Attorney Articles

In an interview with Lawdragon, Craig Squillace, partner at Clifford Law Offices, offers a thoughtful look at a career defined by empathy, preparation, and quiet command of the courtroom. Craig’s path to the law began early, when he was introduced to Clifford Law Offices as a college student at Illinois State University. What started as a backroom job during school breaks quickly became a calling. Seeing the civil justice system at work, particularly how it…

Following a $289 million verdict for a groundskeeper who developed cancer after long-term exposure to a cancer-causing pesticide, Robert A. Clifford, founder and senior partner at Clifford Law Offices and a columnist for the Chicago Lawyer, authored a piece titled “Hiding Behind Their Sheilds” in the December-January issue, writing that corporate immunity is an argument corporations use to try to avoid responsibility for those injured by exposure to the dangerous chemical. Farmers often suffer the…

Bradley M. Cosgrove, partner at Clifford Law Offices, and Courtney A. Berlin, associate at the firm, authored an article titled “The Evolution & Future of Illinois Jury Instruction 15.01” for the Illinois Trial Lawyer Association’s Winter 2026 Trial Journal publication. The article provides historical context for the Illinois Pattern Jury Instructions (IPI), discussing their adoption in 1961 and subsequent updates in 1965, 1977, 1981, and 2000. Cosgrove and Berlin focus on the 2021 revision of…

Robert A. Clifford, founder and senior partner at Clifford Law Offices, authored a column titled “Rules of the Road” for Chicago Lawyer, which examines the liability of Amazon and its delivery drivers. Several cases have been brought around the country for accidents allegedly caused by delivery drivers, often in a hurry to complete their jobs. Clifford examines the argument that Amazon identifies its drivers as third parties, even though they appear to the public as…

In the spring of 2025, Sarah F. King, partner at Clifford Law Offices and an established Chicago medical malpractice attorney, led a two-week medical malpractice trial while eight months pregnant. The case involved the failure to diagnose a stroke in a single mother, resulting in permanent disabilities that forever altered the woman’s life and that of her children. Through preparation, resilience, and determined advocacy, King secured a $6.84 million verdict for her client, a result…

John V. Kalantzis, partner at Clifford Law Offices, authored an article for the August 2025 issue of PLI Chronicle: Insights and Perspectives for the Legal Community titled “Cleared for Resolution: ADR in Aviation Disputes.” Kalantzis discusses the complexities of resolving aviation cases through alternative dispute resolution (ADR), emphasizing the unique challenges related to jurisdiction, damages, and settlement strategies in intricate and high-stakes aviation matters. While Kalantzis stresses the importance of trial preparation for both attorneys…

Courtney A. Berlin, associate at Clifford Law Offices, authored an article for the August 2025 edition of the Illinois State Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division Newsletter titled “Voir Dire: Setting the Tone for Trial Success.” In her piece, Berlin emphasizes the vital role voir dire plays in shaping a trial’s outcome. She explains how attorneys can use this stage not only to gather key information and identify potential biases but also to protect favorable jurors,…

Coaching witnesses during remote video depositions has become a more frequent problem for lawyers due to their lack of proper preparation. In an article titled “Laying the Groundwork,” published in the August/September 2025 issue of Chicago Lawyer magazine, Robert A. Clifford, founder and senior partner at Clifford Law Offices, shares his thoughts on this issue and the latest word from the American Bar Association on how best to avoid this improper and unethical practice. “Coaching…

In an interview with Lawdragon, Bradley M. Cosgrove, partner at Clifford Law Offices, shares the personal journey that led him to become one of the top personal injury attorneys in Chicago. Brad recalls a pivotal moment from his childhood that exposed him to the world of personal injury law and set his career in motion. At just 10 years old, a devastating accident changed his family’s life, leaving both his parents with lasting, life-altering injuries…