Hammer, Margie

Kim Halvorsen worked round the clock on a trial with Robert Clifford in 2007 which resulted in a $15.8 million verdict.  She was behind the scenes, drafting motions and trial briefs, researching critical issues and organizing day-to-day trial testimony.  Kim also is working on complicated work in the voluminous case involving the recovery of property damages involving the destruction of the World Trade Centers on September 11, 2001.  Numerous lawsuits have been filed against American Airlines, United Airlines and US Airways for their multiple failures in properly screening the terrorists that hijacked and boarded two Boeing 767 jets that they piloted into the 110-story structures.  Kim is working on these complex suits brought on behalf of insurance companies and business interests from around the globe that suffered billions of dollars in losses against the twin towers collapse that fateful morning, permanently wiping them from the New York skyline.

Kim is very familiar working on such complex matters.  Before coming to Clifford Law Offices, she worked in the Criminal Enforcement Division of the Illinois Attorney General’s Office.  There she prepared policy summaries and analyses of state and federal legislation, as well as assist attorneys for trial.  Kim also worked as a member of the Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s Issue Development Staff where she traveled to Springfield for the legislative session to assist in implementing the Democratic caucus agenda.  Kim worked closely with state legislators on a daily basis, providing them analyses of pending legislation debated on the House floor, as well as recommending legislation sponsorship and researching state-funded programs.  Kim helped run key House committees that considered legislation affecting the state budget, judiciary, health care and public safety.  She helped coordinate and plan forums to assist constituents in applying and receiving state aid and program assistance.  Kim always is anxious to help those through all available avenues.

Kim’s academic achievements are outstanding as well.  Kim graduated magna cum laude from DePaul University and was a member of the DePaul Law Review.  Kim wrote her comment for the DePaul Law Review on the unconstitutionality of the cap on non-economic damages passed by the Illinois Legislature in 2005.  Kim was named to the Dean’s List and received the CALI Award for Excellence in Trial Advocacy, Civil Procedure and Products Liability Litigation, achieving the highest grade in each of those classes.  She received her undergraduate degree at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, majoring in Political Science.  There she was named to the Dean’s List and a member of the Phi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honor Society.

Kim is a hard worker and enjoys a challenge, particularly in preparing cases at Clifford Law Offices in the area of transportation and medical malpractice, some of the most complex areas of law.