Mitch M. Gilfillan

Attorney Profile

Mitch Gilfillan is a passionate trial litigator with proven success. With significant trial experience across Illinois, Gilfillan advocates for clients in all forms of personal injury, medical malpractice defense, family dissolution, sports management, and individuals seeking both personal and professional guidance. As a former Division I basketball player competing in the NCAA March Madness Tournament, Gilfillan embraces competition and approaches each case with a winning mindset.

Having earned countless favorable jury trial verdicts across Illinois and successfully argued at multiple appellate courts, Gilfillan embraces the courtroom atmosphere and prepares each case with a flexible and winning mindset. As part of his practice, Gilfillan has been selected and listed as panel counsel for multiple national insurance carriers. In addition to his law practice, Gilfillan is a frequent guest speaker throughout the State of Illinois and speaks to professionals regarding representation in the new Name, Image Likeness (NIL) arena. As part of his work, he has been featured and quoted on ESPN, CBS, NBC Sports, and the New York Post, among others. Gilfillan is consistently referred to as one of the top sources in all of college basketball.

As a nationally recognized lawyer, Gilfillan also spearheads numerous charitable causes across Illinois. As an active civic and charitable contributor, Gilfillan has performed hundreds of hours of pro bono service earning him statewide recognition with the 2020 John McAndrews Pro Bono Award from the Illinois State Bar Association. Gilfillan is also President of the Children’s Hospital of Illinois Community Advisory Council, serves on the Kevin Brown Memorial Tournament of Champions Board of Directors to fight glioblastoma, leads the Heart of Illinois United Way legal campaign division, and serves on the Public Interest Law Initiative board to serve poverty-stricken litigants out of Chicago.

Gilfillan’s focus outside of work is coaching his daughters’ sports teams, volunteering at St. Philomena School, emceeing charity events, and eyeing the next marathon.

Practice Areas

Education

J.D., Valparaiso University School of Law, Valparaiso, Indiana, 2009
- Executive Board for the Trial Advocacy Team
- Moot Court Honor Society
- Highest Course Honors: Trial Practice II
- Finance Chair for the Steering Committee

B.A., Political Science, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, 2006
- One of four students in the Class of 2006 (1,029 total students) to receive The Undergraduate Merit Award
- Received Outstanding Service Award given to the top graduating student-athlete at Lehigh University
- Recipient of the Coach’s Award for attitude, effort & special leadership presented by the Lehigh basketball coaching staff
- Recipient of the Southside Boosters Award presented by Southside Booster Association, Inc. for outstanding citizenship
- Four-year member of Lehigh’s C.O.A.C.H. program (Community Outreach by Athletes who Care about Helping)
- Earned full Division I basketball scholarship, four-year letter winner & voted team captain 2005-2006 season

Admissions/Associations

State Courts of Illinois
U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois
Appointed to Standing Committee on Judicial Evaluations – Outside Cook County by the Illinois State Bar Association (2019 -2020)
10^thJudicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee
Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel
Public Interest Law Initiative – Help Desk Pro Bono Volunteer in Tazewell and Peoria County

Community Activities

OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois – Community Advisory Council, Vice President
Public Interest Law Initiative – Board of Directors (2023 – present)
Kevin Brown Memorial Tournament of Champions – Board of Directors (2020 – present)
Pediatric Resource Center – Board of Directors, Past President (2017 – 2022)
Peoria Friendship House of Christian Service – Board of Directors, Past President (2016 -2022)
Heart of Illinois United Way – Campaign Cabinet (2019 – present)
Peoria Notre Dame Youth Softball League – Board of Directors (2019 – present)
Peoria County Bar Association – Board of Directors (2017 – 2022)
Co-chair of H.O.P.E. (Helping Our Patients Every day) – Children’s Hospital of Illinois (2015 – 2018)
St. Philomena Men’s Club – Volunteer
IHSA March Madness Volunteer Committee (2015 – 2020)

