Attorneys
Charles Bell
Education
The John Marshall Law School, Chicago, IL. J.D. 1990
Illinois State University, Normal, IL. B.S. 1987
Professional Experience
I have been a practicing attorney for 29 years, starting my career as a Cook County Assistant
State's Attorney in 1991 which culminated by working in the Felony Trial Division. After eight years in the State's Attorney's Office, I went to work for The Law Office of James Pappas in Glenview. While working for James, I started working in real estate and estates and trust law. In 2001, James and I started The Law Offices of Pappas & Bell LLC in Glenview. For the last 19 years, I have been responsible for the majority of the residential real estate closings and litigation in the firm along with all of the traffic and criminal cases in our firm. I also have been assisting individuals in obtaining their driving privileges to be reinstated.
In 2013, I started working with The Lodge of Northbrook, a senior living not for profit as a corporate board member. For the last five years, I have been the President of the Board of Directions for The Lodge of Northbrook.
I have also been appointed the Harwood Heights Administrative Hearing Officer assigned with adjudicating the municipal ordinance violation for the last six years.
I am a member and in good standing of the Illinois State Bar Association and the Chicago Bar Association.
James Wm. Pappas
Education
Illinois Institute of Technology/Chicago-Kent College of Law – Juris Doctor (1989)
Illinois State University – B.A. Political Science (1986)
Professional Experience
James W. Pappas is a Partner at the Law Offices of Pappas & Bell, LLC. He has extensive knowledge and experience representing clients in areas of commercial and residential real estate, personal injury and litigation, corporate formation and administration, and wills/trusts/estate/probate work.
James began his career working in a general practice that introduced him to a wide variety of cases. James has continuously practiced law in Illinois for the past 31 years. Through that experience, he has gained a general knowledge of almost all aspects of Law.
James’ representation of personal injury clients has earned settlements of millions of dollars. James has litigated hundreds of cases over his career in areas ranging from personal injury to workers compensation to contracts to mechanics lien foreclosure, to name a few.
James also advises his clients in their estate planning needs and succession plans to enable them to pass their wealth to their intended beneficiaries in the most efficient manner possible.
As legal counsel to many privately held domestic businesses, he has provided representation and advice from inception, through growth, change and sale of a wide variety of businesses.
Bar Admissions
Supreme Court of Illinois (1989)
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (1998)