About Us
Collect Compliantly, Litigate Ethically, Lead Effectively, and Expect Excellence
Collect Compliantly, Litigate Ethically, Lead Effectively, and Expect Excellence
Our legal team consists of attorneys who concentrate their practice in legal collections, creditor bankruptcy representation, consumer litigation, FDCPA defense, judgment domestication and enforcement, replevin, and detinue.
Our firm’s continued success is attributed to our hard-working and dedicated support teams and a compliance team that ensures our debt collection practices are consistent and compliant.
775 Corporate Woods Parkway
Vernon Hills, IL 60061
Toll Free: 888-920-0620
Telephone: (847) 403-4900
Fax: (847) 499-7599
Please call us Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. CST.
Arizona
4050 E. Cotton Center Blvd.,
Suite 36
Phoenix, AZ 85040
Toll Free: (888) 920-0620
Illinois
1771 W. Diehl Road,
Suite 310
Naperville, IL 60563
Toll Free: (888) 920-0620
Indiana
9785 Crosspoint Boulevard,
Suite 106
Indianapolis, IN 46256
Toll Free: (888) 920-0620
Indiana
8585 Broadway,
Suite 890
Merrillville, IN 46410
Toll Free: (888) 920-0620
Iowa
2536 73rd Street
Des Moines, IA 50322
Toll Free: (888) 920-0620
Kansas
6804 W. 107th Street,
Suite 150
Overland Park, KS 66212
Toll Free: (888) 920-0620
Missouri
707 North Second Street,
Suite 306
St. Louis, MO 63102
Toll Free: (888) 920-0620
Wisconsin
731 North Jackson Street,
Suite 660
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Toll Free: (888) 920-0620
Attorney Bio
FRED N. BLITT is managing partner of the law firm of Blitt and Gaines, P.C. whose main office is located in Vernon Hills, IL. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Accountancy from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1985 and his Juris Doctor degree from The John Marshall Law School in 1988. Fred founded the firm in 1990.
Fred is a Past President of the National Creditors Bar Association, a Washington, D.C. based trade association representing the nation’s best debt collection attorneys. Fred is a founding member of the Creditor’s Bar Coalition of Illinois, an organization designed to work with our lobbyist in Springfield, Illinois (state capital) to review and develop laws and regulations specific to our industry.
Fred is licensed in the state of Illinois and the Northern District of Illinois and the United States Supreme Court. He is also a Certified Public Accountant.
Attorney Bio
JAN B. GAINES is a Partner of the law firm Blitt and Gaines, P.C. whose main office is located in Vernon Hills, IL. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1982 and her Juris Doctor degree from The John Marshall Law School in 1987. Jan joined the firm in 1995. She is licensed to practice in the state of Illinois and before the Northern District of Illinois. Jan has been a guest lecturer at The John Marshall Law School.
Jan’s affiliations include the National Creditors Bar Association; Illinois Creditors Bar Association; Creditors Bar Coalition of Illinois and Receivables Management Association International.
Attorney Bio
DAVID OLEFSKY is a Partner and Chief Operating Officer of the law firm Blitt and Gaines, P.C. whose main office is located in Vernon Hills, IL. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2003 and his Juris Doctor degree from The John Marshall Law School in 2007. David Joined Blitt and Gaines, P.C. in 2007.
David is licensed to practice law in the states of Illinois and Wisconsin and his many affiliations include the National Creditors Bar Association; Illinois State Bar Association; Illinois Creditors Bar Association; Creditors Bar Coalition of Illinois; Indiana Creditors Bar Association; Wisconsin Bar Association and Receivables Management Association International.
Attorney Bio
BARBARA NILSEN is a Partner and Chief Compliance Officer of the law firm Blitt and Gaines, P.C. whose main office is located in Vernon Hills, IL. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2002 and her Juris Doctor degree from The John Marshall Law School in 2005. Barb joined Blitt and Gaines, P.C. in 2015.
Barb is the Secretary and a member of the Executive Committee of the National Creditors Bar Association, a Washington, D.C. based trade association representing the nation’s best debt collection attorneys. She is licensed to practice law in the states of Illinois and Missouri and the Northern District of Illinois.
Her many affiliations also include the Illinois State Bar Association; Illinois Creditors Bar Association; Creditors Bar Coalition of Illinois; Missouri Creditors Bar Association and Receivables Management Association International.
Attorney Bio
MICHAEL L. STARZEC is a partner of the law firm of Blitt and Gaines, P.C. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Science at Northern Illinois University in 1992 and his Juris Doctor degree from DePaul University, College of Law in 1995.
