Firm Overview

History

Nielsen, Zehe & Antas, P.C. was founded in 1997, after a series of split offs from a major Chicago law firm. Since that time, the firm has steadily grown to a group of diverse attorneys with a reputation for providing high-quality, cost-effective, innovative legal services through out the United States. Our clients are local, national and international corporations, insurance companies and individuals.

Achievements

Craig Antas and the firm were selected as counsel and investigators by the Cook County Commission Investigating the 69 W. Washington Building Fire (commonly known as the “Mikva Commission”) at the Cook County Administration Building that occurred on October 17, 2003.  Six people died in this fire.

In the aftermath of the fire, Cook County Board President John Stroger appointed an independent commission to investigate and come to conclusions as to all relevant factors regarding the fire including the cause of the fire, why six people died, and what recommendations the Commission could provide to the County to avoid such a tragedy in the future.

Judge Abner Mikva chaired the Mikva Commission and its vice-chairman was Judge Earl Strayhorn.  The other Commissioners were Justice William Cousins, Judge Sheila Murphy and Professor Dave deVries.  Firm partners, Craig Antas and George Ellison lead the firm’s efforts for the Mikva Commission.

The Commission, through the firm as counsel, conducted public testimony, under oath, from 48 individuals.  The firm also conducted over 60 interviews and collected and reviewed thousands of documents.

On July 7, 2004, the Mikva Commission issued its Report, which the firm assisted in preparing.  On September 20, 2004, the City of Chicago Fire Department held a press conference wherein it announced that it was implementing practically of all of the Mikva Commission’s recommendations.

The firm is extremely proud to have been a part of history as counsel to one of the most esteemed independent Commissions in the country’s history.  Even more importantly, the firm is pleased to have hopefully contributed to saving lives by the Chicago Fire Department’s adoption of the Mikva Commission’s recommendations.

Philosophy

Our goal is to provide aggressive, cost-effective representation and legal advice in state and federal courts and in various alternative dispute resolution forums. We achieve this goal in an environment where our clients obtain large firm experience and support, but with the personalized service and flexibility only a smaller firm can provide. Our clients are provided with unfettered access to the attorneys who are actively managing their files. We are committed to ensuring that our clients are fully informed and prepared to make informed decisions about their legal matters.

Our firm has grown steadily and our success and growth can be attributed to our commitment to finding creative solutions to the resolution of our clients' legal problems whether by settlement, litigation or the use of alternative dispute resolution. We emphasize proactive, not reactive, strategies to achieve this commitment.

Experience

The Firm's attorneys have substantial litigation experience. Our attorneys have settled hundreds of cases, including the use of arbitrations and mediations, whenever possible. However, when necessary, our attorneys are experienced trial attorneys, many of who have won verdicts in excess of $1 million, and who have defended substantial claims. Our attorneys are known to be zealous courtroom advocates. Seven of our attorneys are former State's Attorneys, having tried hundreds of jury and bench trials. We invite you to review the experience of our Firm's attorneys in the Attorney Profiles section.