Gregory E. Ostfeld

Gregory E. Ostfeld is Vice Chair of the firm’s Pharmaceutical Medical Device & Health Care Litigation Practice and Co-Chair of the Chicago Litigation Practice. For more than two decades, Greg has focused on providing outstanding representation and exceptional service to clients in regulated industries, with a focus on pharmaceutical and medical device companies, the financial services sector, and the consumer products sector. Greg focuses his litigation and appellate practice on class actions, data privacy, products liability, mass torts, mass arbitrations, and other high-stakes litigation, combining innovative strategies with a deep understanding and appreciation of his clients’ business goals and objectives to deliver superior outcomes. Greg’s litigation practice is nationwide; he has handled individual, multi-district, and consolidated cases at the trial court level in dozens of states, and has led appeals in nearly every federal appellate court and approximately two dozen state appellate courts. The pillars of Greg’s practice are: understanding the client’s business; frequent and consistent communication and collaboration; tailoring legal strategy to client objectives; and principled representation meeting the highest standards of professionalism.

Greg has been recognized by Chambers USA for his work based on client feedback highlighting his meticulous attention to detail and comprehensive research. Clients reporting to Chambers describe him as thoughtful, knowledgeable, and consistently providing commercially astute and well-considered advice across a wide range of disputes. He is also praised as “an absolute pleasure to work with,” with particular recognition for his responsiveness and thorough approach.

Greg is a committed believer in Justice Learned Hand’s maxim, “Thou shalt not ration justice.” As a past pro bono coordinator for the Chicago office, Greg strives to lead by example. He has represented dozens of indigent clients in cases involving discrimination, victim advocacy, prisoner rights, and civil rights, and has written and filed amicus briefs on behalf of dozens of major bar associations and public interest organizations in the U.S. Supreme Court, numerous federal appeals courts, and state courts around the country. His efforts as pro bono coordinator fostered a culture of commitment to service, and succeeded in elevating the office’s pro bono hours by several multiples during his nine-year tenure. As co-chair of the litigation practice, Greg has also been instrumental in promoting and applying standards of diversity and inclusion in hiring, retention, and promotion.

Greg is a proven advocate at the trial and appellate levels, with numerous bench and jury trials and arbitrations and scores of appellate oral arguments to his credit. Though his successful approach over hundreds of cases has brought him recognition from ratings and rankings organizations, Greg’s most important measure of success is the trust his clients have continued to place in him, case after case, year after year, in close-knit relationships.

Concentrations

•Class action litigation
•Data privacy class actions and mass arbitrations
•Products liability and mass tort litigation
•Pharmaceutical and medical device litigation
•Consumer fraud litigation
•Appeals

Judicial Clerkships

•Hon. W. Eugene Davis, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, 1998

Recognition & Leadership

Awards & Accolades

•Listed, Chambers USA Guide, Litigation: Product Liability, 2025
•Team Member, BTI’s Most Recommended Law Firms, Big Pharma, 2025
•Listed, Benchmark Litigation, 'Litigation Star,' 2025-2026
•Listed,The Legal 500 United States, 2013 and 2017-2024
•Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action - Defense: Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices, 2021-2025
•'Recommended Lawyer,' 2022-2024
•'Leading Partners,' 2025
•Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action - Defense: Consumer Products (Including Tobacco), 2022, 2025
•'Other Key Lawyer,' 2022
•'Recommended Lawyer,' 2025 General Commercial Disputes, 2021
•Listed, Crain’s Chicago Business
•“Notable Leaders in Accounting Consulting & Law,” 2024
•“Notable Litigators & Trial Attorneys,” 2023
•“Notable Gen X Leaders in Law,” 2022
•Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Appellate Practice, 2019-2026
•Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, Illinois Super Lawyers, 2020-2026
•'Rising Stars,' 2009-2011, 2013
•Listed, Leading Lawyers Network, 2019-2026
•Named, Client Service All-Star, BTI Client Service All-Stars Report, 2020, 2022-2023
•Recipient, United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, 'Excellence in Pro Bono and Public Interest Service Award,' 2021
•Team Member, a Law360 'Real Estate Practice Group of the Year,' 2023
•Team Member, a Law360 “Product Liability Practice Group of the Year,” 2021-2022
•Team Member, U.S. News - Best Lawyers, Best Law Firms Edition, 'Law Firm of the Year,' Real Estate - Litigation, 2017 and 2022
•Team Member, The American Lawyer’s “Products Liability Litigation Department of the Year,” 2018
•Team Member, a Law360 'Appellate Practice Group of the Year,' 2010
•Recipient, Greenberg Traurig 'Outstanding Pro Bono Service Award,' 2009 (individual) and 2019 (pro bono team)
•Recipient, 'Crown of a Good Name Award,' Congregation Kol Ami, June 30, 2006