Michael is the President Emeritus of the Illinois Creditors Bar Association, a state bar association comprised of creditors rights attorneys. Michael is also a member of the Creditor’s Bar Coalition of Illinois. He was recently appointed to the Community Trust Committee of the Illinois Supreme Court Access to Justice Initiative. He is the author of the IICLE publication Credit Card Litigation, has written for the Loyola Consumer Law Review and is a frequent presenter for national and state bar associations. In 2021, he was jointly recognized by Chief Justice Burke in assisting consumers during the COVID-19 court closures.
Michael is licensed to practice law in the states of Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin as well as both the Northern District of Illinois and the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Attorney Bio
THOMAS A. BURRIS is a Partner in the law firm of Blitt & Gaines, P.C. whose main office is located in Vernon Hills, Illinois. Tom received his B.A. from Valparaiso University in 1982, and his Juris Doctor degree from Valparaiso University Law School in 1985. Tom was a partner in the Indiana/Illinois collection firm Bowman, Heintz, Boscia & Vician P.C. from 1991 to 2016. Tom was also a partner at Blatt, Hasenmiller, Leibsker & Moore LLC. (Illinois) from 2016 to October of 2017 and oversaw the orderly wind down of the firm’s operations. Tom joined Blitt & Gaines, P.C. in 2018 and practices primarily in Indiana.
Tom’s memberships and affiliations include the State Bars of Indiana and Illinois, and the Lake County Indiana Bar Association. Tom’s previous experience at the Bowman Heintz firm included the Heintz v. Jenkins 1995 United States Supreme Court Opinion as well as an array of experience with both State and Federal regulators.
Attorney Bio
CHRISTOPHER LOW is a Partner in the law firm Blitt and Gaines, P.C., whose main office is located in Vernon Hills, IL. Chris received his B.A. from the University of Iowa in 1998, and his Juris Doctor degree from Drake University Law School in 2001. Chris practiced creditors’ rights law at Abendroth and Russell, P.C., in Des Moines, IA from 2001 through July 31, 2016 before joining Blitt and Gaines, P.C. on August 1, 2016. Chris practices primarily in Iowa.
Chris’ memberships and affiliations include the Iowa State Bar Association, the State Bar of Wisconsin, the State Bar of Arizona, and the National Creditors Bar Association (NCBA) (Member Grievance Committee). Honors and Awards include: Super Lawyers – Rising Star 2014
Attorney Bio
Joined Blitt and Gaines, P.C. in July, 2022
Education
University of Kansas, Bachelor of Arts 2010
University of Kansas- School of Law, Juris Doctor 2013
Licenses
Admitted to Missouri Bar- 2013
Admitted to Kansas Bar- 2016
Attorney Bio
Joined Blitt and Gaines, P.C. in October, 2017
Education
Indiana University Northwest B.S. Public Affairs 1991
Valparaiso University School of Law, J.D. 1994
Licenses
Admitted to Indiana Bar (1994)
Attorney Bio
Joined Blitt and Gaines, P.C. in 2017
Education
Licenses
Attorney Bio
Joined Blitt and Gaines, P.C. in March, 2018
Education
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Bachelor of Liberal Arts (2009)
The John Marshall Law School, Juris Doctor (2014)
Licenses
Illinois State Bar (2014)
Admitted to U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois (2016)
Attorney Bio
Joined Blitt and Gaines, P.C. in August, 2023
Education
Westminster College, Bachelor of Arts in History (2000)
University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law, Juris Doctorate (2003)
Licenses
Admitted to Missouri Bar (2003)
Admitted to Wisconsin Bar (2018)
Admitted to Illinois Bar (2023)
Attorney Bio
Joined Blitt and Gaines, P.C. in December, 2022
Education
Indiana University
B.S. in Business Management 2013
Licenses
Admitted to Missouri Bar 2020
Attorney Bio
Joined Blitt and Gaines, P.C. in September 2018
Education
Michigan State University, B.A. (2003)
Michigan State University College of Law, Juris Doctor (2006)
Licenses
Admitted to State Bar of Illinois (2007)
Admitted to U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois (2019)
Admitted to U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois (2020)
