Programs & Events

The 31st annual Clifford Tort Symposium, “Social Science and Civil Justice,” was held at DePaul University College of Law on May 22-23, 2025. The 2025 program examined how the insights and procedures of social scientists have influenced the civil justice system. Two dozen academics from around the country joined this year’s symposium to consider five key issues raised by social scientists, including what social science research teaches about decision-maker prejudice and bias, as well as…

Shannon M. McNulty, partner at Clifford Law Offices, spoke at the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) conference on artificial intelligence in Champaign, Illinois. “Generative Artificial Intelligence—Fact or Fiction: Transforming the Legal Practice” was held April 2-4, 2025, at the I Hotel and Conference Center. It explored hot topics impacting civil practice and procedure and the issues AI is creating for lawyers and judges. Shannon McNulty spoke on a panel entitled “Artificial Intelligence Evidence in Litigation…

DePaul University College of Law has announced that Andrew Hammond, an associate professor at Indiana University Maurer School of Law, has been named the 2025 Clifford Scholar-in-Residence. A committee of leading civil justice faculty examined the work of professors nationwide who have contributed to the field of tort law and chose Hammond as the national “rising star” in civil justice and this year’s Scholar. Professor Hammond writes and teaches in the areas of administrative law,…

Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) Young Lawyers Division (YLD) members Courtney Berlin, associate at Clifford Law Offices; Olivia Basu, Senior Associate at Hammer Serna & Quinn LLC;  and Priya Thennarasu, Associate at Much Shelist, spearheaded a “speed networking” and wine tasting event to be held March 21. The event is designed to provide young lawyers with the opportunity to connect with experienced mentors from various fields of law. Some ISBA mentors at the event include…

Sarah F. King, partner at Clifford Law Offices, spoke on Trial Trends: Clips & Questionnaires at the Municipal District Advisory Committee Monthly Meeting on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, in Room 1307 of the Daley Center. King is President of the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois (WBAI). She is also very active in several women-related legal and community activities, including Women Everywhere: Partners in Service Project, which is a collaborative effort coordinating volunteer activities to help…

Robert A. Clifford, founder and senior partner of Clifford Law Offices, and Irwin Chemerinsky, Professor of Berkeley School of Law, spoke on March 7 in a program entitled “Plaintiff-Side Litigation: Scholars and Practitioners in Dialogue.” The day-long symposium was co-sponsored by the American Bar Foundation, UC Berkeley School of Law Civil Justice Research Initiative, with additional support from the American Association for Justice. The program brought together scholars’ and practitioners’ perspectives on the plaintiff-side practice…

Robert P. Walsh, partner at Clifford Law Offices, has been appointed associate judge of the 18th Judicial Circuit Court, DuPage County. Chief Judge Bonnie M. Wheaton of the 18th Circuit in Illinois announced on February 27, 2025, that following a tabulation of ballots by the Administrative Office of Illinois Courts, Walsh was appointed to the position of Associate Judge. Walsh fills the vacancy created from the retirement of Associate Judge James D. Orel. Walsh started with…

Nationally renowned attorneys and judges staged an ancient Greek trial about the controversial Athenian hero Themistocles CHICAGO (February 18, 2025)—The National Hellenic Museum (NHM) presented the next installation of its popular Trial series with The Trial of Themistocles on April 1, 2025, at the Harris Theater in Chicago. At this dynamic live event, nationally renowned attorneys argued a case regarding Themistocles, one of ancient Athens’ most celebrated yet controversial figures, before a panel of esteemed…

Robert A. Clifford, founder and senior partner of Clifford Law Offices in Chicago and lead counsel in the pending litigation in federal district court against Boeing in two 737 MAX crashes six years ago killing all 346 aboard, commented on the latest incident Friday (January 24, 2025) involving a United Airlines flight from Lagos, Nigeria, to Washington Dulles International Airport that was forced to turn back for an emergency landing. A Boeing 787-8 manufactured in…