Admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1984, I’ve spent more than four decades litigating and resolving complex disputes. My practice evolved from plaintiff personal injury litigation to the representation of employers in third-party contribution actions, and ultimately to insurance coverage litigation. From the late 1990s until my retirement from litigation in June 2026, I concentrated on coverage disputes arising from a wide range of underlying matters, including bodily injury claims, intentional torts, and commercial litigation.

 

My experience has provided me with a unique perspective, gained from representing parties with differing interests and objectives. I've been AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell since 2003 and  recognized annually in Best Lawyers for Insurance Law and Insurance Litigation since 2013. Colleagues and clients describe me as fair, patient, practical and creative. Those qualities, coupled with decades of litigation experience, enable me to understand the realities of dispute resolution and the concerns of all participants.

 

Mediation offers something that litigation cannot: A forum where the parties themselves control the outcome of their dispute. It allows them to pursue practical solutions, manage risk, avoid the expense and uncertainty of continued litigation, and achieve closure.

 

My mission as a mediator is to help parties evaluate their options, identify common ground, and reach informed resolutions in a neutral, respectful, and confidential environment. Please contact me if you have a case that I can help resolve.

 

Best, Rich Valentino 

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