Gillian P. Ellison is an Associate in Crowley Fleck’s Energy and Environmental and Commercial Litigation Practice Groups. A 5th-generation Montanan, born on the Hi-Line, whose family homesteaded in the state in the 1800s, Gillian brings deep Montana roots and a strong interest in helping clients navigate legal matters affecting businesses, communities, and economic development across the region.
Gillian is detail-oriented and particularly enjoys working through complex, nuanced legal issues. Her approach combines careful analysis with a practical understanding that clients need clear, timely guidance. She values diligence, responsiveness, and keeping the client’s objectives at the center of the legal work.
Her interest in the law grew in part from a broader curiosity about how societies, institutions, and regulatory systems function. That interest ultimately led her toward areas of practice where law, business, natural resources, and economic development frequently intersect. Gillian particularly enjoys work that allows her to help clients pursue projects and opportunities that contribute to the region’s continued growth.
During law school at the University of Montana, Gillian served as Editor-in-Chief of the Public Land and Resources Law Review, an experience that strengthened her research, writing, editing, and leadership skills while allowing her to explore legal issues involving public lands and natural resources. She graduated with honors and received the Barrister Award for Oral Advocacy.
Gillian’s connection to Montana spans generations. Although she spent most of her childhood in Seattle and completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, she returned to Montana for law school and now lives in Missoula. She was inspired in part by her parents, who were raised in Montana, met as high school sweethearts in Billings, earned their degrees from the University of Montana, and demonstrated the value of hard work and resilience through their lives and careers.
Outside the office, Gillian enjoys spending time outdoors with her fiancé and their dogs. She particularly enjoys rock climbing and hopes to continue climbing for decades to come.