Conrad C. Nowak

Conrad C. Nowak has a diverse practice representing clients in litigation. He also counsels clients on day-to-day business issues and transactional matters.

Conrad represents both individuals and businesses in a variety of practice areas and industries and also serves as lead litigation counsel for several large construction companies in their project-related claims.

As reported in Chicago Lawyer, one judge commented that Conrad:

"Has a manner that is usually reserved for lawyers far past his years. Most importantly, he is a lawyer that strikes that elusive balance of being a fierce litigator, but at the same time, a gentleman."

One national client describes why he chooses Conrad to represent the company in litigation:

"Most of these matters are complex and involved, which is precisely why we [retain] Conrad … he has always worked to obtain the best result possible by providing exceptional advice that assists us with making well-reasoned decisions."

Crain's Chicago Business recognized Conrad, who previously served in the military, as one of its Notable Veteran Executives for his commitment to clients and the veteran community. Conrad has been a strong advocate for spreading awareness regarding veterans' mental health, suicide awareness, and suicide prevention, working with multiple organizations fighting for these important causes. He has personally felt these losses, and is also committed to giving his time and resources to providing pro bono legal services to those of limited means.

Conrad joined Hinshaw after completing judicial clerkships for the Honorable William D. Maddux, Presiding Judge of the Law Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County, and the Honorable Sharon Johnson Coleman.

While in law school, Conrad was selected to serve in two prestigious internship positions, one with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois, and the other with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Chicago District Office.

In addition to his other law school accomplishments, Conrad was the Featured Articles Editor of The Loyola University Chicago Forum of International Law and Assistant Features Editor of The Public Interest Law Reporter. He was a member of the Dean's List and a Student Representative for the Loyola Business Law Advisory Board.

Conrad also served as a non-commissioned officer in the United States Army, beginning his service with the 13th Infantry Regiment and subsequently being assigned to the 3rd BN, MID, 12th Special Forces Group (ABN). He is the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions.

He speaks Polish fluently and is familiar with Serbo-Croatian.

• Chicago Bar Association
  • Judicial Evaluation Committee
  • Mentoring Program
  • Trial Practice Seminar, Instructor

• The Decalogue Society of Lawyers, Award of Excellence, 2023
• Recipient of the 2022 Illinois Lawyers Assistance Program Carl H. Rolewick Award
• Recognized as a "Notable Veteran Executive," by Crain's Chicago Business, 2020
• Chicago Sister Cities International
• Named to the "40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch," list by the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and Chicago Lawyer Magazine  2012
• Recognized on the Rising Stars list by Illinois Super Lawyers magazine, 2009 – 2010
• Recognized by his peers as a "Leading Lawyer" in the areas or Personal Injury Defense Law: General and Products Liability Defense Law

• Successfully obtained an extremely favorable settlement at trial in litigation involving the Museum Park Campus condominium project’s design defect, breach of warranty, and product liability claims.
• Successfully represented a party involving the Foreign Agents Registrations Act.
• Involved in representing a client related to Congressional Committee & Investigations.
• Represented a corporate defendant in the world’s second largest property loss for the year 2001, a catastrophic fire in Iowa, with initial losses estimated at $290M. Through aggressive discovery and motion practice, helped obtain a favorable settlement months before trial, amounting to less than the cost of defense. The remaining similarly situated defendant suffered a $40M verdict, the largest in Iowa history.
• Obtained a defense verdict at trial representing a major health club in a negligence/products liability action. The plaintiff sought $15.6M from the jury.
• Represent numerous security companies in catastrophic losses throughout the United States with multimillion-dollar exposure.
• Obtained a directed finding in favor of a corporate client in a gender and religious discrimination matter before the Illinois Department of Human Rights.
• Obtained summary judgment in favor of numerous clients in the construction and property settings.

Conrad previously served as a discussion facilitator for the Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Professionalism's new law student program at Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

His additional presentations include:

• "Legal Proceedings in a Virtual World: Hearings, Depositions and Trials in the Age of COVID-19," Illinois Human Rights Commission's Lunch & Learn CLE, Virtual Event, July 21, 2020
• "Closing Arguments," CBA's Trial Practice Seminar, Chicago, Illinois, October 11, 2018
• "Into the Hornet's Nest: Election Interference, Foreign Agents Registration Act, and the Special Counsel's Indictments," Cook County Lunch & Learn CLE, Chicago, Illinois, August 29, 2018
• "Is Your Law Practice Battle Ready? Applying Military Lessons in Leadership, Task Management, and Performance to the Practice of Law," Cook County Seminar, Chicago, Illinois, February 20, 2018
• "Cross Examination," CBA's Trial Practice Seminar, Chicago, Illinois, 2017
• "Direct Examinations," CBA's Trial Practice Seminar, Chicago, Illinois, 2016
• "Legal Issues in the Security Services Arena," Honeywell Connect International Security Conference, Hollywood, Florida, November 12, 2016
• "A Penny for Your Thoughts When Millions Matter: The Use of Focus Groups and Mock Trials," Lunch & Learn CLE, Chicago, Illinois, 2015
• "Let the Questioning Begin: New Illinois Supreme Court Rule 243 Permits Jurors to Question Trial Witnesses," Lunch & Learn CLE, Chicago, Illinois, 2012
• "Electronic Discovery," National Council on Investigation & Security Services (NCISS) Annual Conference, Chicago, Illinois

Conrad is also a faculty member for Hinshaw University, the firm's nationwide attorney training, and education program. He teaches continuing legal education courses in local rules, practice and procedure, and a deposition workshop. He has presented the following programs for Hinshaw U:

• "Conducting Remote Depositions"
• "Deposition Workshop"

Conrad is quoted or mentioned in a variety of media for both his legal and non-legal accomplishments.

While an undergrad at DePaul University, Conrad was a starter on the Division I Men's Varsity Tennis Team and competed on the ATP Professional Tour, where he obtained a world ranking. Furthermore, he was a member of the Dean's List and the Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Alpha Theta fraternities.

• Catholic Charities Maternity & Adoption Guild, Past Coordinator of the Annual Golf and Tennis Outing
• Chicago Sister Cities International
• Polish American Association, former Chairman, Board of Directors
• RedR U.S., Board of Directors