Derek M. Gillis

Derek M. Gillis is a partner at Barton Gilman LLP in Providence, RI, with a practice focused on appellate litigation, complex civil disputes, and insurance. Gillis represents clients in appeals and contested commercial, healthcare, and real estate matters. The practice involves identifying legal requirements, reviewing important facts, and addressing the practical issues that arise as a matter develops. Whether the assignment calls for advice or formal proceedings, the work centers on the relevant rights, obligations, documents, and decisions.

Gillis’s educational background includes a J.D. from Suffolk University Law School, magna cum laude, and a B.S. in Management from Providence College, cum laude. That academic preparation informs work on appellate litigation, complex civil disputes, and insurance by providing a grounding in legal reasoning and the analysis of detailed records. The training is applicable to interpreting contracts, understanding statutory or procedural requirements, and evaluating the factual questions a matter presents.

Gillis works on matters such as appellate briefs, business litigation, healthcare disputes, and insurance claims. These issues often involve substantial records, differing legal positions, or several parties with competing interests. An effective response calls for understanding the documents and chronology, identifying the controlling questions, and considering the available procedures. Whether a matter is advisory or contested, the legal work must account for both immediate requirements and possible longer-term consequences.

Derek M. Gillis has a professional background marked by his focus on legal research, written advocacy, and questions presented to reviewing courts. In each engagement, Gillis focuses on the documents, facts, and legal rules that matter to the issue presented. This often means explaining complex questions in terms of the choices and obligations facing the client. The combination of subject-matter experience and careful analysis supports a practical approach to counseling, negotiation, and litigation where those services form part of the practice.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Barton Gilman LLP
• Member, Massachusetts Bar Association
• Member, Rhode Island Bar Association
• Co-Chair, Supreme Court Bench/Bar Committee, Rhode Island Bar Association
• Member, Pennsylvania Bar Association
• Board Member, Massachusetts Defense Lawyers Association
• Member, DRI-Association of Lawyers Defending Business
• Alumni Committee Member, Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund

Licensed State

• Massachusetts
• Rhode Island
• Pennsylvania

Education

• Suffolk University Law School
  Juris Doctor (JD) (Magna Cum Laude)
• Providence College
  Bachelor of Science (BS) in Management (Cum Laude)

Awards & Badges