David Mills
David W. Mills is a Professor at Stanford Law School, teaching criminal law, white collar crime and, previously, tax law. 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 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. Most recently he has authored and sponsored a number of bills and initiatives, including Proposition 36 which won approval in 2012 with 70% voter approval. The proposition successfully limited the serving of automatic life-sentences to people whose third crime was serious and violent. Since that victory, he has intensified his focus on helping people who are mentally ill within the prison system, helping to insure they receive proper care and fair treatment related to sentencing, access to care, and responsible release programs.
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 realm. He currently (as of 2015) is a partner in Fortress Investment Group, Divco West (2017) , ( 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. 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. He left after one year to attend Law School.
Professor Mills is married to Anne Devereux-Mills. They have four children: Hans, William, Lauren and Ciara, and when not travelling, they live in the San Francisco Bay area.