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Cliff Demosthene

Cliff Demosthene is of counsel at the firm’s Chicago office and a member of the Diversity Committee. He focuses his practice on commercial litigation, environmental and toxic tort, product liability, medical liability, and general liability. Cliff also litigates in the areas of professional liability, premises liability, construction, construction defect, employment, and subrogation. He has extensive experience litigating and negotiating a wide range of disputes and has tried cases to verdict in both civil and criminal courts.

Prior to joining CNA Insurance, Cliff represented clients in matters related to municipal representation, Chapter 7 bankruptcies, landlord-tenant disputes, and criminal defense.

Cliff is a member of several professional organizations, including the Chicago Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, and Haitian American Lawyers Association.

Langdon Neal

Mr. Neal is a principal and owner of Neal & Leroy, LLC. He joined the family-owned firm in 1981, becoming the third generation of lawyers practicing in Chicago. Mr. Neal's practice concentrates in real estate, zoning, land use, and public and private finance. Mr. Neal is rated "AV" by Martindale-Hubbell and has been recommended by Leading Lawyers.

Representative Matters

More than 25 years of experience as General Counsel for the Public Building Commission of Chicago. Drafted and established procurement and construction strategies, along with corresponding documents and agreements, for the construction of over $1 billion in public facilities. Advised various municipal entities, boards, and commissions on governance, ethics, MBE/WBE compliance, and other organizational matters. Experienced litigation and trial attorney representing governmental entities and property owners in numerous condemnation matters. Represents property owners, major developers, and governmental entities in land use, zoning matters, and project finance.

Representative Matters

• Obtained a favorable verdict in the amount of $18 million on behalf of a client in an eminent domain trial

• Provided commercial, retail, residential, and industrial real estate transaction services, including purchase and sale contracts for major financial institutions

• Represented numerous real estate companies in development planning and municipal finance, including Tax Increment Financing (TIF)

• Managed rezoning of a planned development for reuse of property designated for a basketball arena and commercial/retail use as part of the McCormick Place expansion

• Represented Wal-Mart in site development and entitlement work for properties in Northern Illinois and Indiana

• Led the legal team in acquiring 600 parcels in connection with the expansion of Chicago O’Hare International Airport and CTA Orange, Brown, and Green Line expansion and redevelopment

• Defended Abbott Laboratories in an eminent domain proceeding involving approximately 10 acres of property, along with other public and private projects

• Represented Rush University Medical Center in closing a $100 million public finance entitlement for construction of a new hospital

• Serves as General Counsel to the Board of Trustees of a major university

Professional Activities

• Honorary Chair and Keynote Speaker, Mikva Challenge Foundation (May 2014)

• Moderator, Support the Voter, Joyce Foundation (April 2014)

• Lecturer, American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers

• Lecturer, Cook County Bar Association, Judicial Candidates Symposium

• "After School Matters" after-school programming for Chicago Public School students

• Black Ensemble Theater

• Jane Addams Juvenile Court Foundation

• High Jump, Academic Enrichment Program

• Chicago Board of Election Commissioners (Chairman, 1997 – Present)

• Chicago Bar Association

• Cook County Bar Association

• Illinois State Bar Association

• American Bar Association

Education

University of Illinois Law School, J.D., 1981

Cornell University, B.A., 1978

Honors and Awards

• Crain’s Who’s Who in Chicago Business (2016)

• Neal Family received 2016 Legendary Landmark Award (Legendary Landmark Neal Presentation)

• Featured as a Leading Lawyer in Leading Lawyers Magazine (January 2016 Edition)

• Featured in Best Lawyers 2016 Illinois Edition in Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law

• Listed as a Top Real Estate Attorney in Illinois (Super Lawyers Magazine, Illinois 2016)

• Matthew Maloney Tradition of Excellence Award (2010), Illinois State Bar Association General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Section

• High Jump, Richard J. Almeida Award (2010)

Nakisha Bryant

Nakisha Bryant provides counsel on product regulatory compliance and is focused on defending companies in complex product liability and mass tort litigation. Her prior experiences helped Nakisha to develop strong client relationship management and communication skills, essential for understanding and advocating for clients' needs in legal settings. Her experience coordinating with cross-functional teams demonstrates strong project management and organizational abilities, which are critical for handling complex legal cases or transactions.

