Pilgrim Christakis Promotes James Morrissey to Partner
Pilgrim Christakis LLP, a financial services litigation boutique based in Chicago, has announced the promotion of Jim Morrissey, 35, to the firm’s partnership. Jim formerly served as an associate at the firm for six years. The promotion was effective on Sept. 1, 2021.
Jim joined Pilgrim Christakis after beginning his career at the State Appellate Defender’s office in Chicago. He has since become a seasoned litigator who deftly represents financial institutions and related service providers in consumer protection cases, class actions, and government investigations. His clients operate nationwide and include banks, credit card issuers, payment processors, financial technology firms, mortgage originators and servicers, automotive and personal property finance companies, and debt collectors. Jim also counsels his bank and non-bank clients on compliance with various state and federal banking regulations.
“Jim has been a valuable member of our team since he joined the firm,” said partner Katrina Christakis. “He combines exceptional advocacy skills with business acumen, achieving results in the most cost-effective manner. He also has a fantastic sense of humor that makes him ideally suited to chair the firm’s Social Committee.”
Jeff Pilgrim, partner at Pilgrim Christakis, added, “Our clients, which include some of the world’s most sophisticated financial institutions, require attorneys who understand the complexities of their businesses and the legal and regulatory environment they face every day. Jim is an exceptionally talented lawyer with strong industry insights that our clients have come to value.”
Jim is a frequent presenter at legal and financial service conferences, addressing the impact of court decisions, regulations, and consent orders on business operations. He also has authored articles that have appeared in legal journals and financial publications regarding the SAFE Banking Act, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
Jim earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Marquette University (cum laude, 2008), and was Phi Alpha Theta (history honors society), a history tutor for the Equal Opportunity Program, and played for the Marquette University Rugby Football Club.
He then earned his J.D. magna cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School (2011), where he was managing editor of the Minnesota Journal of International Law, served as an elected board member of the Minnesota Justice Foundation, and was a Royal A. Stone scholarship recipient.
A life-long Chicagoan, he graduated from St. Ignatius College Prep in 2004 and currently resides in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of the city.
Jim is an active member of various professional associations, including the American Bar Association’s Consumer Financial Services Committee, and the Chicago Bar Association where he currently serves as the Chair of the Consumer Credit Committee. Jim is also a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, Mortgage Bankers Association, Receivables Management Association, ACA International, and the Illinois Bankers Association.
Pilgrim Christakis LLP is a Chicago-based litigation boutique representing banks, creditors, financial technology companies, loan servicers, payment processors, and debt collectors in individual and class action cases around the country.