Karen Conti

Adjunct Professor

Phone: 312-332-7800 Email: kconti@adamskiandconti.com B.A., Northern Illinois University J.D., University of Illinois

Adjunct Professor Karen Conti has been a lawyer for over 23 years concentrating in all types of litigation--criminal and civil.  Karen has excellent and diverse trial experience, having tried bench and jury trials throughout the country.  At the same time, Karen has exceptional negotiation skills which allow her to quickly and creatively settle matters for clients with the least possible expenditure of time and money. A member of the Illinois and California bars, Professor Conti has handled numerous significant cases, including a United States Supreme Court appeal on behalf of the Cook County Democratic Party, the death row appeals of John Wayne Gacy, the criminal case of Marisol Reynolds (wife of former Congressman Mel Reynolds) and a wrongful arrest and injury action against the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers arising from the infamous May 2000 brawl in the Wrigley Field stands.  For 11 years, she has taught "Bootcamp" (the Chicago Litigation Course), a well-recognized course she developed.  The one-week intensive hands-on course uses as regular participants important Chicago judges and administrators such as U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, Governor James Thompson, Cook County States Attorney Dick Devine, Chicago Corporation Counsel Mara George, Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke and many others. Karen has extensive experience and contact with the local and national media.  She is a regular legal commentator on Fox News Network, MSNBC, and Court TV.  She is the designated legal expert for Chicago's local Fox affiliate, giving commentary on diverse issues such as white collar crime, family law, and business law matters. She has appeared on Good Morning America, The Bill O'Reilly Factor, Montel Williams, Leeza Gibbons, and other televisions programs. As co-host and producer of a legal talk show "Chicago Law," she won A.I.R. (Achievement in Radio) Awards for among other things, best Public Affairs and Best Afternoon Drive Program.  Currently, she hosts a weekly legal talk show called "Legally Speaking" on Chicago superstation WGN (AM 720), for which she and co-host Greg Adamski won a Kogan Meritorious Achievement Award. Professor Conti also writes and lectures.  Her articles are published in the Chicago Sun-Times and local magazines.  She has spoken at many seminars and events, including a death penalty symposium with Rubin "Hurricane" Carter and at the 2007 Family Rights Rally at the Lincoln Monument in Washington D.C. Karen graduated magna cum laude and with honors from Northern Illinois University with a degree in Political Science and from University of Illinois College of Law. Her hobbies include reading, traveling, handwriting analysis, and all types of sports.  She is an experienced marathoner and, in 1998, at the age of 36, she competed and won second place in the NPC Illinois Body Building Competition.