Macedonian-Speaking Attorneys

Benedict V. James, Esq.

Las Vegas, NV

Benedict V. James, known as Ben by friends and family, is a founding partner of SJW Injury Attorneys. Ben is a dedicated and zealous representative of his clients. He learned early in life that it is critical that people fight for the rights of the disadvantaged. Ben, who is originally from Bulgaria, participated in a refugee program as a child and, along with his family, was granted legal residence in the United States. However, before he left, he saw firsthand the effects of persecution and mistreatment of the underprivileged. This ultimately drove Ben to pursue a career in the legal field. He attended law school and earned his degree from the oldest law school in Texas, Baylor Law School in Waco. After graduating from law school, Ben worked for several thriving personal injury law firms where he successfully represented thousands of clients who were injured by another’s negligence. Ben has conducted many jury trials throughout the state of Texas and is admitted to each of the state’s federal district courts. After founding a successful and thriving injury practice in Austin, Texas and making millions for his clients, Ben teamed up with fellow attorneys Esteban Sandoval and Shawn Walkenshaw to establish SJW Injury Attorneys here in Las Vegas. The partnership was a natural one as Ben, Esteban, and Shawn all share a passion for zealously representing their clients. Ben and Shawn work together on SJW’s litigated matters, using their combined experience to ensure the best possible outcome for every SJW client. Ben is fluent in the Bulgarian language, allowing him to communicate well with not just the Bulgarian community, but with the Serbian and Macedonian communities as well. One of Ben’s passions is chess, and one of Ben’s favorite personal achievements is having a positive record against one of the famous chess hustlers in the historic Washington Square Park in New York City. Like litigation, chess is all about hard work, dedication, creativity, and strategy - important attributes that have helped Ben become a legal force to be reckoned with in the courtroom and a formidable foe on the chessboard as well.

John Ostojic

Denver, CO

Attorney John R. Ostojic is a dedicated personal injury lawyer helping individuals and families whose lives have been changed by serious injury or accident. Since 1985, John has been a trusted advocate for clients throughout the United States, guiding them through some of the most challenging times of their lives. His practice is focused on representing plaintiffs in cases involving car accidents, catastrophic injuries, motorcycle accidents, nursing home abuse, pedestrian accidents, truck accidents, traumatic brain injuries, wrongful death, and medical malpractice. John understands that every client’s story is unique. He takes the time to listen, answer questions, and provide honest, straightforward legal advice. Known for his compassionate approach, keeping clients informed at every stage of the process and ensuring they have the support they need to make informed decisions. With four decades of experience, John has successfully recovered millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements, holding negligent parties accountable and helping clients secure the compensation they deserve for medical expenses, lost wages, loss of a normal life, pain and suffering, and other compensable damages. As a multilingual attorney fluent in Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian, Montenegrin, and Slovenian, and conversant in Macedonian, John is committed to serving clients from diverse backgrounds and making the legal process accessible to all. He bridges cultural and language barriers, ensuring effective communication and strong representation for every client, regardless of their primary language. John’s reputation as a relentless advocate is recognized both in and out of the courtroom. He prepares every case as if it will go to trial, working tirelessly to build the strongest possible case for his clients. Whether through negotiation or litigation, his priority is always the client’s best interest.

Senaj Mersim

Torrington, CT

Senaj Mersim is an associate attorney at Logan, Vance, Sullivan & Kores LLP in Torrington, Connecticut, focusing on personal injury, workers’ compensation, and civil litigation. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Quinnipiac University and her Juris Doctor from Quinnipiac University School of Law, graduating with honors in May of 2024. During law school, she competed on the mock trial team and served as a legal extern for the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General. She is fluent in Turkish and Macedonian and is an active member of her community.

Makedonka “Miki” Baloski

North Barrington, IL

Makedonka “Miki” Baloski has over two decades of legal experience, focusing on estate and trust administration, probate, elder law, and wealth preservation. She is fluent in Macedonian and conversant in Serbo-Croatian and Bulgarian.