Admitted to U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois (2020)
Attorney Bio
Joined Blitt and Gaines, P.C. in August 2021
Education
Truman State University B.A. Political Science 2016
Oklahoma City University School of Law, J.D. 2019
Licenses
Admitted to Illinois Bar 2021
Attorney Bio
Joined Blitt and Gaines, P.C. in May, 2022
Education
Marquette University, B.A. in Communications and Political Science
John Marshall Law School, 1995
Licenses
Admitted to Illinois Bar 1995
Attorney Bio
Joined Blitt and Gaines in May, 2023
Education
DePaul University College of Law, J.D., 2004
Wabash College, A.B., English, 1997
Licenses
Admitted to Illinois Bar 2004
Admitted to Northern District of Illinois 2004
Illinois State Bar Association
Illinois Creditors Bar Association
Attorney Bio
Joined Blitt and Gaines, June 2021
Education
Bachelor of General Studies, Northern Arizona University (1989)
J.D., Boston University School of Law (1992)
Licenses
State Bar of Arizona 1992; Federal Court, District of Arizona 1992
Attorney Bio
Joined Blitt and Gaines, P.C. in June, 2021
Education
Northern Arizona University B.A. Philosophy 1990
Arizona State University School of Law, J.D. 1995
Licenses
Admitted to Arizona Bar 1995
Attorney Bio
Joined Blitt and Gaines, P.C. in August 2023
Education
University of Missouri-Kansas City, B.A., Honors, French and History 2012
University of Kansas School of Law, J.D., Certificate in Elder Law, 2015
Licenses
Admitted to Missouri Bar 2015
Admitted to Kansas Bar 2015
Attorney Bio
Joined Blitt & Gaines 2016
Education
Miami University B.S. Business 1988
Salmon P. Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University 1991
Licenses
Admitted to Illinois Bar 1991
Admitted to California Bar 1992
Attorney Bio
Joined Blitt and Gaines in June 2014
Education
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Bachelor of Science in Accountancy (1987);
Certified Public Accountant (1988); University of Chicago Law School (1990-91);
University of Illinois College of Law at Urbana-Champaign, Juris Doctor (1991).
Licenses
Admitted to Illinois Bar 1991
Attorney Bio
Joined Blitt and Gaines in May, 2022
Education
University of Wisconsin-Madison, B.A., Political Science 2017
Marquette University Law School, J.D., 2021
Licenses
Admitted to Wisconsin Bar, 2021
Attorney Bio
Joined Blitt and Gaines in March, 2023
Education
Fordham University, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, 1996
State University of New York, Buffalo Law School, Juris Doctor 2005
Licenses
Admitted to Missouri Bar, 2022
Attorney Bio
Joined Blitt and Gaines, P.C. in September, 2017
Education
Indiana University Indianapolis, B.A. Communications 1986
Indiana University Robert McKinney School of Law – 1993
Licenses
Admitted to Indiana Bar 1994
Attorney Bio
Joined Blitt and Gaines, P.C. in January 2022
Education
Licenses
Attorney Bio
Joined Blitt and Gaines, P.C. April, 2022
Education
Illinois Wesleyan University, B.A. (1996)
Southern Illinois University School of Law, J.D. (1999)
Licenses
Admitted to State Bar of Illinois (1999)
Admitted to U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois (2001)
Attorney Bio
Joined Blitt and Gaines, P.C. in January, 2020
Education
University of Wisconsin-Madison B.A. with Honors Public Affairs 2014
University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School, J.D. 2018
Licenses
Admitted to Illinois Bar 2018
Admitted to Wisconsin Bar 2018
Attorney Bio
Joined Blitt & Gaines December, 2017
Education
Columbia College of Columbia University AB History 1989
Pepperdine University School of Law J.D. 1995
Licenses
Admitted to Indiana Bar 1997
Attorney Bio
Joined Blitt and Gaines, 2008; rejoined in May, 2022
Education
DePaul University, B.A. in Pure Mathematics in 2004 and a B.A. in Early Childhood Development Psychology, 2004
DePaul University College of Law, J.D. 2007
Licenses
Admitted to Illinois bar 2008
Attorney Bio
Joined Blitt and Gaines, P.C. in September, 2022
Education
Butler University B.S. Entrepreneurship and Innovation – 2018Butler University B.S. Management Information Systems – 2018
Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, Certificate in Corporate and Commercial Law, J.D. – 2021
Licenses
Admitted to Indiana Bar 2021
Attorney Bio
Joined Blitt & Gaines, P.C. in August, 2016.
