Durkin’s election as Co-Chair represents the first time in more than two decades and the inception of the Committee that a Chicago attorney has taken on this leadership position.

As Co-Chair, Durkin will be planning several meetings around the country on the latest issues and trends involving aviation litigation. He is Co-Chair with Diane Westwood Wilson of Condon & Forsythe in New York, New York, and Robert Gross of the U.S. Justice Department, Aviation and Admiralty Division in Washington, D.C.

Durkin has represented families involved in commercial airline crashes throughtout the world. In the Roselawn, Indiana crash of American Eagle Flight 4184, which crashed Oct. 31, 1994, Durkin took more than 100 depositions including that of airline President Robert Crandall. The case settled on the eve of opening arguments in federal district court in Chicago for $110 million on behalf of several families who lost loved ones in that crash.

Durkin. along with partner Robert Clifford , represent several families in air crashes cases around the country and serves on several Steering Committees involving multi-district litigation in commercial airline crash cases.

In addition, Durkin was recently appointed to a three-year term on the Board of  Directors of the Chicago Bar Foundation.

Clifford Law Offices is a nationally recognized firm concentrating in personal injury, aviation, transportation, medical negligence, product liability and wrongful death litigation.