Nicholas H. Nick Callahan

Nicholas H. Nick Callahan

Commercial Litigation

4.0 (1 reviews)
Chicago, Illinois
20+ years experience
Barack Ferrazzano
Updated:

Contact Information

200 West Madison Street, Suite 3900, Chicago, IL 60606
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Bio

Nick wins cases for clients and helps them favorably resolve disputes, including complex partnership, corporate governance, finance, and deal disputes. As a first-chair trial lawyer who has tried more than 30 jury trials, bench trials, and arbitrations, when a rare business case goes to trial, other law firms and clients ask him to join or lead the trial team.Nick splits his time between Barack Ferrazzano’s Minneapolis and Chicago offices, although he regularly appears in courts across the country. Nick's trial experience and litigation style make him well-suited to represent plaintiffs. In recent years, he has recovered more than $125 million for his clients. He also represents defendants; for example, he has defeated by early motion practice numerous class actions seeking to stop M&A transactions involving more than $1 billion in aggregate transaction value. He also defends individuals against government agencies in administrative hearings and civil trials.Nick frequently represents clients in the financial industry, including hedge funds, private equity funds, and banks, as well as their owners or partners. In line with the firm’s reputation as a nationally pre-eminent real estate firm, many of these clients focus on commercial real estate.Nick is passionate about the legal profession and trial practice. He has served on the faculty of the National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA), which is the country’s leading organization for trial skills training for practicing attorneys. Through other continuing education legal programs for attorneys, he has presented with judges and other attorneys on picking juries, examining witnesses, and litigation issues surrounding shareholder and deal disputes. He also teaches a law school class on litigation practice. Committed to pro bono work, his favorite trial story is when he defeated a slumlord and the judge cleared the courtroom because of the raucous cheering by the group of tenants and neighbors. Nick wins cases for clients and helps them favorably resolve disputes, including complex partnership, corporate governance, finance, and deal disputes. As a first-chair trial lawyer who has tried more than 30 jury trials, bench trials, and arbitrations, when a rare business case goes to trial, other law firms and clients ask him to join or lead the trial team.Nick splits his time between Barack Ferrazzano’s Minneapolis and Chicago offices, although he regularly appears in courts across the country. Nick's trial experience and litigation style make him well-suited to represent plaintiffs. In recent years, he has recovered more than $125 million for his clients. He also represents defendants; for example, he has defeated by early motion practice numerous class actions seeking to stop M&A transactions involving more than $1 billion in aggregate transaction value. He also defends individuals against government agencies in administrative hearings and civil trials.Nick frequently represents clients in the financial industry, including hedge funds, private equity funds, and banks, as well as their owners or partners. In line with the firm’s reputation as a nationally pre-eminent real estate firm, many of these clients focus on commercial real estate.Nick is passionate about the legal profession and trial practice. He has served on the faculty of the National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA), which is the country’s leading organization for trial skills training for practicing attorneys. Through other continuing education legal programs for attorneys, he has presented with judges and other attorneys on picking juries, examining witnesses, and litigation issues surrounding shareholder and deal disputes. He also teaches a law school class on litigation practice. Committed to pro bono work, his favorite trial story is when he defeated a slumlord and the judge cleared the courtroom because of the raucous cheering by the group of tenants and neighbors. Nick wins cases for clients and helps them favorably resolve disputes, including complex partnership, corporate governance, finance, and deal disputes. As a first-chair trial lawyer who has tried more than 30 jury trials, bench trials, and arbitrations, when a rare business case goes to trial, other law firms and clients ask him to join or lead the trial team. Nick splits his time between Barack Ferrazzano’s Minneapolis and Chicago offices, although he regularly appears in courts across the country. Nick's trial experience and litigation style make him well-suited to represent plaintiffs. In recent years, he has recovered more than $125 million for his clients. In line with the firm’s reputation as a nationally pre-eminent real estate firm, many of these clients focus on commercial real estate. Nick is passionate about the legal profession and trial practice. He has served on the faculty of the National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA), which is the country’s leading organization for trial skills training for practicing attorneys. Through other continuing education legal programs for attorneys, he has presented with judges and other attorneys on picking juries, examining witnesses, and litigation issues surrounding shareholder and deal disputes. He also teaches a law school class on litigation practice. Committed to pro bono work, his favorite trial story is when he defeated a slumlord and the judge cleared the courtroom because of the raucous cheering by the group of tenants and neighbors.

Practice Areas

Commercial Litigation

Awards & Recognition

  • Recognized: Commercial Litigation
  • Recognized: Litigation - Banking and Finance
  • Recognized: Litigation - Real Estate
  • Practice Area: Litigation - Securities

Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2023

Education

  • University of Wisconsin–Madison, B.S., graduated 2005
  • Northwestern University, J.D., graduated 2009

Reviews

D

Dorothy Nelson

2 weeks ago

A formidable advocate for complex commercial disputes

Nick Callahan represented our real estate investment group in a contentious partnership dispute that threatened to derail a major development project. His deep experience in both corporate governance and real estate litigation, honed over two decades, was immediately evident. He didn't just understand the legal principles; he grasped the intricate financial and operational nuances of our situation. His recognition in areas like banking and finance litigation is well-deserved, as his strategy effectively navigated those overlapping complexities. Nick is a true first-chair trial lawyer—calm, strategic, and persuasive. We achieved a settlement that protected our interests and allowed the project to move forward. The only minor critique would be that during the most intense phases, communication from his team could sometimes lag by a day. Overall, his expertise at Barack Ferrazzano was invaluable for our high-stakes matter in Chicago.

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