Courtney A. Berlin

Courtney A. Berlin is an associate at Clifford Law Offices who represents clients in all areas of complex personal injury and medical malpractice. With a strong passion for helping those harmed by negligence and a commitment to understanding her clients’ goals and concerns, Courtney approaches each case with compassion and strategic precision.

Eager and diligent, Courtney’s involvement in numerous trials, including her first trial the same week she was sworn into the Illinois State Bar, demonstrates her ability to handle complex cases and litigate effectively to achieve results in the courtroom. Both her clients and her colleagues at Clifford Law Offices value her skill in preparing detailed casework, often including a deep understanding of medical information, crafting compelling arguments, anticipating defense strategies, and relentlessly fighting for justice.

Courtney’s trial skills extend beyond legal knowledge. She works seamlessly with colleagues to develop powerful cases that lead to significant outcomes for those she represents. Among her litigation work, Courtney has prepared motions in the high-profile ongoing federal district court case involving the 2019 crash of a Boeing 737 Max8 jet in Ethiopia that killed all 157 on board. Her other notable accomplishments include:

• In March 2024, Courtney was part of the team that obtained a $30.2 million settlement (settled during trial) for a 52-year-old completely disabled adult, who now lives in a 24-hour attendant care center due to a severe and incontrovertible brain injury, which she sustained following the failure to treat her apparent symptoms.
• In 2024, Courtney was part of the team that obtained a $15 million settlement (settled during trial) on behalf of a minor who sustained neurological injuries.
• In October 2023, Courtney worked alongside partners Bradley M. Cosgrove and Patrick F. Bradley to obtain an $11 million settlement (settled during trial) in another medical malpractice case.
• In November 2024, Courtney was part of the trial team that obtained a $9 million settlement (settled during trial) for medical malpractice that led to the death of a patient as a result of a pulmonary embolus.
• In November 2023, Courtney joined partners Keith A. Hebeisen and Sarah F. King on a case that resulted in an $8 million medical malpractice settlement (settled during trial) on behalf of a 60-year-old man who underwent multiple surgeries to treat complications of necrotizing pancreatitis caused by the negligence of a surgeon failing to shrink a tumor before abdominal surgery.
• In June 2024, Courtney tried a case with firm partner Keith A. Hebeisen in Cook County that resulted in a $6.3 million verdict on behalf of a 56-year-old man who required a heart transplant as a result of an undiagnosed heart condition. Their verdict was ranked twenty-seventh among Illinois’ Top 50 Verdicts in 2024.
• Courtney was part of the team that obtained a $6 million settlement in an ophthalmology medical malpractice case in February 2024.

Beyond her litigation work, Courtney is an emerging leader in the Illinois legal community. In 2025, she was elected to the Illinois State Bar Association Board of Governors Under 37, where she helps guide the organization’s operations and strategic direction during her three-year term. She actively participates in the ISBA Torts and Young Lawyers committees, as well as the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association Young Lawyers Committee.

Courtney earned her J.D. from DePaul University College of Law, where she was a member of the Jaharis Health Law Institute and served as Authorities Editor for the DePaul Journal of Health Care Law. Before becoming an attorney, she gained valuable experience as a law clerk at Clifford Law Offices, interned at a State’s Attorney’s office, and worked with defense litigation firms, giving her unique insight into both sides of the courtroom.