Introduction
Sam L. Amirante is a retired Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County who left the bench to return to private practice, bringing with him both judicial perspective and a record that includes recognition as a Leading Lawyer for seven consecutive years. Combined with Senior Trial Attorney Daniel P. Nikolic, the firm of Sam L. Amirante & Associates, P.C. carries more than 100 years of collective legal experience into state and federal criminal cases, personal injury claims, and civil litigation across Illinois and beyond.
The firm’s results across those practice areas include an $8.5 million wrongful death settlement, a $1.8 million recovery in an auto accident death case, and a $550,000 motorcycle accident recovery. Those figures reflect a practice that pursues maximum compensation across the full range of civil matters it handles.
The firm is located at 2 Trans Am Plaza Drive, Suite 300, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181. Phone: 224-361-3130. Website: amirantelaw.com. Appointments are available Monday through Friday, with virtual appointments via Zoom or FaceTime also offered for clients who cannot appear in person.
Practice Areas
Criminal Law: State and Federal
The criminal defense practice at Sam L. Amirante & Associates covers felonies, misdemeanors, white collar crimes, murder, sex crimes, DUI, and domestic violence in both state and federal court. Sam Amirante’s background as a Circuit Court judge provides a perspective on criminal proceedings that few defense attorneys can claim: he has presided over the types of cases he now defends, and he brings that judicial experience to how he evaluates cases, anticipates arguments, and advises clients on realistic outcomes.
Federal criminal cases differ substantially from state court proceedings in their procedures, evidentiary rules, and sentencing structures. The firm’s capacity to handle federal matters gives clients facing charges in federal court access to representation that is specifically experienced in that forum.
White collar crimes, including fraud, embezzlement, money laundering, and related financial offenses, require a different kind of defense preparation than violent crimes. The evidentiary record in white collar cases is typically document-intensive, and the analytical demands of working through financial records and corporate structures require both legal skill and an understanding of how these schemes are constructed and prosecuted.
Murder and sex crime charges carry severe potential consequences and attract intensive prosecutorial attention. These cases require thorough investigation, careful witness preparation, and the kind of courtroom experience that comes from handling serious criminal matters over many years. The firm’s combined 100-plus years of experience includes direct work in these serious felony categories.
Personal Injury
The personal injury practice encompasses the cases that produce the firm’s most notable civil results. The $8.5 million wrongful death settlement, the $1.8 million auto accident death recovery, and the $550,000 motorcycle settlement were all achieved within the personal injury practice.
Wrongful death cases are brought by survivors when negligence causes a fatality. The scale of the $8.5 million settlement reflects the damages that are at stake in serious wrongful death matters: lost income, loss of companionship, and the full economic and human consequences of a preventable death.
Auto accident and motorcycle cases require building the evidentiary record that establishes fault and connects the accident to the claimed injuries. Insurance companies defending these cases are experienced at contesting causation, minimizing injury severity, and reducing settlement values. The firm’s track record in these cases reflects its ability to counter those tactics and pursue results commensurate with the actual harm suffered.
Civil Litigation
Beyond personal injury, the firm handles civil litigation across a range of dispute types. The firm’s geographic reach in civil matters extends beyond Illinois to include Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Washington, Florida, and California, where it has successfully litigated. That multi-state experience is relevant for clients whose disputes cross state lines or who need representation in jurisdictions outside Illinois.
Attorney Profiles
Sam L. Amirante is the firm’s founding attorney and a retired Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County. His return to private practice brought a judicial perspective to defense and civil work that shapes how the firm evaluates its cases. He has been recognized as a Leading Lawyer for seven consecutive years and was voted Top 10 Best Law Firm by the American Institute of Criminal Attorneys for Exceptional and Outstanding Customer Service. His combination of trial experience, judicial service, and sustained recognition places him among the more distinguished practitioners in the Illinois legal market.
