Professor of the Practice of Law
Stanford Law School
Professor David Mills has a distinguished career in law and investments. Mr Mills is a Professor of Practice of Law at Stanford Law School. He is the Founder and the first director of the Stanford Law School clinical program which provides legal services to people who cannot afford traditional representation. Professor Mills is also the Co-chair of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, America’s premiere legal organization fighting for racial justice. It is a leadership position he has held for over ten years. Professor Mills has had a life-long dedication to social justice issues. Three years ago Professor Mills received the Thurgood Marshall Lifetime Achievement Award. Professor Mills has also had a lengthy legal career representing a range of well-known white-collar crime defendants as well as driving the strategy for a number of well-known investment firms in various civil and regulatory matters. In addition, he has had a successful career in the business and investment realm. He is currently a partner at Fortress Investment Group and advisor to its chairman and a partner at Divco West ( a real estate investment and development firm) and other high profile investment-related organizations.
Professor Mills graduated Rutgers Law School in 1973 magna cum laude. Following Law School, he joined the law firm of Lowenstein, Sandler, a major law firm where he eventually became a senior tax partner. He was also Adjunct Professor of Law at Rutgers University, Chairman of the Partnership Tax Section of the American Bar Association and Chairman of the Tax Section of the New Jersey Bar Association. In 1986 Professor Mills moved to Los Angeles to work at Cambrent Financial Group, in association with the firm of Victor, Sandler and Cogut. In 1988 he founded Mills & Lynn enterprises for the purposes of undertaking personal financial transactions. He still holds that position but the name has changed to Mills Family Enterprises. In 1991 he became the chief executive and sole shareholder of Harbourton General Corporation, the General Partner of Harbourton Holdings, LP. He resigned from Harbourton in 2016.
Prior to Law School, Professor Mills went to Rutgers University where he graduated in 1969. Following graduation from University, Professor Mills undertook Rabbinical Studies, first at the Jewish Theological Seminary and then at the Reconstructionist Rabbical College in Jerusalem. David resides in the San Francisco Bay area.