Robert S. Gillison

California

Buchalter LLP
1000 Wilshire Boulevard
Suite 1500
Los Angeles, CA 90017

Tel: 213.891.5014

Email: rgillison@buchalter.com
Web: www.buchalter.com

Professional Biography

Robert Gillison is a Partner in the firm’s Los Angeles office, Co-Chair of the Firm’s Commercial Finance Practice. He brings more than 26 years of experience representing banks and non-bank lenders and is widely recognized as a leading commercial finance attorney among lenders and borrowers alike.

Mr. Gillison has handled hundreds of lending transactions involving billions of dollars in aggregate commitments. He advises on a broad range of complex financings, including bilateral and club deals, syndicated loans, cross-border transactions, unitranche and multi-tranche facilities, inter-creditor arrangements, and liability management transactions. He regularly represents administrative agents and lead lenders in highly structured credit facilities.

His experience spans acquisition and leveraged financings, asset-based lending, aircraft finance, cash flow loans, and subscription and NAV-based facilities, as well as securities-backed, healthcare, and technology and IP-based financings. Mr. Gillison frequently handles multi-national financings, coordinating with counsel across Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, and North America to ensure cross-border enforceability.

Mr. Gillison is consistently ranked by Chambers USA as a leading Banking & Finance attorney and recognized by Legal 500 U.S. Elitefor his work in Banking & Finance. He was also named as a “Leader of Influence” by the Los Angeles Business Journal in 2025 and a “Banking & Finance Visionary” by L.A. Times Studios in 2026.

Education

  • Loyola Law School, J.D.
    • Judicial Extern, Hon. Nora M. Manella, U.S. District Court, Central District of California
  • University of California, Los Angeles, B.A.
    • Dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and History

Buchalter’s Commercial Finance practice is one of the largest dedicated commercial finance teams on the West Coast, representing leading banks, financial institutions, and non-bank lenders in sophisticated financing transactions. With a history dating back to the firm’s founding in 1933, the practice is widely recognized for its role in structuring and negotiating complex and innovative lending arrangements across a broad range of industries.

The team advises regional, national, and international lenders on transactions ranging from single-lender commercial loans to large, syndicated, and multi-currency cross-border financings. In addition to representing lenders, Buchalter also advises private equity firms, corporate borrowers, and high-net-worth individuals, delivering practical, commercially focused solutions tailored to each transaction.

Buchalter’s commercial finance lawyers work closely with the firm’s corporate, M&A, securities, insolvency, and creditors’ rights teams to provide integrated legal counsel throughout the lifecycle of a transaction. Recognized by Chambers and Partners as a leading California commercial finance practice, the group is known for its technical expertise, industry leadership, and ability to efficiently close complex transactions while maintaining a pragmatic, relationship-driven approach.

Buchalter is a full-service business law firm that has served businesses, entrepreneurs, financial institutions, organizations, and individuals for more than 90 years. The firm provides strategic legal counsel across a broad range of industries, helping clients navigate complex legal, regulatory, and commercial challenges while supporting growth, innovation, and long-term success.

The firm’s multidisciplinary practice encompasses corporate and finance, commercial litigation, real estate, labor and employment, intellectual property, tax, healthcare, environmental, bankruptcy and restructuring, trusts and estates, and numerous other areas of business law. By combining legal expertise with commercial insight, Buchalter develops practical, cost-effective solutions tailored to each client’s strategic objectives.

Buchalter emphasizes a client-first philosophy, working to understand each client’s business, industry, and long-term priorities. Its attorneys focus on anticipating legal risks before they arise, providing proactive advice that helps protect client interests while positioning businesses to capitalize on emerging opportunities. This collaborative approach has established the firm as a trusted legal advisor to clients at every stage of their development.

The firm also places a strong emphasis on innovation, integrating AI-enhanced technology, data analytics, and other advanced legal technologies into its practice to improve efficiency, enhance client service, and deliver greater value. By combining technological innovation with sophisticated legal counsel, Buchalter continues to adapt to the evolving needs of modern businesses and the increasingly complex legal landscape.

“Robert Gillison is widely regarded as one of California’s leading commercial finance lawyers, trusted by major banks, financial institutions, and private lenders to structure and negotiate sophisticated financing transactions. Clients consistently praise his commercial insight, responsiveness, and ability to navigate highly complex credit facilities, while peers recognize him as an exceptional finance lawyer whose technical expertise places him among the leaders in the market.”
The Banking & Finance Lawyers, 2025