Daniel P. Nikolic is the firm’s Senior Trial Attorney. A first-generation American, he grew up on Chicago’s Southeast Side and graduated from Mount Carmel High School. His background reflects both the geographic and social fabric of the Chicago area that the firm serves, and his role as Senior Trial Attorney places him at the center of the firm’s litigation work across criminal and civil matters.
Together, these two attorneys contribute to the 100-plus combined years of experience the firm brings to each client’s matter.
Notable Results
The firm’s civil track record includes outcomes that reflect sustained pursuit of maximum recovery:
$8.5 million wrongful death settlement. This result represents one of the larger wrongful death recoveries in the firm’s record and demonstrates the firm’s capacity to pursue major civil claims through negotiation to substantial settlement.
$1.8 million auto accident death recovery. Auto accident fatality cases require establishing both the fault of the responsible party and the full scope of economic and non-economic losses suffered by surviving family members.
$550,000 motorcycle accident recovery. Motorcycle accident cases involve unique liability questions and, frequently, serious injuries given the vulnerability of motorcycle riders in collisions with other vehicles.
Location and Service Area
Sam L. Amirante & Associates, P.C. is located in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois, at 2 Trans Am Plaza Drive, Suite 300, in the western suburbs of Chicago. The firm handles cases in all counties in Illinois and has successfully litigated in Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Washington, Florida, and California.
Office appointments are available Monday through Friday. Virtual appointments via Zoom or FaceTime are also offered for clients who prefer remote consultation or who are located at a distance from the office.
Phone: 224-361-3130. Website: amirantelaw.com.
Client Focus
Sam L. Amirante & Associates, P.C. serves clients facing serious criminal charges in state or federal court, individuals and families pursuing significant personal injury and wrongful death claims, and parties involved in civil litigation across Illinois and multiple other states. The firm’s combination of a former judge and a senior trial attorney creates a practice that operates with direct courtroom credibility.
Payment is accepted by credit and debit cards, checks, and cash. Payment plans are available with automatic weekly or monthly charges after an initial retainer, making legal representation accessible across a range of client financial circumstances.
Virtual appointments broaden the firm’s effective service area beyond clients who can conveniently travel to Oakbrook Terrace, allowing clients from anywhere in Illinois or the other states the firm serves to access consultations without in-person travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of Sam Amirante’s background as a Circuit Court judge?
Having served as a judge on the Circuit Court of Cook County before returning to private practice gives Attorney Amirante a direct understanding of how judges evaluate cases, what factors influence rulings and sentencing decisions, and how cases look from the bench. That perspective informs how he prepares and presents cases in criminal defense and civil litigation.
Does the firm handle federal criminal cases?
Yes. The criminal practice covers both state and federal matters, including federal felonies and white collar offenses that are frequently prosecuted in federal court.
What states does the firm litigate in outside Illinois?
The firm has successfully litigated in Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Washington, Florida, and California, in addition to its home state of Illinois. The firm handles all counties within Illinois.
What payment options are available?
The firm accepts credit and debit cards, checks, and cash. Payment plans are available, with automatic weekly or monthly charges arranged after an initial retainer for clients who need to spread payments over time.
Are virtual appointments available?
Yes. The firm offers virtual appointments via Zoom or FaceTime for clients who cannot appear in person or who prefer remote consultation.
Closing
A retired Cook County Circuit Court judge who returned to the courtroom as a defense and civil attorney, paired with a Senior Trial Attorney whose roots run deep in the Chicago area: this is the foundation of Sam L. Amirante & Associates. The firm’s 100-plus combined years of experience, its multi-state litigation reach, and a civil results record anchored by an $8.5 million wrongful death settlement reflect a practice that has been tested across a broad range of serious matters. For clients in Illinois and beyond facing criminal charges or significant civil claims, the firm’s Oakbrook Terrace office and virtual appointment option provide access to that accumulated experience. Phone: 224-361-3130. Website: amirantelaw.com.