Jeffrey D. Pilgrim

Partner

Jeff Pilgrim is a founding partner of Grady Pilgrim Christakis Bell LLP, bringing with him more than a decade of experience as a commercial litigator with an emphasis on consumer finance and class action litigation.  Prior to founding Grady Pilgrim, Jeff was a partner at Arnstein & Lehr LLP. 

As the focus of his practice, Jeff represents banks, finance companies, mortgage lenders, automobile lenders, retailers, loan servicers, credit card companies, debt buyers, and debt collectors in state and federal courts throughout the country, both in individual and class action cases. These cases have involved alleged violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Truth in Lending Act (TILA), Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA), state consumer fraud and deceptive business practices acts, state usury laws, and other common law claims.  In addition, Jeff has substantial experience representing clients in a broad range of complex business and tort litigation matters, including employment discrimination and wage claims, breach of contract actions, real estate related claims, and fraud claims.

Jeff is a frequent author and speaker on class action and consumer finance-related topics, and he is an active member of various industry associations. 

Professional Activities

  • Former Chair, Consumer Credit Committee, Chicago Bar Association
  • Member, American Bar Association
  • Member, ABA Consumer Financial Services Committee
  • Member, Conference on Consumer Finance Law
  • Member, ACA International, Members Attorney Program
  • Member, Illinois State Bar Association

Education

Chicago-Kent College of Law (J.D., high honors, 1999)
University of Iowa (B.B.A. Finance 1993)

Bar Admissions

State of Illinois
U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin
U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan

Publications & Speeches

  • Speaker, "The CARD Act: Update on Litigation," American Conference Institute, Orlando, FL (October 28, 2011)
  • Speaker, "Reporting Discharged Debts," ACA International- MAP Conference, Dallas, TX (July 15, 2011)
  • Speaker, "How Creditors Get Into Trouble," Eighth Annual Housing and Auto Finance Workshop, Hudson Cook LLP, Baltimore, MD (May 3, 2011)
  • Speaker, "Telephone Consumer Protection Act Litigation," American Conference Institute, New York, NY (January 27, 2011)
  • Speaker, "TILA: Outside the Box," Credit Law Institute and Conference on Consumer Finance Law, Southlake, Texas (October 28, 2010)
  • Speaker, "Cleaning Up Your Credit," Chicago Public Library "Law at the Library" Series (pro bono) (January 2010, January 2009, January 2008, January 2007)
  • Co-Author, "Can Reckless Mortgage Underwriting Practices Constitute a Defect in Title," 16 Bus. Torts J. 14 (Spring 2009)
  • Speaker, "Balance Transfer Offers for Charged Off Debt," Credit Law Institute and Conference on Consumer Finance Law, Dallas, Texas (November 2008)
  • Speaker, "Telephone Communications: An FDCPA & TCPA Update," Credit Law Institute and Conference on Consumer Finance Law, Dallas, Texas (October 2008)
  • Speaker, "Firm Offer of Credit Litigation," Credit Law Institute and Conference on Consumer Finance Law, Dallas, Texas (November 2007)
  • Co-Author, "Suing Defendants Who Later Declare Bankruptcy: Vacating a Dismissal for Want of Prosecution," 94 Ill. B.J. 433 (2006)
  • Speaker, "State Fair Debt Collection Practices or ‘Mini-FDCPA' Laws," Credit Law Institute and Conference on Consumer Finance Law, Dallas, Texas (November 2006)
  • Speaker, "Illinois Credit Counseling and Mortgage Rescue Fraud," Credit Law Institute and Conference on Consumer Finance Law, Dallas, Texas (November 2006)
  • Co-Author, "Lender Defeats National Class Claim Challenging Collection of Interest on Day Payoff Funds are Received," Consumer Fin. Serv. L. Rep. (May 31, 2006)
  • Speaker, "State Mini-FDCPA Laws: Enhanced Exposure for Creditors and Debt Collectors," American Bar Association, Tampa, Florida (April 2006)
  • Speaker, "Fair Credit Reporting Act: ‘Firm Offer of Credit' Litigation," Chicago Bar Association (March 2006)
  • Co-Author, "Collateral Protection Insurance: Current Issues and Defenses," 54 Consumer Fin. L. Q. Rep. 14 (2000)

View all publications and speeches

Jeffrey D. Pilgrim
“In this environment, I’m able to really focus on doing the work, helping our clients, getting results.” — Jeffrey Pilgrim
  • Phone: (312) 939-0923
  • Fax: (312) 939-0983