In Memoriam: October 14, 1948 – February 14, 2011
Born in 1948 in Chicago's Marquette Park, Gregory Adamski attended Xavier University where he earned an undergraduate degree in history (1970) and a masters degree in history (1971). He attended law school at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he was the Law Review Articles Editor, earning his degree in 1973.
Greg was employed for two years as a federal law clerk for Judge Richard B. Austin in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. He then worked as an associate for Winston & Strawn, where he was elected partner in 1979, at the age of 30.
During his eight years as an associate and partner of Winston & Strawn (the youngest in the firm's history), Greg performed more free volunteer work than any of his colleagues and started and developed the firm's first pro bono program, devoting over 1,500 hours to volunteer matters.
Greg left Winston & Strawn in 1979 to form Carponelli, Krug & Adamski, spent a number of years as a solo practitioner, and, since 1990, was a partner of Adamski & Conti LLC, concentrating in civil and criminal trial and appellate litigation.
Throughout his 37 years as an attorney, Greg tried over 100 civil and criminal trials, argued over 60 appeals throughout the United States, and litigated matters in almost all areas of the law. He successfully argued a case before the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of the Cook County Democratic Party, and an appeal before the Illinois Supreme Court on behalf of women's rights in the workplace. During his career, he reversed numerous convictions on behalf of criminal defendants in Chicago and across the country. Greg was on the panel of Federal Defenders, an experienced and select group of criminal litigators who represent all types of federal criminal defendants. In 2001, Greg won the prestigious Elmer Getz award for his commitment to the advancement of individual rights, civil liberties, and helping underserved communities.