Elite Lawyer

About Robert A. Clifford

Robert Clifford founded his law firm, Clifford Law Offices, in 1995. Today, the Chicago firm is recognized internationally for its work in aviation, transportation, personal injury, medical malpractice, defective products, mass torts, and class actions. Mr. Clifford has vast experience representing individuals and families who were injured or lost their lives in commercial airline crashes. He has provided legal services throughout the United States and abroad in countries such as the Netherlands. Attorney Robert Clifford served as liaison counsel for claims resulting from the crashes on September 11, 2001. Currently, Mr. Clifford is serving as Lead Counsel advocating for the victims of the 2019 crash that occurred in Ethiopia.

Robert Clifford's success in the courtroom and his contributions to the Chicago legal community have earned him numerous accolades over the years. Clifford Law Offices has been recognized as one of the Top 10 Litigation Boutiques in the United States by the National Law Journal. Additionally, the Journal awarded Mr. Clifford the Elite Trial Lawyers' Award. Attorney Clifford has also been named one of the 100 Most Powerful Chicagoans and the 2012 Chicago Lawyer Person of the Year.

Mr. Clifford believes in advancing the legal profession and remains an actively involved member of several associations, often in leadership roles. He previously served as Chair of the ABA's Section of Litigation and the Fund for Justice and Education (charitable arm). He has also held previous leadership positions with the Chicago Bar Association, Chicago Inn Court, American College of Trial Lawyers, and Illinois Trial Lawyers Association.

Education

DePaul University, College of Law, Doctor of Laws-2003
DePaul University, College of Law, J.D.-1976
DePaul University, College of Commerce-1973

Bar Associations

American Bar Association
Illinois State Bar Association
Chicago Bar Association
Cook County Bar Association

Honors & Awards

Americau2019s Top 100 Attorneys-2022
Illinois Super Lawyers, 2005- Present
Best Lawyersu00ae in America, 1993- Present
Lifetime Achievement Award, Illinois Bar Foundation-2021
Super Lawyersu00ae u201cTOP 10: 2020 ILLINOIS SUPER LAWYERSu201d-2020
Leading Lawyer, Law Bulletin Media-2020
Leonard M. Ring Lifetime Achievement Award, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association (ITLA)-2019
Distinguished Award for Excellence, Illinois Bar Foundation-2019
Class Action Trial Lawyer of the Year, National Trial Lawyers-2019
Trial Lawyer of the Year, Public Justice-2019

Professional Associations

American Bar Association
The Executive's Club of Chicago
International Air and Transportation Safety Bar Association
Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
Commercial Bar Association
American Association for Justice
American College of Trial Lawyers
The American Law Institute
American Society of Law and Medicine
Chicago Inn of Court

Offices / Locations

Clifford Law Offices PC

120 North LaSalle Street 36th Floor
Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-899-9090
Website: https://www.cliffordlaw.com/

Media Center

Results / Verdicts

$101 million

Clifford Law Offices obtained a record $101 million verdict on behalf of a baby who sustained brain damage at birth at West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park. This case is the highest reported Illinois Medical Malpractice Verdict.

$52.5 million settlement

Robert A. Clifford obtained a $52.5 million settlement on behalf of eight young, female acrobats who sustained severe, life altering injuries during an aerial performance with Barnum & Bailey Circus.

$250 million settlement

Clifford Law Offices obtained a $250 million settlement on behalf of Plaintiffs who alleged that State Farm violated federal law by improperly influencing the Illinois Supreme Courtu2019s decision to reverse a pending judgment.

$110 million settlement

Robert Clifford served as lead counsel for the American Eagle Flight 4184 crash in Roselawn, Indiana in 1994. He represented 16 passengers on that plane and as the trial was about to begin, defendants agreed to a record $110 million settlement and an apology in open court.

$112 Million settlement

Robert Clifford and Kevin Durkin obtained a $112 Million settlement on behalf of two workers burned in a grain bin explosion in downstate Illinois

$38.3 million

Kevin Durkin obtained a $38.3 million verdict following a month-long trial on behalf of a family who were involved in a devastating truck-car collision near Rockford, Illinois. It was the largest verdict that year involving a motor vehicle crash. The verdict followed a two-week trial where he and Bob Clifford obtained a $24 million verdict on behalf of a small boy hit by a speeding CTA bus in a school zone.

$75 million

On the eve of trial, 10 victims injured and killed by scaffolding that collapsed and fell from the John Hancock Building in Chicago obtained a $75 million in a global settlement for their personal injury and wrongful death claims.

$57 million

Clifford Law Offices obtained $57 million on behalf of an Amtrak train that derailed in Seattle, Washington. Currently, the firm represents more than 44 people who were injured in a separate Amtrak derailment in Montana in 2021.

$29.6 million

Following a month-long highly publicized trial, Robert Clifford and Kevin Durkin obtained a $29.6 million verdict on behalf of a violinist who was severely injured after being dragged by an Amtrak train.

$35 million

Robert Clifford obtained a $35 million verdict for a young woman dragged by a semi-truck.

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