Business Details
21 Years
experience
Your Trusted Legal Partner in Newport Beach
Founded in 2005, Gillies & Robinson is a Newport Beach-based law firm serving clients across California with a focus on Southern California. Our practice areas include business transactions, estate planning, probate and trust administration, real estate law, and contract negotiations. We combine the comprehensive expertise of a large firm with the personalized attention and cost-effectiveness of a boutique practice.Our attorneys provide tailored legal solutions for complex business matters, asset management, and real estate transactions while prioritizing client confidentiality and long-term planning objectives. With decades of combined experience, we work closely with clients and their financial advisors to address unique legal needs in business succession planning and wealth distribution.
Services
Business Law
Estate Planning
Real Estate Law
Probate & Trust Administration
Contracts
Details
- Year established: 2005
Highlights and features
- Founded in 2005 with deep expertise in business and real estate law
- Personalized service combining large-firm experience with boutique attention
- Specialized in complex transactions across business, estate planning, and real estate
- Serves Southern California businesses and families with local market knowledge
- Attorneys maintain active involvement in professional licensing and governance
Services
Business Law
Gillies & Robinson provides comprehensive business law services covering entity formation, contract negotiations, and corporate governance. We advise on business acquisitions, mergers, and licensing while coordinating with clients' financial advisors. Our attorneys handle complex transactions for corporations, partnerships, and limited liability companies across California.
Estate Planning
Our estate planning services create customized solutions for asset management and wealth distribution. We develop revocable trusts, wills, and business succession plans while addressing tax implications and family needs. The practice integrates probate administration and trust management to ensure seamless transitions during life and after death.
Real Estate Law
The firm represents clients in real estate transactions including leasing, development, and financing. We handle construction contracts, property management agreements, and land use issues for developers, investors, and institutional clients. Our attorneys provide legal guidance for residential and commercial real estate matters across Southern California.
Probate Administration
Gillies & Robinson guides executors and trustees through probate proceedings while managing estate tax considerations. We handle conservatorships, guardianships, and trust administration matters with a focus on minimizing court involvement. Our team coordinates asset distribution according to client wishes while addressing potential disputes.
Contract Negotiations
We draft and negotiate business contracts, partnership agreements, and real estate leases tailored to client objectives. The practice covers employment contracts, confidentiality agreements, and joint venture arrangements. Our attorneys ensure legal protections while maintaining transactional efficiency for businesses and property owners.
People
Kristin Gillies
Attorney / Partner
Kristin Gillies is a founding partner with over two decades of experience in real estate and business transactions. She graduated from USC in 1991 and earned her Juris Doctor from Southwestern University School of Law in 1998. Formerly a licensed real estate broker, she specializes in entity formation and complex legal transactions.
Questions
What estate planning documents are essential for California residents?
Every California estate plan should include a revocable trust, will, and durable powers of attorney. Additional documents like healthcare directives and business succession agreements may be needed based on individual circumstances.
How does a living trust avoid probate in California?
A living trust avoids probate by transferring asset ownership to the trust during your lifetime. At death, the designated trustee distributes assets according to your instructions without court involvement, saving time and legal fees.
What business entity types do you help establish?
We assist with forming S and C corporations, professional corporations, limited liability companies (LLC), general and limited partnerships, and nonprofit organizations tailored to clients' operational and tax requirements.
Do I need a will if I have a living trust?
Yes, a pour-over will is necessary with a living trust to capture any assets not transferred to the trust. It ensures complete estate distribution according to your wishes while minimizing probate requirements.
What real estate transactions do you handle?
Our real estate practice covers leasing agreements, property acquisitions, development contracts, and financing arrangements. We represent owners, developers, lenders, and tenants in commercial and residential transactions across California.
