Trailblazing Entrepreneur in Legal EdTech Tarek A. Fadel to Deliver Commencement Address at Chicago-Kent College of Law

CHICAGO-May 17, 2026-Tarek A. Fadel (LAW '03), a visionary entrepreneur in legal education, will deliver the keynote address today at the Commencement ceremony for Chicago-Kent College of Law at Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) at The Isadore & Sadie Dorin Forum at UIC. As the founder of the pioneering legal education platform AdaptiBar and through his ongoing commitment to the legal community, Fadel has expanded access to the profession while shaping how generations of students prepare for success.

"Chicago-Kent helped shape both my professional path and my commitment to service, and I'm excited to have this opportunity to return to my alma mater to address the graduating class," says Fadel. "I hope to inspire students and the broader Chicago-Kent community to embrace innovation, challenge convention, and use their legal education to expand opportunity and strengthen communities."

Fadel founded AdaptiBar in 2003, creating a groundbreaking legal EdTech platform that transformed bar exam preparation through data-driven learning and adaptive technology. Under his leadership, the platform grew into a nationally recognized industry leader serving law students across all 50 states and more than 75 countries before its sale to private equity in 2019. Following that success, Fadel established Henni Capital, a family office managing a diversified portfolio across real estate, private equity, public markets, and venture capital, with a focus on long-term value creation and strategic investment.

Fadel's contributions extend well beyond entrepreneurship into leadership within the legal and academic communities. A dedicated Chicago-Kent alumnus, he has served as president of the Alumni Board of Directors and has been recognized with numerous honors, including Illinois Tech's Outstanding Young Alumnus Award and Chicago-Kent's Distinguished Service Award. He has also held appointments across several Illinois State Bar Association and American Bar Association committees focused on education, inclusion, and legal competency.

"Tarek's career exemplifies the power of legal education to drive innovation and broaden access to opportunity," says Jason J. Czarnezki, dean of Chicago-Kent College of Law. "His entrepreneurial success, combined with his deep commitment to the Chicago-Kent community, makes him an inspiring example for our students and graduates. I'm proud to welcome him as this year's Commencement speaker."

A committed civic leader, Fadel also serves as a trustee of the Lincoln Park Zoo, where he chairs the Learning and Community Engagement Committee. Alongside his wife, Ann, he supports numerous charitable organizations across Chicago, including Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, PAWS Chicago, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, where he previously served as a governing member.

"Tarek Fadel's achievements reflect not only entrepreneurial excellence but also a deep and sustained commitment to service," says Board Chair Michael P. Galvin (LAW '78). "His work has expanded access to legal education, strengthened institutions, and created lasting impact in Chicago and beyond."

During his time as a Chicago-Kent student, Fadel served as president of the Student Bar Association and received numerous honors, including the American Bar Association's SBA President of the Year Award, the Bar & Gavel Award, and the Distinguished Service Award. He also holds a B.A. in political science from DePaul University and is a member of the Illinois State Bar.

Photo: Tarek A. Fadel (LAW '03)

Illinois Institute of Technology

Based in the global metropolis of Chicago, Illinois Tech was born to liberate the power of collective difference to advance technology and innovation for all. It is the only tech-focused university in the city, and it stands at the crossroads of exploration and invention, advancing the future of Chicago and the world. It offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering, computing, architecture, business, design, science and human sciences, and law. Illinois Tech students are guaranteed access to hands-on experiences, personalized mentorship, and job readiness through the university's one-of-a-kind Elevate program. Its graduates lead the state and much of the nation in economic prosperity. Its faculty and alumni built the Chicago skyline. And every day in the city's living lab, Illinois Tech fuels breakthroughs that change lives. Visit iit.edu.

Chicago-Kent College of Law

As the nation's only law school tied to a tech university, Chicago-Kent graduates are adept in technological advancements that are constantly altering the practice of law. Students gain real-world experience through Chicago-Kent's extensive externship program and its unique clinical model. The school's highly-ranked trial advocacy program and award-winning moot court teams produce some of the strongest competitors in the country. Chicago-Kent's intensive legal research and writing program serves as a model for countless other institutions. With its many distinguished J.D. certificate programs, including top-ranked programs in intellectual property and labor and employment law, Chicago-Kent prepares its students not just to succeed, but to excel in their fields.

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