40 Under Forty

Brian T. Nash

Age 32

Telephone: 312-899-9090

E-mail: btn@cliffordlaw.com

Law School: DePaul University

Honors/involvement: Frequently published author; frequent speaker at seminars and conferences.

Even though he is just 32, Brian Nash has been involved with some of the highest profile personal injury cases in Chicago.

For instance, Nash has worked as part of the Clifford Law Offices team that handled the case of internationally acclaimed Chicago violinist Rachel Barton who was severely injured in a Metra train accident. The month-long trial resulted in a $29.6 million verdict. Just three months later, Nash worked on the trial of a woman who was severely injured in an accident involving a Commonwealth Edison truck where Clifford Law Offices received a $14 million verdict. Nash also was part of the firm’s legal team in a lawsuit involving Girl X, a nine-year-old girl who had been sexually assaulted and poisoned in a Chicago Housing Authority development. These cases received immense media attention, both locally and nationally.

Nash, too, is part of the litigation team that is handling the Alaska Airlines crash. He also second-chaired the trial of a case involving a woman injured when a small Piper aircraft crashed near Schaumburg in August, 1996. It resulted in a $6.8 million verdict. In addition to his trial advocacy skills, Nash also excels in legal research and writing. The Brugge v. Joseph Academy case is a testament to this, Nash having worked on the successful precedent-setting appeal before the Illinois Supreme Court. That case determined that certain not-for-profit corporations do not fall under the protections of the Tort Immunity Act, allowing a student severely injured in a physical education class to have her day in court.

Not bad for an attorney who is just 32 years old. And it also speaks to Nash’s dedication, hard work and perseverance. Nash started at Chicago-based Clifford Law Offices as a clerk, working full time while juggling a night law school course load at DePaul University College of Law. He still found time to serve as President of the Student Chapter of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America.

Because of his work ethic and legal skill, Nash’s fellow attorneys aren’t a bit surprised at the success he’s achieved at such an early age.

"Brian functions at a high level of skill and organization, while handling a heavy workload of complex litigation cases," said Brian O’Neill, with the Chicago law firm of Haynes, Studnicka, Kahan, O’Neill & Miller. "At all court appearances and depositions, Brian is thoroughly prepared to represent the interests of his client."

Other lawyers for the defense echo this sentiment. "He has shown an excellent grasp of the law, and at all times he has conducted himself in a professional manner," said Howard Goffen with the Chicago firm of Jesmer & Harris.

Nash’s colleagues say they expect his winning streak to continue.

"Brian takes excellent depositions of witnesses,"" O’Neill said. "I would describe Brian as a professional in dealing with people. He is a credit to our profession. Moreover, Brian’s strategy in knowing when to use expert witnesses is keen. He avoids unnecessary discovery and works with his opponent to move the case forward without delay."