• July, 2001 - Association of Trial Lawyers of American, Steven Sharp Public Service Award for Public Education on the Problems with Firestone tires on Explorers.
• Illinois Super Lawyer, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.
  
• Admitted to the Million Dollar Advocates Forum in 1996 whose membership is limited to attorneys who have successfully tried or settled cases in excess of $1 Million.
• Recognized as a Summation “Litigator of the Month” in 2000 for his work in setting up a database of documents relative to rollovers of Sport Utility Vehicles and featured in a story in the National Law Journal

• “The New Frontier: The Amended Rules of e-Discovery,” Trial Talk, Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, p. 13, December 2006.
• "Electronic Control Modules ("Black Box") in Cars - Invasion of Privacy or a Source of Reliable Information?" Northwest Suburban Bar newsletter, March, 2004
• "Inertial Unlatching of Seat Belts," Northwest Suburban Bar newsletter, January, 2004
• “Taking Your Case to Trial Using Litigation Support Software,” Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Annual Meeting, 2006.
• “Using Electronic Discovery as a Weapon in an Auto Products Liability Case,” Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Annual Meeting, 2006, Montreal, Canada.
• “Practical Uses of Portable Litigation Support,” Trial Magazine, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, January, 2005.

• "Electronic Discovery in Auto Products Liability Cases" July, 2006 ATLA Annual Meeting
• "Use of Trial Presentation Software" July, 2006 ATLA Annual Meeting
• “The Ford Explorer: More Than Just the Tires,” Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Annual Meeting, 2001, Montreal, Canada.
• Northwest Suburban Bar Association, "SUVs: Is Bigger Better?" February, 2005
• ATLA Annual Meeting Presentation: "Use of Portable Technology in Litigation," July, 2004
• Advocates' Society: "SUVs and Rollovers," January, 2004
• Ohio Trial Lawyers Academy: "SUVs and Rollover," April, 2002
• Products Liability Section, American Trial Lawyers Association Annual Meeting in July, 2001 in Montreal, Canada, “The Ford Explorer, More Than Just the Tires.”
• Northwest Suburban Bar Association, “SUVs: Is Bigger Better?” February, 2005
• Presenter, Apex CLE, "Electronic Discovery: Maneuvering the New Federal Rules," September, 2007.

• George and Clifford Law Offices obtained $22.5 million in a settlement of a case involving the rollover of a 1992 Ford Explorer which left two teenagers dead and another rendered a quadriplegic. The settlement was reached against Ford Motor Company, a Ford dealership and a tire retailer. The 1992 Explorer rolled over after being struck by the driver’s side rear wheel well by a Plymouth Sundance while traveling on the Expressway in 1992. Robert Clifford and Richard Burke of Clifford Law Offices and George Bellas alleged that the Ford Explorer had design defects that rendered it inherently unstable and that Ford’s own testing showed that the Explorer was prone to roll over with only minimal variations in tire size, type and air pressure. Clifford Law Offices also claimed the installation of size 235/75R15 all-season tires violated a warning in Ford’s Owner’s Manual that specifically stated that these tires should not be used as replacement tires. The majority of the settlement funds were paid by Ford Motor Company and Packey Webb Ford of Wheaton.
  
  
• George recently completed a complicated trial in the Circuit Court of Cook County which resulted in a judgment of $1.8 million against several prominent Chicago commercial real estate brokers for misrepresentations arising out of the purchase and sale of a large parcel of property along the north branch of the Chicago River. The brokers were charged with self-dealing and failing to advise their client of the fact that they were trying to purchase the property for themselves while representing George’s client in the transaction.
  
  
• George represents a real estate developer who has obtained a judgment of $3.1 Million against the contractor who was hired to build a townhouse development on the near north side of Chicago. The contractor failed to construct the townhomes in accordance with the specifications and the damages awarded represent the costs to remediate the problems and lost profits arising out of the delays in construction.
  
  
• George prosecuted claims against a multi-national corporation in the United States District Court in Chicago on behalf of a Brazilian business owner. The claims involved breaches of a joint venture and distributorship agreement. The cases recently settled with the terms subject to a confidentiality agreement.
  
  
• George successfully defended an Illinois not-for-profit corporation which was sued in U.S. District Court in Connecticut for an alleged trademark infringement. The decision of the District Court was upheld by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in a summary order.
  
  
• George successfully represented the plaintiffs in the case of Breneisen v. Motorola, in which the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals (Case No. 05-032, 1/15/08), held that the District Court erred in granting defendant-employer's motion for summary judgment in an FMLA action which alleged that Motorola had penalized plaintiff by placing him into inferior job in punishment for taking FMLA leave. Motorola conceded that plaintiff was not restored to same position when he returned from leave of absence, and although plaintiff received same pay and benefits in new position, plaintiff presented evidence that new position had less prestige and different responsibilities. The case has been remanded to the District Court in Rockford for trial on the FMLA claim.

• Parish Council, Saint Nectarios Greek Orthodox Church, 2002 thru present.
• Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors, 1996-2002
• Palatine Planning Commission, 1993-1994
• Board of Directors, Volunteers of Northwest Suburban Chicago, 1988-1993

• Bellas & Wachowski, Partner, 1992 to present
• Clifford Law Offices, Of Counsel, 1996 to present
• George S. Bellas, sole practitioner, 1976-1992
• Special State's Attorney, Will County, 1976
• Assistant State's Attorney, Will County, 1973-1975

J.D., Loyola University, School of Law, 1973
B.S., Psychology, Loyola University, 1971

Illinois State Bar, 1973
Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, 2005
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Federal Trial Bar, 1976
Admitted Pro Hac Vice in Indiana, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Washington DC, Arizona, South Carolina and Texas

American Association for Justice

Illinois Trial Lawyers Association

American Bar Association

Illinois State Bar Association
Chair, Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee, 1986
Elected to Assembly, 1983-1989

Northwest Suburban Bar Association, 1978-present
President, 1990-1991