice’s recent work in the construction litigation area includes cases involving structural defects, design defects, construction delays, and bid protests.  Mr. Babowice has published numerous articles on construction litigation.  Mr. Babowice has developed a broad mechanics lien practice.  He has tried a number of mechanics lien cases to conclusion, including cases involving issues of enhancement, priority, and perfection of the underlying lien claim.   

Mr. Babowice authored a chapter entitled “Construction Contracts with Public Entities”, which was published in the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education’s inaugural Construction Law Practice Handbook.  He is a member of the Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys, an invitation-only group limited to Illinois attorneys who contribute to the development and understanding of construction law.  He is a member of the Chicago Bar Association’s Mechanics Lien Subcommittee and has been a speaker at various programs for the Chicago Bar Association, the Lake County Bar Association, and other organizations on mechanics lien and construction issues.

Professional & Community Activities

Mr. Babowice is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, the Lake County Bar Association, the Chicago Bar Association, and the Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys. 

Mr. Babowice is actively involved with scouting, having served as a committee member with Troop 72 of the Northeast Illinois Council of the Boy Scouts of America.  He has also led Boy Scout outings in the Boundary Waters, Isle Royal National Park, and Philmont Scout Ranch.  

Mr. Babowice is also a member of Libertyville Sunrise Rotary and previously served as a board member with that organization. 

Admissions

Illinois State Courts, 1981
United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, 1981
United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit, 1982
United States Tax Court, 1982

Education

DePaul University College of Law
Juris Doctor, 1981
Member of Law Review

DePaul University
Bachelor of Science in Commerce awarded with Highest Honors, 1978