J. Nic Harkey

Nic Harkey joined Sandberg Phoenix in 2026 and is a member of the firm’s Business Litigation and Products Liability Practice Groups. He is an attorney with extensive experience in appellate and federal court practice, grounded in nearly a decade of judicial clerkship and litigation support roles. He earned his J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law in 2018, where he was actively involved in moot court, served as a teaching assistant for Legal Writing and Analysis and Introduction to Advocacy, worked as a Student Assistant in the Office of the State Appellate Defender, and was recognized with a pro bono graduation notation.

Following law school, Nic served as a judicial law clerk to two justices of the Illinois Appellate Court, Third District, where he supported the court in resolving complex appeals across a broad range of legal issues. His work included drafting proposed opinions and orders, preparing oral argument questions, assisting with motions, and conducting extensive legal research.

He later served as a term law clerk to a United States District Judge in the Southern District of Illinois from 2022 to 2026. In that role, he managed a substantial docket and supported all phases of civil and criminal litigation, including discovery disputes, motion practice, trial preparation, jury instructions, and sentencing proceedings.

Prior to his clerkships, Nic gained additional judicial experience as an extern for both a federal district judge and a circuit judge in Illinois, and worked as a student associate and law clerk at a local general practice law firm.

Nic is an avid sports fan, especially of the St. Louis Cardinals and the University of Illinois Fighting Illini. He enjoys the outdoors, including running with his dog Louie, fishing, and swimming and boating. He currently lives in Bethalto, Illinois, with his wife, Taylor, and their growing family.