Shannon M. McNulty

Partner
Shannon M. McNulty
About Shannon

Shannon McNulty is a Chicago personal injury lawyer and wrongful death attorney who comes to Clifford Law Offices with a wealth of professional experience from previous employment. Having worked for 10 years with the administration of the Chicago Police Department, she served as the Director of Administration in the Bureau of Operational Services. In this critical role, she was Chief of Staff to the First Deputy Superintendent. She not only became familiar with the inner workings of this complex department; she also was instrumental in the development and implementation of administrative projects and policies. Shannon also was involved with the fact-gathering and notification of all major incidents to Department brass as well, skills which handily translate to her work as a Chicago wrongful death attorney and personal injury lawyer.

Part of her success in Chicago as a personal injury lawyer and wrongful death attorney includes the multiple death and severe personal injury cases of those who were trapped in the fire at the Cook County Administration Building in October 2003. The high profile cases deal with the workings of the 911 response system in Chicago, something with which Shannon has a great deal of experience. She is part of the legal team that handles cases involving the rollover of a number of sport utility vehicles that have resulted in the deaths or serious injuries of their occupants. Shannon also was involved in the trial of a small plane crash case at a Chicago suburban airport that killed everyone aboard. That trial resulted in a $12 million verdict in May 2003. Most recently, Shannon has been working on the case of an infant who died of injuries resulting from a lighter that allegedly lacked sufficient child safety mechanisms.

Prior to becoming a Chicago wrongful death attorney and personal injury lawyer, Shannon attended night law school at DePaul while working full-time. Shannon’s determination resulted in her completing law school one year ahead of schedule. She was recognized as an outstanding student in trial advocacy and contracts, having received the CALI Award for excellence in both of these fields. She holds a Masters of Science from the School of Management of Public Services at DePaul University, which bestowed upon her the American Society of Public Administrators’ Student of the Year Award. She graduated cum laude from Loyola University in Chicago.

In addition to her work as a leading Chicago personal injury lawyer and wrongful death attorney, Shannon gives back to the Chicago community. Having worked in the Albany Park neighborhood on crime prevention efforts, which resulted in her being recognized for outstanding service by the U.N.I.T.E. civic organization, she has also devised and implemented several successful fundraising efforts, including those for families in Chicago’s Bronzeville community and for the families of New York Police Officers who died in the 9/11 attacks.

Shannon is a member of the American Bar Association, American Trial Lawyers’ Association, Illinois State Bar, Chicago Bar, Illinois Trial Lawyers’ Association, and Attorney’s Information Exchange Group. She also is a member of the International Society of Barristers which promotes civility in the profession.

Areas of Practice
  • Aviation Litigation
  • Class Action / Consumer Fraud
  • Personal Injury
  • Premises Liability
  • Product Liability
  • Transportation Liability
  • Medical Malpractice
  • Qui Tam/ Whistleblower
Bar Admissions
  • Illinois, 2004
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of Indiana
  • U.S. District Court Western District of Michigan
  • U.S. District Court Western District of Missouri
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit
Education
  • DePaul University College of Law, Chicago, Illinois
    • Juris Doctor
  • University of Virginia
    • Trial Advocacy Institute – January, 2008
  • Northwestern University
    • Summer Institute in Negotiation – June, 2006
  • DePaul University
    • Master of Science – 1997
    • Honors: With Distinction
    • Honors: American Society of Public Administrators, Student Of The Year, 1997
    • Major: Management of Public Services
  • Loyola University of Chicago
    • B.S. cum laude – 1993
    • Major: Criminal Justice
Published Works
  • Privatization of Public Services in the South Suburbs. DePaul University Press, May 1997
  • Comprehensive Examination of the Illinois Criminal History Records Information System, ICJIA, August 1995 [contributing author]
  • 1993-4 Criminal History Records Audit: Illinois’ CCH System Overview. ICJIA, August 1994
  • 1993-4 Criminal History Records Audit Methodology. ICJIA, December 1993
  • Detention in the juvenile justice system. ICJIA Compiler, Summer 1993
Honors and Awards
  • Selected to Illinois Super Lawyers list, 2016 – Present:
  • Named“Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers® in the Chicago area for Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs, 2023
  • Crain’s Chicago Business Notable Women in Law, 2022
  • Best Lawyers® in America, 2015 – Present
  • Chicago Daily Law Bulletin & Chicago Lawyer Women in Law Honoree, 2020
  • Leading Lawyer, Law Bulletin Media, 2018 – Present
  • Most Influential Women Lawyers in Chicago, Crain’s Custom Media, 2017
  • Illinois Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2009 – 2014
  • Chicago Law Bulletin’s Forty Under 40, 2007
Professional Associations and Memberships
  • International Society of Barristers
  • Judicial Evaluation Committee, Investigator, 2011 – Present
  • Supreme Court Committee for Rules of Evidence, Appointed, 2008 – Present
  • Professional Ethics Committee, Co-Vice Chair, 2006 – 2007
  • American Bar Association, Section of Litigation and Member of the ABA Annual Meeting Advisory Committee
  • American Association for Justice
  • Attorney’s Information Exchange Group
  • Chicago Bar Association
  • Illinois Trial Lawyer’s Association
  • Illinois State Bar Association
Past Employment Positions
  • Chicago Police Department, First Deputy Superintendent, 2000 – 2003
  • Chicago Police Department, Chief of Staff, 1994 – 2003
  • Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, 1992 – 1994
Pro Bono Activities
  • Saint Jude Parent Teacher Organization (2019-Present)
  • Saint Jude School Board (2018-Present)
  • Advisory Board Member, Chicago Police Memorial Foundation, 2004 (founding year) – 2012
  • Initiated and coordinated the Chicago Police Officers’ NYPD Memorial Fund, for the children of NYPD officers’ killed on September 11, 2001
  • South Suburban Mayors’ Association, Volunteer
  • Volunteers at Saint Michael’s House
  • Awarded by U.N.I.T.E. Civic Organization (Albany Park) for Outstanding Service
  • Awarded American Society of Public Administrators’ Student of the Year
Shannon M. McNulty
About Shannon
Awards and Recognition
Videos