Nicholas A. Gowen

Nicholas Gowen is a partner at Burke, Warren, MacKay & Serritella, P.C. Nicholas is a trial attorney who represents global companies, middle-market businesses, and entrepreneurs in commercial business disputes including shareholder disputes, real estate litigation, trade secrets, employment matters, and other business disputes in courts and arbitration forums around the country. Nicholas approaches litigation with an eye toward results; understanding that advancing his clients’ litigation strategies should fit within their overall business interests. Nicholas is well-versed in all forms of alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration.  In addition to serving as an advocate in arbitration and mediation, he is a commercial and consumer arbitrator listed on the American Arbitration Association’s National Roster of Arbitrators.

Nicholas has been honored by Crain's Custom Media as one of Chicago’s Notable Litigators and Trial Attorneys, and twice selected by Crain's Custom Media as one of Chicago's Notable Minority Lawyers. He was previously honored as one of Chicago’s “Top 40 under 40 Game Changers” by Ariel Investments and The Urban Business Roundtable.

Nicholas received his B.A. in political science with honors from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2000, where he was admitted to Phi Beta Kappa, and his J.D.,cum laude, from the University of Illinois College of Law in 2003.

• Crain's Custom Media, honored as one of Chicago’s Notable Litigators and Trial Attorneys for 2023
• Crain's Custom Media, honored as one of Chicago’s Notable Minority Executives in Accounting, Consulting and Law for 2020
• Crain's Custom Media, honored as one of Chicago's Notable Minority Lawyers for 2018
• Ariel Investments and The Urban Business Roundtable, honored as one of Chicago's Top 40 under 40 Game Changers, 2012
• Illinois Super Lawers, 2020-2021
• Illinois Super Lawyers, recognized as a Rising Star, 2008-2019

• Chicago State University, Board of Trustees, Chairman/Vice-Chair/Member, (2017-2019)
• Project H.O.O.D. Advisory Committee, Board of Directors (2012 – Present)
• Illinois Equal Justice Foundation, Board of Directors (2018-Present)
• Kimball Anderson and Karen Gatsis Anderson Center for Advocacy and Professionalism at the University of Illinois College of Law, Advisory Board, Member (2021 – present)
• University of Illinois College of Law, Diversity Committee, Alumni Representative (2022-present)
• Chicago Foundation for Education, Board of Directors (2019-2020)
• University of Illinois at Chicago, Visiting Instructor, Political Science, (2005-2017)
• Chicago Bar Association Judicial Evaluation Committee, Investigative Division, member
• National Bar Association

o Commercial Law Section

• Chicago Bar Association

o Federal Civil Practice Committee, Past Vice Chair/Chair

• National Employment Law Council
• American Arbitration Association, National Panel of Commercial Litigation and Consumer Arbitration Panel Arbitrator
• Economic Club of Chicago, Member