Presentations

The Do’s and Don’ts to Avoid a Malpractice Claim, Peoria District Dental Society Seminar, Spring 2024
Playbook Mondays: NIL Rules and Regulations, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Summer 2023
Footpath Falls, Animal Brawls and Sports Calls: A Personal Injury Assortment to Respond to your Neighbor, CLE Civil Practice Seminar, PCBA, Spring 2020
Maintenance: A 2020 Update in Law and Reality, CLE Family Law Seminar, PCBA, Spring 2020
When an Employer is Asked to “Show Me the Money:” Complying with Income Withholding Orders and Qualified Domestic Relations Orders – Quinn Johnston Labor & Employer Seminar, Spring 2019
Business Law in 2018: Marketing, Technology and Social Media at the Forefront – Quinn Johnston Business & Tax Seminar, Fall 2018
Cybercrime, Digital Evidence and the Impact on an Intellectual Property Practice – Quinn Johnston Business & Tax Seminar, Fall 2017
“New Job Offer, May I Accept?”: Changing Face of Noncompete Agreements in Illinois, Quinn Johnston Labor and Employment Seminar, Summer 2017
Spoliation Spoiler: To Save or Not to Save, Greater Peoria Claims Association Seminar, Spring 2017
‘Tis the Season: Update on Snow and Ice Removal, CLE Civil Ligation Seminar, PCBA Spring 2017
Social Media Maelstrom: Changes in Business Policy, Recent Rulings and the Legal Impact on a Business – Quinn Johnston Business & Tax Seminar, Fall 2016
Medical Marijuana and Concealed Carry in the Workplace: Recent Developments in Illinois Law and What the Future Holds for Employers and Employees – Quinn Johnston Labor and Employment Seminar, Summer 2016
Farm Liability Policy, Farm Employee Medical Payments, & Worker’s Compensation Coverage – Farm Business and Farm Management Association, Spring 2016
Minor Settlements: Obtaining Court Approval and Keeping them Confidential, CLE Civil Litigation Seminar, PCBA, Spring 2015
Nursing Malpractice – How to Avoid It?, Central Illinois Health Information Management Association’s Seminar, Spring 2015

Professional Publications

United We Stand, Without Diversity We Fall, Peoria Magazines InterBusiness Issues, June 2020
Legendary Work for the Public Good, Peoria Magazines InterBusiness Issues, July 2019
The Brave New World of E-Filing, Peoria Magazines InterBusiness Issues, July 2018
Healthcare Payment Issues Involving Provider Agreements and Patient Insurance, IDC Quarterly Survey of 2017 Tort Law
The Fiduciary Quagmire: A New Standard for Advisers and Investors is Quickly Approaching, Peoria Magazines InterBusiness Issues July 2016
So Fresh, So Clean: The Clean Power Plan and its Current State of Legal Limbo, Peoria Magazines InterBusiness Issues, October 2016

Ratings/Recognitions

Illinois Super Lawyers List 2022-2025
Martindale-Hubbell rating of AV® Preeminent, 2024
Named one of the 70 Most Influential People in America in NIL Space by Silver Waves Media (Los Angeles, CA), 2024
Featured article in Illinois Super Lawyers Magazine, “From the Barn to the Bar,” 2023
Illinois Leading Lawyer in Medical Malpractice 2022-present
Won the largest Family Law termination of maintenance case in Central Illinois history, (IRMO Churchill II, 2022 IL App (3d) 210026)
Named Illinois Jaycees Outstanding Young Person of Illinois, 2022
Peoria Notre Dame High School – Pillar of the Year Award, 2021
Selected by Illinois Super Lawyers, “Rising Stars,” 2019-2022
Named to Illinois’ Emerging Lawyers by the Law Bulletin Publishing Company, 2017-2022
John C. McAndrews Pro Bono Service Award winner presented by the Illinois State Bar Association, 2020
Named to inaugural Public Interest Law Initiative Honor Roll for outstanding contributions to pro bono work, 2020
Selected Central Illinois’ “40 Leaders Under 40” by Peoria Magazines, 2019
Peoria County Bar Association Pro Bono Plan Young Lawyer of the Year, 2017

News & Events

TAZEWELL COUNTY JURY AWARDS QUINN JOHNSTON CLIENT HALF MILLION ON SLIP-AND-FALL

Following a three-day jury trial before Judge Stephen A. Kouri, a Tazewell County (IL) jury awarded Quinn Johnston’s client a stunning $502,648.42 from a slip-and-fall accident.