Prior Experience

During law school, Nakisha was recruited by the directors of the legal writing program to serve as a research assistant. In this role, she reviewed and revised the first-year curriculum, proposing user-experience improvements to course materials. She also gained practical legal experience as a law clerk for a Chicago-based firm, where she conducted legal research, documented court proceedings, assisted with witness preparation, and prepared exhibit lists and memoranda. In 2023, Nakisha further honed her skills as a summer associate at Faegre Drinker.

Before pursuing a legal career, Nakisha worked at Creative Group, Inc., a performance improvement company specializing in engagement, incentive and recognition solutions. She held multiple roles, ultimately managing event production lifecycles, client relationships, and cross-functional teams. Her key achievements included spearheading the meeting/incentive travel planning process, managing operational staff, creating/managing budgets to meet financial targets, contracting third-party suppliers, curating timelines, overseeing venue selection, and onsite execution, all of which helped to develop her skills in operational efficiency and project management. Earlier roles emphasized technical skills such as building event-registration websites, maintaining attendee data, finalizing guest lists, and preparing detailed planning and risk mitigation reports, reflecting her ability to thrive in dynamic, detail-oriented environments.

Personal Interests 

Nakisha is passionate about visiting new places and loves to travel. When she isn’t traveling, she’s working to plan her next trip, including the place she’ll be staying, the sites she’ll be seeing, and especially where she’ll be dining. Nakisha is a foodie and combines her love of cooking shows — including but definitely not limited to Top Chef — by visiting those featured restaurants in the Chicago area.

Bar Admissions

Education

Cortez Johnson

Cortez focuses his practice on middle market private equity and M&A transactions, representing sponsors, investors, strategic acquirers and management teams in connection with mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures and general corporate matters across a wide range of industries.

In addition to his private equity and M&A practice, Cortez advises athletes, creators, media companies and investors in the entertainment, media and sports industries in connection with commercial partnerships and other business ventures. As a former Division I college athlete, he brings a practical perspective to the strategic and reputational considerations that shape deals in these sectors.

Prior to joining Reed Smith, Cortez was a corporate associate at a prominent New York-based international law firm where he advised public and private companies on high-value M&A and capital market transactions across the pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, gaming and telecommunications industries. Earlier in his career, he was an M&A tax associate at two Big Four public accounting firms, where he focused on transaction structuring and tax due diligence for middle market private equity deals. This foundation informs Cortez’s commercially grounded perspective and equips him with a thoughtful, solutions-oriented approach to advising clients through complex transactions.

Cortez began his professional career as a high school teacher and Teach For America corps member, an experience that continues to shape his community-driven approach to client service and collaboration. He remains deeply engaged in pro bono work supporting emerging entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Education

Sean Brown

Attorney Brown is a passionate advocate and skilled attorney for his clients. He is a lifelong resident of Chicago and the surrounding suburbs.

He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Dubuque and his law degree from the Mississippi College School of Law. Attorney Brown is licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois and in the U.S. District Courts for the Northern Districts of Illinois and Indiana.

Sean Brown began his legal career as a litigation paralegal at a large law firm, where he assisted in defending Fortune 500 companies against numerous lawsuits. He later became a prosecutor, seeking justice for the people of Cook County while working in the appellate and child support enforcement units, and later in the juvenile delinquency and criminal divisions of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office.

After recognizing the need for a well versed attorney in his community with whom individuals could build lasting relationships, Sean Brown opened The Law Office of Sean Brown.

With a strong foundation in criminal and family law, he expanded his practice to serve individuals in need of representation in real estate, commercial litigation, bankruptcy, and personal injury matters.