Neil H. Conrad

NEIL CONRAD is a full-service litigator and equally comfortable presenting oral argument to a court of appeals as preparing for an expert deposition in a trial court. He represents individual and corporate clients in courts and arbitrations across the country and in all phases of litigation, from pre-litigation counseling and investigation, to motions for preliminary injunctions and class certification, through post-trial motions and appeals. He has experience in securities, shareholder, antitrust, RICO, breach-of-contract, tax controversy, and trade secret litigation, as well as other kinds of complex commercial litigation and business disputes. In recent years, Neil has been a core team member on several large, high-stakes, fast-moving litigation matters, several of which involved steering clients through parallel proceedings and precedent-setting appeals, and he has taken a lead role crafting strategy, drafting critical briefs, coordinating with experts, and working with witnesses in these complex matters.

Joint defense groups have repeatedly turned to Neil to lead the briefing on a case’s most critical issues, and have trusted him to cross-examine key witnesses. He brings an appellate perspective to all of his matters, and has a keen eye for framing arguments and developing a record to maximize his clients’ chances for success. For example, he has recently drafted successful petitions for certiorari or interlocutory appellate review on high-stakes issues in multiple matters, including in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, the Illinois Supreme Court, and the South Carolina Supreme Court.

Neil devotes significant time to Sidley’s recruiting and associate training efforts, and serves on the Board of Directors for the Greater Chicago Legal Clinic. He was recognized in Chicago Daily Law Bulletin’s 2025 “40 Under Forty” list and highlighted for his “ability to generate innovative strategies while keeping sight of business realities.”

Neil joined Sidley after clerking for Judge David F. Hamilton of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and then-Chief Judge Sidney A. Fitzwater of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. He graduated with honors from the University of Chicago Law School, where he was a comment editor for the University of Chicago Legal Forum, earned the Joseph Henry Beale Prize for excellence in the first-year writing program, won the Edward W. Hinton Moot Court Competition, received the John M. Olin Fellowship in Law and Economics and the Thomas R. Mulroy Award for Excellence in Appellate Advocacy, and was a member of the Federal Criminal Justice Clinic.

Neil’s representative matters include the defense of the following:

• A Fortune 500 hotel and gaming company and its CEO and Chairman in federal securities class action. Prevailed at summary judgment, which was affirmed on appeal.
• A private equity firm and portfolio company in case involving a variety of breach of contract and business tort claims. Won a series of motions, including defeating a motion for preliminary injunction, before favorable settlement.
• A major accounting firm in federal securities class action and related direct action and derivative lawsuits. Won summary judgment on one high-value claim and partial summary judgment on another, which narrowed the class, before cases settled.
• Energy companies in RICO civil litigation challenging regulatory submissions. Motion to dismiss granted.
  
• A pharmaceutical company in RICO and antitrust class action challenging vial sizes. After filing motion to dismiss, plaintiff voluntarily dismissed all claims.
• Healthcare technology companies in trade secret litigation. Motions to dismiss granted.
• Multiple companies on appeal in tax litigation raising questions of statutory interpretation. In one appeal, court reversed a US$29 million judgment against client. Other appeal is currently pending.

• Member of the Board, Greater Chicago Legal Clinic