Her Story
About Shanna
Shanna Valenti is a Civil Defense Litigation Attorney and co-founder of Carter & Valenti LLC, a civil litigation firm she established with a former colleague on July 1, 2026, following the transition of their practice group from a previous firm. She has practiced law since 2014, beginning her career in family law before transitioning to civil defense litigation in 2016. At Carter & Valenti LLC, Valenti represents small businesses, corporations, and individuals, helping protect their interests, reputations, and assets in matters involving motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, construction negligence, catastrophic loss, wrongful death, and other complex civil disputes.
Valenti earned her bachelor’s degree from Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, where she served as a three- or four-year captain of the volleyball team, was recognized as an athlete of the month in her conference, and received a scholarship for postgraduate education. She subsequently earned her J.D. from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. Valenti is a member of the DuPage County Bar Association and the Illinois Defense Council. Among her notable professional accomplishments are two successful Cook County jury verdicts in which juries awarded the exact figures she recommended despite million-dollar demands from leading plaintiff’s attorneys. She was also recognized with the Golden Gavel Award for successful jury verdicts.
Valenti attributes her success to the leadership skills she developed through sports at a young age, along with teamwork, collaboration, and the ability to build strong professional relationships by being personable and approachable. She places a high value on hard work, attention to detail, authenticity, integrity, kindness, and respect, including toward those on the opposing side. Her approach to the practice of law is grounded in maintaining credibility and representing clients with preparation, honesty, and professionalism. Outside of her legal practice, Valenti gives back to her community by volunteering as a youth sports coach, including coaching soccer and basketball through her local park district.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Shanna
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the leadership experience I gained through sports at a young age, as well as the teamwork, collaboration, and strong professional relationships I have built throughout my career. I believe being personable and developing positive working relationships with colleagues and opposing counsel has been an important part of my success. Among my most notable achievements are two successful jury verdicts in Cook County, where the juries awarded the exact figures I suggested despite million-dollar demands from leading plaintiff’s attorneys. I was also honored with the Golden Gavel Award in recognition of successful jury verdicts.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have received from my mentors, including my former boss, Adam Cruiser, and my current partner, Adam Carter, is that one of your greatest assets in the legal profession is your credibility. It is something you should never compromise because once it is lost, it can be extremely difficult to regain. I have carried that advice throughout my career by working with integrity and always representing myself truthfully and authentically. Whether I am appearing before a judge, working with opposing counsel, or addressing a jury, I believe in being genuine, honest, and consistent in how I conduct myself.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
The advice I would give young women entering the legal profession is to always be yourself. It can be tempting to adopt a certain persona because you believe that is what it takes to succeed in law, whether that means acting like a “bulldog” or trying to fit a particular image. But you do not have to change who you are to be effective. If you are naturally kind, warm, and bubbly, embrace those qualities and use them to your advantage. If you are naturally assertive and aggressive, do not let others convince you that those qualities are a weakness. Authenticity is a strength, and staying true to yourself can take you far.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field is navigating the experience of being a younger woman in a profession where leadership remains predominantly male. Serving in a leadership role can sometimes bring a sense of imposter syndrome, while also carrying the responsibility of representing women in the legal profession. At the same time, the field provides constant opportunities to learn and grow. Every case requires developing new knowledge, including understanding the medical aspects of injuries, deposing spine surgeons, and becoming familiar with medical terminology so I can ask thoughtful, informed questions.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that matter most to me in both my professional and personal life are hard work, attention to detail, authenticity, integrity, kindness, and respect. I believe in giving my best effort, being thorough in everything I do, and staying true to who I am. I also believe kindness and respect are especially important when working with people who may have different perspectives or opposing viewpoints. Treating others with professionalism and understanding, even when we disagree, helps build trust and creates stronger relationships.
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