Dispute Resolution Chair Jill Pilgrim Invites Lawyers to Meet Her at Fun, Engaging Events
8.20.2024
“I had never been to section events where I was more warmly welcomed,” recalls new chair Jill Pilgrim when thinking back to attending her first Dispute Resolution event years ago.
Now, as section chair, Pilgrim is committed to building on the group’s reputation for being open, welcoming and social. To that end, the section hosted a party at Jones Beach in August for section members and NYSBA members interested in checking out the section.
“We want members to say ‘hey, how cool is that DR section?’ You are going to meet really nice people and have a good time. We need to do more to engage with our members, offering a connection and personal attention so they feel like you are seeing them and responding to their needs,” she said.
The party was tagged as a member appreciation event to recognize the large number of dispute resolution section members who practice outside of New York City. She created a new upstate practitioner committee to focus on the needs of lawyers who practice outside of the city. She is also continuing initiatives begun last year by Jeff Anderson, the first-ever upstate chair of the Dispute Resolution Section.
“New York is a big state, with valuable talent throughout the state, and we want to be more engaged with them. We’re going to continue the outreach to young lawyers and law schools done by our previous chair because we see the value in teaching young lawyers and law students about dispute resolution. Keeping that connection to the pipeline of young future practitioners is very important.”
Pilgrim sees her term as chair as a period of growth and transition, recognizing the hard work of many seasoned members who built the section’s reputation. With more than 40 years of practice, she is ready to mentor the next generation.
“We have a really deep bench of very experienced, exceptional dispute resolution practitioners, who are Gen X and Baby Boomers like me. One of my goals is to intentionally pull up the ladder some younger practitioners to help them get more experience and exposure. I am encouraging our membership to support others in the continued pursuit of that of excellence.”
From Athlete to Sports Lawyer and Mediator
Pilgrim has her own firm focusing on commercial business, sports practice and dispute resolution. Her path to success was a winding one starting in tax law, then moving into corporate and commercial work in a large firm. Later she found moving to a small firm and then on her own allowed her the flexibility to work in sports law while also working for USA Track and Field and as a member of the American Arbitration Association.
“I had been an athlete, and my former teammates, who were Olympic athletes, kept asking me to do legal work for them. I was able to find a law firm that allowed me to bring in business and get a percentage of the revenue, which was revolutionary back in the late 1980s. In a few years, I saw that I could get business, not just in sports, but other areas. I went out on my own, and now I focus on commercial business, sports and dispute resolution.”
Pilgrim’s competitive spirit comes out when discussing the New York State Bar Association’s membership subscription plan in which each member can join two sections for free.
“I’m a sportsperson. So, I like the notion to rev up our committees and members to compete against these other sections and show off the value of our section. We want them to click that box and join us! I think it will create some good competitive energy. “
