Todd Gillman comes from a family of practicing attorneys, including his father, grandfather, and uncle. He received his undergraduate degree at Emory University and majored in history, taking a particular interest in contemporary history. After graduation, he decided to follow in the footsteps of his relatives and pursue a career in the legal field.
Gillman loves South Florida and visited often growing up. He loved the idea of being part of such a vibrant city and international community. He knew how much work law school would be and thought that a beautiful school like UM would enhance his experience. While at UM Law, Gillman particularly enjoyed his experience in Legal Communication and Research Skills as a 1L. He also loved the courses he took with Professor Massey and Professor Irwin Stotzky, among others. What stands out to Gillman about Miami Law is the variety of people that the university draws and the community it maintains throughout the country.
After graduation, Gillman had opportunities to move back up north, practicing in New York and New Jersey for 5 years. He started out in litigation but moved toward a more transactional focused practice in New York. After a few years, Gillman and his wife, a UM undergraduate alum, had an opportunity to move to Los Angeles, where Gillman worked as general counsel of his father-in-law's real estate business. He is also a passionate musician and guitarist and was able to work in the music and entertainment legal space a bit while in his general counsel role.
After 15 years, Gillman switched roles and now works with his sister in the legal placement field. They look for lateral partner attorney candidates with books of business and help find law firms that would be a better fit for them. The premise of their company is that every attorney has the right to be happy and prosper, including the ability to have a work life balance and strong mental health. Gillman is also involved with the school board for his children’s school district. He serves on the board of a parent organization called the Foundation that raises money for the school district and helps secure school counselors for mental health support.
Now, Gillman attends alumni events for ‘Canes in Los Angeles. He loves spending time with his 14-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter. He also plays in a "Dad band” that occasionally gigs around the area and loves to see live music. He plays tennis and does personal training with his wife. They love to go out to restaurants and travel. He also enjoys reading, including music and entertainment related material. He emphasizes the importance of finding a work-life balance and doing things that you are passionate about outside of your career.