Education
University of Iowa, B.A. Political Science 2010
Drake University Law School, J.D. 2018
Licenses
Admitted to Iowa Bar 2018
Attorney Bio
Joined Blitt and Gaines, P.C. in February 2019
Education
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Bachelor of Arts 2005
Valparaiso University School of Law, J.D. 2008
Licenses
Admitted to Illinois Bar 2009
Attorney Bio
Joined Blitt and Gaines, P.C. in October, 2018
Education
Ss. Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje, Republic of Macedonia, Bachelor of Law (1998)
Valparaiso University School of Law, Juris Doctor (2003)
Licenses
Admitted to Illinois Bar 2003
Attorney Bio
Joined Blitt and Gaines, P.C. in September, 2018
Education
Indiana University, Bachelor of Arts (2007)
Loyola University Chicago School of Law, J.D. 2010
Licenses
Admitted to Illinois Bar 2010
Attorney Bio
Joined Blitt and Gaines, P.C. in March, 2023
Education
University of Missouri-Columbia, Bachelor of Science, Business Administration
St. Louis University School of Law, Juris Doctor 2019
Licenses
Admitted to Missouri Bar 2019
Attorney Bio
Joined Blitt and Gaines, P.C. in May, 2023
Education
Loyola University Chicago, B.A. in Political Science (2018)
University of Illinois at Chicago School of Law, J.D. 2022
Licenses
Admitted to the State Bar of Illinois 2023
Attorney Bio
Joined Blitt and Gaines, P.C. in July, 2008
Education
Bradley University, B.A. in Political Science 1990
The John Marshall Law School (now University of Illinois Chicago School of Law), J.D. 1996
Licenses
Admitted to Illinois Bar 1996
Attorney Bio
Joined Blitt and Gaines, P.C. in May 2015
Education
Bachelor of Bachelor of Business Administration from The University of Notre Dame, 1971
MBA from DePaul University, 1982
JD from John Marshall Law School, 1986
Licenses
Illinois State Bar Association
Attorney Bio
Joined Blitt and Gaines, P.C. in March, 2021
Education
St. Louis University B.A. History and German 2008
University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law, J.D. 2011
Licenses
Admitted to Missouri Bar 2011
Admitted to United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri 2011
Admitted to Illinois Bar 2020
Attorney Bio
Joined Blitt and Gaines, P.C. in September, 2023
Education
Drake University, B.A. (2018)
Drake University, J.D. (2021)
Licenses
Admitted to Iowa Bar (2021)
Attorney Bio
Joined Blitt and Gaines, P.C. in May, 2016
Education
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee B.S. Biology 2005
Thomas M. Cooley Law School, J.D. 2010
Licenses
Admitted to Wisconsin Bar 2011
Admitted to Forest County Potawatomi Tribal Court 2017
Admitted to United States District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin 2017
Admitted to Oneida Judiciary Oneida Nation in Wisconsin 2018
Admitted to Ho-Chunk Nation 2019
Admitted to Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Court 2019
Admitted to Lac du Flambeau Tribal Court 2020
Attorney Bio
Joined Blitt and Gaines, P.C. in May 2018
Education
Wichita State University, Bachelor of Science in Health Services Organization and Policy (1998)
Wichita State University, Masters in Business (MBA) (2001)
Washburn University School of Law, Juris Doctorate (2004)
Licenses
Admitted to the State Bar of Kansas 2005
Admitted to the State Bar of Missouri 2006
Attorney Bio
Joined Blitt and Gaines, P.C. in April of 2022
Education
Missouri Southern State University, B.S., Health Promotions
John Marshall School of Law, J.D. (2019)
Licenses
Admitted to the State Bar of Illinois (2020)
Attorney Bio
Joined Blitt and Gaines, P.C. in August 2021
Education
Indiana University Bloomington, Bachelor of Arts in Journalism (2013)
Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Juris Doctor, Certificate in Child and Family Law (2017)
Licenses
Admitted to Illinois Bar (2021)
Attorney Bio
Joined Blitt and Gaines P.C. in January 2018
Education
Park University, Bachelor of Arts (2010)
University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law, Juris Doctor (2016)
Licenses
Admitted to Missouri Bar (2016)
Attorney Bio
Joined Blitt and Gaines, P.C. in April 2014
Education
The John Marshall Law School, J.D., 2011-2014
University of Illinois Springfield, B.A., 2007-2011
Licenses
Admitted to Illinois Bar 2014
Attorney Bio
Joined Blitt and Gaines P.C. in September 2023
Education
University of Missouri BA in Biology (1999)
Southern Illinois University School of Law (2004)
Licenses
Admitted to Illinois Bar (2004)
Admitted to Missouri Bar (2022)
US District Court Southern Illinois (2005)
US District Court Central Illinois (2019)
US District Court Eastern Missouri (2022)
Attorney Bio
Joined Blitt and Gaines, P.C. in August, 2018
Education
Lewis University B.A. Political Science 1980
IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, J.D. 1983
Licenses
Admitted to Illinois Bar 1983
Attorney Bio
Joined Blitt and Gaines, P.C. in September, 2014
Education
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, B.S. History 2013
The John Marshall Law School, J.D. 2019
Licenses
Admitted to Illinois Bar 2019