Gilfillan Named Amongst Nation’s Top Advisors in the Name Image Likeness (NIL) Space

Quinn Johnston partner, Mitch Gilfillan, was named to Silver Waves Media’s 70 Most Impactful People in the Country as it relates to the NCAA’s new Name, Image, & Likeness legislation.

Mitch M. Gilfillan Named to Public Interest Law Initiative’s Board of Directors

Quinn Johnston partner, Mitch Gilfillan, was named to the Public Interest Law Initiative’s (PILI) Board of Directors on September 1, 2023, and will serve a three-year term.

Smith Earns Not Guilty Verdict for General Surgeon in Grundy County

Defendant surgeon was accused of negligently perforating Plaintiff‘s bowel during a laparoscopic cholecystectomy resulting in three additional surgeries for bowel repair, bowel resection and hernia. Jury returned a verdict in Defendant‘s favor after approximately 45 minutes of deliberations.

Mitch M. Gilfillan Named 2022 Illinois Jaycees The Outstanding Young Person Honoree

Quinn Johnston is proud to join the Illinois Jaycees in congratulating Mitch M. Gilfillan for being recognized as a 2022 Outstanding Young Person of Illinois.

Gilfillan Wins Largest Termination of Maintenance Case in Central Illinois History

Quinn Johnston partner, Mitch Gilfillan, won the largest maintenance termination case on appeal in Central Illinois history in 2022.

Jury Returns Not Guilty verdict in Woodford County Farming Injury

Following a one-day jury trial in Woodford County, attorney Mitch Gilfillan earned a not guilty for his client, a farmer in Woodford County.

Mitch Gilfillan of Quinn Johnston Recognized for Commitment to Pro Bono Legal Services

Mitch Gilfillan, a partner at Quinn Johnston in Peoria, was recently honored with two pro bono service awards.

United We Stand, Without Diversity We Fall

We are a better community because of our diverse culture.

Gilfillan Earns Not Guilty Verdict after Fall at Apartment Complex

Presentations: Quinn Johnston 2019 Labor & Employment Seminar

Quinn Johnston attorneys presented their annual Labor & Employment Seminar on Wednesday, May 29 in East Peoria. Feel free to view or download the presentations from the seminar.

Quinn Johnston Welcomes Mitch Gilfillan as Partner

Quinn, Johnston, Henderson, Pretorius and Cerulo is pleased to welcome Mitch Gilfillan at its newest partner.

Gilfillan obtains a significantly reduced defense result for a floor scrubbing company

Quinn Johnston attorney Mitch Gilfillan recently obtained a significantly reduced defense result for a regional floor scrubbing company.

Quinn Johnston’s Entire Partnership Named as 2018 Leading Lawyers in Their Respective Practice Areas

Leading Lawyers has announced that 18 attorneys from the Peoria law firm of Quinn, Johnston, Henderson, Pretorius & Cerulo were named by their peers to the list of the top lawyers licensed to practice law in Illinois. Sixteen of the lawyers were named Leading Lawyers, a distinction earned by fewer than five percent of all lawyers registered to practice in Illinois and two were named Emerging Lawyers, a distinction earned by fewer than two percent. Significantly, every firm partner was named a leading lawyer in their designated areas of practice.

Presentations: Quinn Johnston 2017 Business & Tax Seminar

Quinn Johnston attorneys presented their annual Business & Tax Seminar on Thursday, October 19 in East Peoria. Feel free to view or download the presentations from the seminar.

Mitch Gilfillan Receives Pro Bono Award

Mitch Gilfillan, an associate attorney with Quinn, Johnston, Henderson, Pretorius & Cerulo in Peoria was recently named Peoria County Young Lawyer of the Year by the Tenth Judicial Court Pro Bono Committee.

2017 Business & Tax Seminar

Quinn Johnston will be hosting a Business & Tax Seminar on Thursday, October 19, 2017. Join Quinn Johnston attorneys for this complimentary seminar featuring critical updates and information on issues affecting business owners, CPAs and attorneys, general counsel and in-house counsel.

Annual Labor & Employment Seminar 2017

Quinn Johnston will be hosting an informative labor and employment law update on Wednesday, May 31, 2017. This comprehensive seminar will include updates on the current employment law topics from the legislature, courts and executive agencies.