Our Firm
We are a family-owned firm with three attorneys, multiple experienced staff, and a short-sale negotiation team proudly serving Illinois residents.
Meet the Attorneys
Attorney
Karen E. Tietz
Karen has a strong background in contract negotiation and closings. She advises businesses of all sizes in sales and marketing strategies, accounts receivable, and other corporate business issues. Karen is a pioneer in the short-sale practice area. Her writing and negotiation skills have earned her accolades from short-sale departments at major banking institutions.
In 1983, Karen graduated cum laude from IIT/Chicago Kent College of Law. In 1979, Karen graduated cum laude from Northern Illinois University with degrees in Political Science & Business Administration.
Karen has been a frequent lecturer, sharing her expertise and insights of real estate matters with the Main Street Board of Realtors, McHenry County Board of Realtors, Oak Park Board of Realtors, Northwest Board of Realtors, Barrington Board of Realtors, the Southwest Board of Realtors and the Illinois State Bar Association. Karen is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, the Kane County Bar Association, a member of the ISBA Real Estate Law Section and is an active member of the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce.
Attorney
Alex J. Tietz
Alex handles all types of real estate transactions for the firm with an extensive background in real estate sales, purchases, and short sales.
In undergrad, Alex graduated Cum Laude from Southern Illinois University where he played football from '05-08 while receiving the Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award, was a Three-Time Honor Roll Gateway Football award recipient and was on Dean’s List throughout his tenure.
Graduating from Southern Illinois University School of Law in 2012, Alex was a Dean’s List student while clerking for the Womick Law Firm, the Southern Illinois Legal Clinic, Madison County State’s Attorney and the 16th Judicial Circuit Court of Illinois. He was also Chief Justice of the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity.
Alex met his wife Attorney Jacie Tietz on their first day of law school in '09. Their team mentality has carried through from law school and continues to contribute to the Firm's success. When he's not in the office Alex enjoys spending time with their sons Kane and Jase, playing basketball, golf and supporting Chicago sports.
Attorney
Jacie K. Tietz
Jacie graduated from Southern Illinois University School of Law in May 2012 and was the Lead Articles Editor of the Southern Illinois University Law Journal during her 3L year.
During law school, Jacie worked at the SIU Civil Practice (Elder Law) Clinic, which provides free legal services to the community. Jacie received the Howard J. Eisenberg Client Service Award, which is awarded to one student each year for outstanding work at the legal clinic. Jacie served as the Vice President of the Christian Law Student Association and as a Student Representative to the Illinois State Bar Association. She was also a member of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity and the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund.
Jacie met her husband Attorney Alex Tietz on the first day of law school after they were both assigned to the same study group. They and their dogs Gage and Kojak have been happily together ever since. In August 2017, Jacie and Alex welcomed their first child Kane. In 2020 they welcomed their second son Jase (JJ).
Our Team
Patti Barsanti
Senior Paralegal
Patti handles the purchase and regular sale contracts. She works closely with clients, agents and lenders to ensure contract compliance with contingency dates and deadlines. She keeps communication between clients, opposing attorneys and agents throughout the contract process to ensure a successful closing for both buyers and sellers.
Paula Swanson
Short Sale Closer
Paula leads the short sale closing figure department. Paula is responsible for determining how to get all possible costs associated with the sale paid, including costs that were not allowed by the short sale lenders, but are necessary to close.
Michelle Dressel
Lead Short Sale Specialist
Michelle handles short sales from Contract Acceptance through bank approval. She facilitates BPOs, coordinates bank counter offers, and updates seller documents as needed. Michelle's extensive experience helps cut through the bank's delays and hurdles. She streamlines the short sale approval process so the parties
can move to the Closing table
as expeditiously as possible.
Sue Jurczak
Short Sale Specialist
Sue also handles short sale files from the early contract negotiations to obtaining bank approval. Sue contacts the short sale lenders at least once a week to make sure none of our files are delayed. Sue's background as a real estate agent provides valuable insight into a transaction including analysis of bank property values.