Conrad C. Nowak

Conrad C. Nowak joined Corboy & Demetrio in 2023, bringing with him more than 18 years of defense litigation experience in the areas of personal injury, product liability, toxic tort, construction, aviation, trucking and commercial litigation.

A former litigation partner at a national law firm, he successfully represented clients at numerous trials, mediations and arbitrations. He has harnessed that experience to better serve people and families who have suffered due to the negligence of others, including that of individuals,  manufacturers and large corporations.

Conrad has received numerous distinctions during his legal career. He was selected to The Best Lawyers in America, 2026 edition, in the area of personal injury litigation - plaintiffs.   He was also selected to the 2026 edition of Illinois Super Lawyers in the area of personal injury law - plaintiffs.

Since 2024, Conrad has been selected to the elite Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America. In 2025, he was also selected to Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers. For over a decade, Conrad has also been repeatedly selected to Illinois Leading Lawyers, a designation that fewer than 5% of attorneys in the state attain.

In 2023, Conrad received The Decalogue Society of Lawyers’ Award of Excellence.  He received the Illinois Lawyers Assistance Program's Carl H. Rolewick Award in 2022, and Crain’s Chicago Business selected Conrad to its 2020 “Notable Veteran Executives” for his commitment to clients and the veteran community.

 A U.S. Army veteran and former non-commissioned officer, Conrad served in a variety of units, including the 13th Infantry Regiment and 3rd BN, Military Intelligence Detachment, 12th Special Forces Group (ABN).

Conrad graduated from DePaul University, with honors, obtaining a B.A. in History in 1998.  He obtained a J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 2002 and served as Features Editor of The Loyola University Forum of International Law and as Assistant Features Editor of The Public Interest Law Reporter.

After graduating law school, Conrad completed 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.

As a law student, Conrad served in two prestigious internships, with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois and with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Chicago District Office.

While an undergraduate student 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.

Conrad is a renowned advocate regarding veterans' mental health, suicide awareness, and suicide prevention, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Lawyers’ Assistance Program of Illinois, where he has both authored articles and spoken on mental health issues.

Conrad is committed to various charitable causes and non-profits that help others locally and abroad.  Conrad is a past Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Polish American Association, a past Chairman of the Board of Directors of Field Ready, and a Board Member of RedR U.S., the latter two organizations focusing on international humanitarian relief. He also currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Warsaw Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International.  

In 2025, Conrad received the Volunteer of the Year Award from World Business Chicago and Sister Cities International, and it was presented to him by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson at the Chicago International Gala on Nov. 14, 2025.

The proud son of immigrant parents, he speaks Polish fluently and is also familiar with Serbo-Croatian.

Conrad is admitted to the Illinois State Bar, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.

Honors

Top 250, Leading Lawyers, 2026

The Best Lawyers in America, 2026 edition, in the area of personal injury - plaintiffs

Illinois Super Lawyers, 2026, personal injury - plaintiffs; Rising Stars, 2009 – 2010

Volunteer of the Year Award, World Business Chicago and Sister Cities International, 2025

Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America, 2024-present

Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers, 2025

Award of Excellence, The Decalogue Society of Lawyers, 2023

Carl H. Rolewick Award, Illinois Lawyers Assistance Program, 2022

"Notable Veteran Executives," Crain's Chicago Business, 2020

"40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch," Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and Chicago Lawyer Magazine, 2012

Illinois Leading Lawyers in the areas of Personal Injury Defense Law - General and Products Liability Defense Law, 2013-2022

Illinois Leading Lawyers in the area of Personal Injury Law: General, 2026

Professional Affiliations

Chicago Bar Association Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, Member, 2025

Illinois Leading Lawyers, 2013 - present

Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America, 2024-present

Lawyers' Assistance Program of Illinois, Board of Directors, 2025

Community Involvement

City of Chicago Mayoral Engagement Council, Polish Americans Member for Mayor Emanuel, Mayor Lightfoot and Mayor Johnson

Field Ready, Chairman, Board of Directors, 2017-2022; Board Member, 2023

Illinois Lawyers' Assistance Program, Board of Directors, 2025

Polish American Association, Chairman, Board of Directors, 2010-2013; Board Member, 2006-2018 

RedR U.S., Board Member, 2023

Special Forces Association, Chapter 37, Associate Member

Warsaw Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International, Co-chair, 2018--present; Board Member, 2006-2018

Successes

Practice Areas

Speaking Engagements and Presentations

"Shifting Sands: What to Expect in an Everchanging Legal Environment," AAJ 2026 Annual Convention, July 27, 2026

"Supreme Court Rules and Policy Updates," Illinois Trial Lawyers Association's Illinois Update & Review CLE, Oct. 10, 2025 

"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

Education

Loyola University Chicago School of Law, J.D., 2002

DePaul University, B.A., with honors, History, 1998

Languages

• Fluent in Polish. 

Bar & Court Admissions

• State Bar of Illinois
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
• U.S. District Court for the Northern Districct of Illnois