Business Details
21 Years
experience
Your Trusted Legal Partner in Newport Beach
Founded in 2005, Gillies & Robinson is a Newport Beach-based law firm dedicated to delivering expert legal services across California, with a focus on Southern California. Our practice areas include business transactions, estate planning, probate and trust administration, real estate transactions, and contract law. Combining the depth of a large firm with the personalized attention of a boutique practice, we prioritize client needs through tailored solutions.Our attorneys bring decades of experience in complex real estate and business transactions, ensuring comprehensive legal guidance. We emphasize confidentiality, cost-effectiveness, and collaboration with clients' advisors to address unique objectives. With a legacy of serving small businesses and families, we are committed to providing accessible, high-quality legal representation that safeguards clients' assets and futures.
Services
Business Law
Estate Planning
Real Estate Transactions
Probate & Trust Administration
Contracts
Details
- Year established: 2005
Highlights and features
- We offer 20+ years of experience in real estate and business law.
- Our attorneys combine large-firm expertise with boutique-level attention.
- We provide cost-effective legal solutions tailored to client needs.
- We handle complex transactions across multiple legal disciplines.
- Our team maintains deep local knowledge of Southern California markets.
Services
Business Law
Gillies & Robinson advises on business formation, mergers, acquisitions, and contracts. We help clients structure entities like LLCs, corporations, and partnerships while ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations. Our attorneys provide strategic guidance for business operations, licensing, and governance.
Estate Planning
We create customized estate plans including trusts, wills, and powers of attorney. Our services address asset management, probate avoidance, and tax efficiency while coordinating with financial advisors. We specialize in business succession planning for families and small enterprises.
Real Estate Transactions
Our firm handles real estate acquisitions, leasing, financing, and development. We represent clients in commercial and residential transactions, including title issues, zoning, and contract negotiations. Services extend to construction agreements and property management disputes.
Probate & Trust Administration
We guide executors and trustees through probate court proceedings and trust administration. Our services include asset distribution, debt resolution, and compliance with state inheritance laws while minimizing delays and costs.
Contracts
Gillies & Robinson drafts and reviews contracts for business operations, employment, and real estate. We ensure enforceability while protecting clients' interests in agreements ranging from confidentiality clauses to complex joint ventures.
People
Kristin Gillies
Attorney / Partner
Kristin Gillies is a founding partner with over 20 years of experience in real estate and business law. She specializes in transactions, estate planning, and business entity formation. A USC graduate and former real estate broker, she serves Southern California clients from Huntington Beach.
Questions
What areas of law does Gillies & Robinson specialize in?
We focus on business law, estate planning, real estate transactions, probate administration, and contract law.
Do I need both a will and a living trust?
A living trust avoids probate, while a 'pour-over' will ensures all assets transfer to the trust. Both are recommended for comprehensive estate planning.
How can a trust help my family avoid probate?
Assets held in a trust bypass probate court, allowing faster, private distribution according to your wishes without judicial oversight.
What business entities do you help form?
We assist with LLCs, S-corporations, C-corporations, partnerships, and nonprofit entities tailored to clients' operational and tax needs.
How long does estate planning typically take?
After initial consultations, most plans are completed within several weeks depending on complexity and client decision-making speed.
Do you serve clients outside Southern California?
While based in Newport Beach, we serve clients throughout California for legal matters requiring our specialized expertise.
