Scott J. Kater - Chicago, IL
Attorney at Clifford Law Offices
Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Chicago, IL
120 North LaSalle Street 36th Floor Chicago, IL 60602
- Free Consultation
- 1 Super Lawyers®
-
10
Years
Experience
Chicago Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Updated: 10/30/2026
Areas of Practice
- Medical Malpractice
- Professional Negligence
- Catastrophic Injury
- Wrongful Death
- Aviation
- Product Liability
- Complex Negligence Litigation
Attorney Information
Overview
Scott J. Kater is an established trial attorney with nearly a decade of experience handling complex, high-exposure litigation. As a partner at Clifford Law Offices, he focuses his practice on medical malpractice and professional negligence cases while also representing individuals and families in catastrophic injury, wrongful death, aviation, product liability, and complex negligence litigation. His experience handling significant claims involving medical providers, hospitals, corporations, manufacturers, and other institutions informs his approach to investigating liability, developing case strategy, and preparing cases for trial.
Mr. Kater represents patients and families in complex medical malpractice cases involving physicians, hospitals, medical groups, and healthcare institutions. His work includes matters involving serious injuries and deaths arising from alleged failures in medical care and other forms of professional negligence. He handles these cases from initial investigation through discovery, depositions, complex motion practice, settlement negotiations, and trial.
In addition to his medical malpractice practice, Mr. Kater is a member of the firm’s aviation practice group representing families in litigation arising from the January 2025 midair collision near Washington, D.C. He works closely with clients and plays an active role in case strategy, discovery, and depositions in the complex claims stemming from the crash.
He is also part of the Clifford Law Offices team investigating the November 2025 crash of UPS Flight 2976 in Louisville, Kentucky. His work includes helping develop the factual record and evaluating potential liability as the firm represents families who lost loved ones and individuals who were injured in the crash and on the ground.
Mr. Kater also handles catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases involving serious motor vehicle collisions, electrocution injuries, product liability, and other complex negligence claims. His experience spans all phases of litigation, including pre-suit investigation, discovery, depositions, complex motion practice, trial, and appeal.
Before joining Clifford Law Offices, Mr. Kater represented hospitals, medical providers, manufacturers, and multinational corporations in matters involving catastrophic injury and allegations of professional negligence. His experience preparing corporate representatives for testimony, conducting and defending depositions, evaluating significant claims, and developing defense strategy provides firsthand insight into how corporations and institutions approach high-stakes litigation. He now applies that experience when representing plaintiffs in medical malpractice, catastrophic injury, wrongful death, and other complex cases.
Mr. Kater has extensive courtroom experience in both state and federal courts. He has served as second chair in multiple jury trials and as lead counsel in complex motion practice and discovery proceedings. His work includes preparing licensed professionals and corporate representatives for testimony, conducting and defending depositions, and arguing dispositive and evidentiary motions. He has also briefed and argued matters before the Illinois Appellate Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
Mr. Kater was selected for the 2027 Illinois Super Lawyers® list after previously being recognized as a Rising Star. He has also been listed by The Best Lawyers in America®: Ones to Watch, Leading Lawyers as an Emerging Lawyer, and The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40. He earned multiple CALI Awards for Academic Excellence while attending Loyola University Chicago School of Law and achieved national recognition through moot court competition. He remains active in the legal community and serves as a moot court team coach through the Chicago Bar Association.
Outside of his practice, Mr. Kater values time with his family as a father of three and enjoys sports, travel, fitness, and cooking.
Awards and Honors
Honors
- Illinois Super Lawyers List, Illinois Super Lawyers®, 2027
- Rising Stars, Illinois Super Lawyers®, 2026
- The Best Lawyers in America®: Ones to Watch, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants, 2023-present
- The Best Lawyers in America®: Ones to Watch, Legal Malpractice Law, 2023-present
- Leading Lawyers, Emerging Lawyer, 2023 and 2024
- CALI Awards for Academic Excellence in Legal Writing and Advocacy
- Andrews Kurth Moot Court National Championship Competition, Third Best Speaker, 2016
- Loyola University Chicago School of Law Intraschool Moot Court Competition, Fifth Place, 2015
- Appellate Lawyers’ Association Moot Court Competition, First Place, 2014
- The National Trial Lawyers, Top 40 under 40 – 2026-present
Other Sources of Feedback About Scott J. Kater
Included on the 2027 Illinois Super Lawyers list
Past Lists
- 2026 Illinois Super Lawyers list
Education
Legal Education
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Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Chicago, Illinois, 2016
J.D.
Non Legal Education
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Miami University, Oxford, Florida, 2013
B.A.
Minor: Business, Legal Studies, Management and Leadership
Minor: Latin American Studies
Major: Political Science
Current Employment Position(s)
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Partner
Past Positions
- Partner, Donohue Brown Mathewson & Smyth LLC, Chicago, Illinois
- Judicial Extern to the Honorable Raymond W. Mitchell, Circuit Court of Cook County, Law Division, Chicago, Illinois
Published Works
Articles
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Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Medical Malpractice, 2026 Edition
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Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Medical Malpractice, 2022 Edition
Bar Admissions
- Illinois, 2016
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois, 2016
- U.S. District Court Central District of Illinois, 2018
- U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin
Other Affiliations
- Illinois State Bar
- Appellate Lawyers Association
- Chicago Bar Association, Moot Court Team Coach
Photo
Contact
120 North LaSalle Street
36th Floor
Chicago, IL 60602
Phone Number: 312-815-7022
Email: Send a message
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