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Tracy A. Brammeier, partner at Clifford Law Offices and member of the firm’s aviation practice group, spoke at the 16th Annual McGill Air & Space Law Institute Conference on International Liability, Finance & Insurance. Brammeier served on a panel entitled “Debate: Is it time to revisit the Aviation Liability Regime?” The panel discussed the 1999 Montreal Convention, which still applies to aviation crashes. Panelists explored whether its core components remain timely or require an overhaul,…

Twenty-one Clifford Law Offices attorneys have been recognized on the 2027 Illinois Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars lists. Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The following Clifford Law Offices attorneys have been selected to the 2027 lists (*denotes Rising Star distinction): Robert A. Clifford – Years of selection: Super Lawyers:…

For families whose lives are forever changed by an aviation disaster, the pursuit of accountability extends far beyond the courtroom. In an interview with Lawdragon, Tracy A. Brammeier, partner at Clifford Law Offices, reflects on her work representing victims of some of the world’s most devastating aviation tragedies, the responsibility that comes with that work, and how civil litigation helps drive meaningful safety improvements. Over the course of her career, Tracy Brammeier has played a…

Juan R. Thomas, Of Counsel at Clifford Law Offices, was sworn in as President of the National Conference of Bar Presidents during its Annual Meeting held in conjunction with the American Bar Association (ABA) Annual Meeting on Friday, July 31st. Atty. Thomas also became President of the Illinois Bar Foundation this past June. It is believed this is the first time a lawyer has held a dual presidency in the bar in the same year…

A Chicago plastic surgeon, Dr. Ayoub Sayeg, who was the subject of a $56 million verdict obtained by Clifford Law Offices in 2024 for medical malpractice, had his license suspended by the state of Illinois on July 7, 2026. Bradley M. Cosgrove and Craig J. Squillace, partners at Clifford Law Offices, obtained a record $56 million verdict on behalf of a 39-year-old mother of four who died after undergoing liposuction and a tummy tuck at…

After decades of dedicated service, Richard F. Burke, Jr. is retiring from Clifford Law Offices. Throughout his distinguished career, Rich built a reputation as one of Chicago’s most respected trial attorneys, handling some of the firm’s most complex aviation, product liability, trucking, and catastrophic injury cases. His thoughtful approach, unwavering preparation, and commitment to every client helped shape countless successful outcomes while earning the respect of colleagues throughout the legal profession. “As I step away…

Clifford Law Offices had a visible presence at the 2026 American Association for Justice Annual Convention in Chicago, from the convention’s general session featuring Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker to the aviation litigation CLE program. Robert A. Clifford, founder and senior partner at Clifford Law Offices, introduced Governor Pritzker before a packed ballroom at the Hyatt Regency Chicago on Saturday, July 25, praising the governor’s strong stance on issues affecting Illinois and the nation, including his…

Clifford Law Offices attorneys continue to contribute to legal scholarship by sharing practical insights with fellow Illinois attorneys through the Illinois State Bar Association’s Tort Trends newsletter. In the February 2026 issue, associate Courtney A. Berlin, in collaboration with then-Clifford Law Offices law clerk Mary Dalenberg, authored “Audit Trails and the Scope of Medical Record Discovery in Illinois.” The article examines the Illinois Appellate Court’s decision in Burnette v. Nockels, explaining how the ruling clarifies…

Bradley M. Cosgrove, partner at Clifford Law Offices, spoke with editors at Climbing Magazine regarding the record $50 million verdict he obtained for an eight-year-old boy who was raped at a summer climbing camp. Cosgrove and partner Charles R. Haskins received the verdict following a two-week trial in Cook County Circuit Court. Cosgrove told Climbing Magazine, “For any gyms who don’t currently have a bathroom supervision policy for minors, this $50 million verdict serves as…