Responsive, detail-oriented counsel to help achieve business objectives
Travis Eliason counsels clients on complex commercial transactions, regulatory matters and disputes, including origination of deals, pre-litigation negotiations and workouts, and litigation in state and federal courts across the country. His practice encompasses a range of industries and his clients include:
- Financial institutions
- Manufacturers and franchisors
- Private equity firms
- REITS and other real estate owners and lessors
Travis works with his clients to understand their larger business strategies and uses that knowledge to create a catered approach to obtain their objectives. He understands there is not always a straightforward path to solve a client's issue and creatively looks for multiple options while assessing the risks and benefits of each one. Clients appreciate Travis's responsive nature and his attention to detail so they can focus on the broader scope of the project.
Travis devotes a substantial amount of time to pro bono legal services, including serving as a guardian ad litem (GAL) in proceedings involving children in Cook County, Ill. He also coordinates and oversees a team of Quarles pro bono attorneys who volunteer as GALs in Cook County. For this pro bono work, he received the firm's Michael Gonring Pro Bono Partner of the Year Award in 2020.
Successes
- Represented lender in connection with disposition of $15M credit secured by retail and commercial properties through multiple forbearance agreements, deed-in-lieu agreements, loan modifications, and consent foreclosures.
- Represented lender in connection with commercial loan secured by multiple gas stations; subsequently represented the lender in three foreclosures and two Chapter 11 bankruptcies, leveraging lender’s junior liens to obtain favorable plan treatment of lender in bankruptcy.
- Represented lender and landlord in sale-leaseback related to $30M credit secured by manufacturing facility, obtaining favorable terms on sale-leaseback provisions, loan and lease guarantees, and security interests in borrower’s collateral.
- Represented lender in numerous and ongoing acquisitions of large multi-family residential projects by national home builders, including negotiating and documenting acquisition documents, and conducting land use, zoning and title due diligence.
- Over six years of litigation, obtained summary judgment for lender in two lender liability lawsuits, working with numerous lines of business to obtain summary judgment on fraud, negligence and breach of contract claims.
Capabilities
Professional Recognitions
- Michael L. Gonring Pro Bono "Partner of the Year Award" (2020)
- Law Bulletin Media "Illinois Emerging Lawyer" (2017-present: Bankruptcy & Workout: Commercial; Creditor's Rights/Commercial Collections)
- Illinois Super Lawyers®"Rising Stars" (2016-2019: Bankruptcy: Business)
Professional & Civic Activities
- Chicago Volunteer Legal Services, board member
News & Insights
Education
- University of Illinois College of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 2009)
- Hispanic National Bar Association Moot Court, Best Oral Advocacy and Best Oral and Written Advocacy combined (2007), editor (2008)
- Wheaton College (B.A., 2004)
- Business and Economics
- Men’s Varsity Soccer
Bar Admissions
- Illinois
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois