Courtney A. Berlin

Courtney A. Berlin, associate at Clifford Law Offices, is a rising Chicago medical malpractice and personal injury attorney, representing individuals and families in complex litigation. Through meticulous case preparation, strategic litigation, and courtroom advocacy, Courtney is dedicated to securing accountability and meaningful recovery for those whose lives have been permanently affected by negligence.

Courtney’s trial career began almost immediately after she earned her law license. In the same week she was sworn into the Illinois Bar, she participated in her first jury trial, launching a litigation practice defined by early courtroom experience and substantial responsibility. Her colleagues value her ability to analyze complex medical issues, develop compelling case strategies, anticipate defense arguments, and prepare cases for trial with exceptional attention to detail.

Throughout her career, Courtney has contributed to numerous significant settlements and verdicts. Courtney was part of the team that obtained a $30.2 million settlement (settled during trial) on behalf of 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 tried a case with firm partner Keith A. Hebeisen in Cook County that resulted in a $6.3 million jury 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 recognized by TopVerdict as one of Illinois’ Top 50 Verdicts of 2024.

Courtney has assisted the firm’s aviation team by preparing motions in high-profile federal litigation arising from the Boeing 737 MAX 8 crash in Ethiopia, demonstrating her ability to contribute across multiple areas of complex litigation.

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, serving a three-year term to help guide the organization’s operations and strategic direction. She is also active in the Illinois State Bar Association’s Torts Law Section and Young Lawyers Division, the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association Young Lawyers Committee, and the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois.

Before joining Clifford Law Offices as an attorney, Courtney served as a law clerk at the firm while completing law school. She also gained experience through internships with a State’s Attorney’s office and defense litigation firms, providing her with unique insight into both sides of the courtroom.

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.

Some of Courtney’s other notable verdicts and settlements include:

• $15 million settlement (settled during trial) on behalf of a minor who sustained neurological injuries.
• $11 million settlement (settled during trial) in a medical malpractice case involving a woman who died shortly after delivering twins.
• $9 million settlement (settled during trial) in a medical malpractice case involving the death of a patient following a pulmonary embolus.
• $8 million medical malpractice settlement (settled during trial) on behalf of a 60-year-old man who underwent multiple surgeries after complications resulting from a surgeon’s failure to shrink a tumor before abdominal surgery.
• $6 million settlement in an ophthalmology medical malpractice case.
• $5.75 million settlement on behalf of a 39-year-old man who sustained permanent neurological injuries following the failure to timely perform emergency spine surgery.
• $3.275 million settlement on behalf of a 51-year-old woman who sustained serious injuries due to failure to timely diagnose and treat intraabdominal bleeding.
• $1 million settlement on behalf of a 49-year-old woman following a failure to timely diagnose and treat melanoma on her arm

Click here to view all of Courtney’s case results.