Experienced Civil Litigation Attorney in Illinois

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Founding Partner

Adam C. Carter is a founding partner of Carter & Valenti LLC, where he represents businesses, insurers, transportation companies, and individuals in complex civil litigation throughout Illinois. With extensive experience in state and federal courts, Adam has built a reputation for providing strategic legal counsel, practical advice, and effective advocacy in matters ranging from pre-suit investigations through trial. He believes that effective representation begins with careful preparation, early case evaluation, and a practical understanding of each client's goals.

Over a 25-year career that spans both major regional law firms and nimble, client-focused boutique practices, Adam has learned that the best legal strategies are built on a foundation of trust and active listening. He bridges the gap between big-firm capability and small-firm accessibility, ensuring his clients never feel like just another case file.  He believes that clear, direct communication is just as important as a sharp courtroom argument, and he takes pride in being a steady, reliable advocate every step of the way. 

Adam's practice focuses on the defense of construction defect litigation, fire origin and cause investigation and litigation, transportation and trucking litigation, motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, product liability, construction negligence, commercial disputes, and catastrophic injury claims. He has successfully represented clients in high-exposure cases involving significant personal injury and wrongful death allegations, consistently developing litigation strategies that align with each client's legal and business objectives.

As a trial attorney and founding partner of Carter & Valenti LLC, Adam prepares every case with the expectation that it may ultimately be presented to a judge or jury. His experience allows him to confidently evaluate risk, negotiate favorable resolutions when appropriate, and aggressively advocate for his clients when litigation proceeds to trial.

 When he isn’t in the office or the courtroom, Adam is deeply rooted in his local community. He spends his weekends coaching youth soccer, volunteering at his church, and relaxing with a great playlist or discovering new music. Above all, he treasures spending quality time with his family. 

• Construction Defect Litigation
• Catastrophic Injury & Wrongful Death Defense
• Fire Origin and Cause  Litigation
• Product Liability
• Commercial Litigation
• Transportation & Trucking Litigation
• Motor Vehicle Litigation
• Premises Liability
• Insurance Coverage

University of Illinois College of Law

     Juris Doctor, cum laude

Augustana College

      Bachelor of Arts, cum laude

State of Illinois

United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois

United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois

Illinois Defense Counsel

• First Vice President, current
• Second Vice President, 2025-2026
• Secretary/Treasurer, 2025
• Board of Directors, 2016-2025
• Chair of IDC Civil Practice Committee, 2013-2017, 2018-2019
• IDC Civil Practice Committee, 2007-present
• IDC Legislative Committee, 2015-present

Representative Cases

Transportation/Trucking

Case: Cassaro v. McNelly Services, Inc., et al.

Court: Circuit Court of Cook County, IL

Judge: Judge Daniel Trevino

Plaintiff’s Counsel: Aaron D. Boeder, Tara R. Devine, & Michael J. Schostok of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard

Client: McNelly Services, Inc. and Miguel Flores

Facts: Defendant driver pulled out of a Chicago neighborhood alley, colliding with Plaintiff’s vehicle. Plaintiff claimed herniated C5-6 and C6-7 discs requiring two-level disc replacement surgery, mild traumatic brain injury with post-concussive symptoms, and a labral tear in his right shoulder, ($213,000 past medical expenses stipulated, $700,000 future medical expenses). Plaintiff asked jury for over $15,400,000 in damages.

Result: Jury verdict of $229,000 after 50% deduction from $458,000 for Plaintiff’s contributory negligence.

Case: Howard v. A-1 Property Service, Inc., et al.

Court: Circuit Court of Kane County, IL

Judge: Judge Robert Villa

Plaintiff’s Counsel: Palermo Law Group, LLC

Clients: A-1 Property Services, Inc. and Jeffrey Dady

Facts: Plaintiff made a left turn across traffic in Aurora, Illinois. Our client was travelling in the opposite direction and collided with Plaintiff’s vehicle. Plaintiff contended that northbound traffic was far enough away from the subject intersection to safely make her left turn and that our client was travelling too fast for conditions. We filed a counterclaim for property damage.

Plaintiff’s Demand: $171,000.

Result: A jury verdict was entered in favor of the defendants on Plaintiff’s claim and in favor of our client for the full amount of our counterclaim for property damage.

Commercial/Breach of Contract

Case: O’Sullivan v. DMI, LLC, et al.

Court: Circuit Court of Cook County, IL

Judge: James E. Snyder

Plaintiff’s Counsel: Kopecky Schumacher Rosenburg LLC

Clients: DMI, LLC, Nathan Greiner, C.J. Kuehl, and Bartly Loethen

Facts: Plaintiff claimed a breach of contract and violation of the Illinois Wage Payment Collection Act when he was terminated from his role as interim CEO of DMI, LLC. Defendants won summary judgment on three counts, obtained a directed verdict on seven counts, a defense finding on three counts, and one count in favor of the Plaintiff. The verdict was upheld on appeal.

Publications and Presentations

“Biomechanics on the Defense: Using Biomechanical Experts to Challenge Causation,” Presentation with Expert Professional Engineer, Anne Mathias, ESI, IDC Modern Defense of Damages Conference, December 2025

“The Element of Proximate Cause in a Personal Injury Lawsuit: Analysis, Complicating Factors, and Changing Jury Instructions,” IDC Quarterly, Monograph, Volume 32, Number 3, 2022,  V32N3_wMonograph.pdf 

“The Evolution of Forum Non Conveniens in Illinois and Recent Legislation to Limit the Doctrine,” IDC Quarterly, Monograph, Volume 31, Number 1, 2021,  Quarterly_V31N1_with_Monogra.pdf 

“7 Tips to Understand Construction Contracts,” L&W Supply Corporation’s Blog & News, May 2017, https://www.lwsupply.com/blog-news/7-tips-understand-construction-contracts/

“The Use of Artificial Intelligence, Electronic Discovery, Storage and Privacy,” and “Vignettes in Legal Ethics,” Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel, Panel Discussion, November 2016

“Just When You Thought You Knew Who You Represented: A New Decision May Upset the Law Regarding Attorney Liability to Third Parties,” IDC Quarterly, Monograph, Volume 26, Number 2, 2016, http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.iadtc.org/resource/resmgr/quarterly_v26-27/26.2.m1.pdf

“How Am I Going to Settle This Case? Alternative Dispute Resolution,” Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel, Panel Discussion, May 2016

“Tort Law Update on Illinois and Florida Law,” XL Catlin Continuing Education Presentation, Exton, Pennsylvania, January 2016

“Personal Jurisdiction After Daimler AG v. Bauman,” Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel’s Statewide CLE Series, The Outing Club, Davenport, Iowa, April 2015

“Simultaneous Disclosure of Experts in Cook County: To What End and At What Cost?” IDC Defense Update, Volume 13, Number 1, March 2012, http://www.crayhuber.com/articles/Civil_Practice_Newsletter-V13N1-Adam_C_Carter.pdf

“Legal Malpractice v. Breach of Fiduciary Duty: Determining the Proper Remedy,” IDC Quarterly, Monograph, First Quarter, 2007, http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.iadtc.org/resource/resmgr/Quarterly_V16-17/17.1.M2.pdf

Honors and Awards

IDC Distinguished Member Award, 2021, https://www.ekclawfirm.com/images/pdf/DistinguishedMember-Carter.pdf

IDC Meritorious Service Award for service as Chair of Civil Practice Committee

Selected as an Emerging Lawyer in Illinois by Leading Lawyers Network

IDC President’s Commendation for Leadership and Service on IDC Cost & Delay Task Force

International Association of Defense Counsel Trial Academy Graduate