David Mills

David is proud to represent the fourth generation of Mills to practice at the firm since its founding in 1884. He is a great-grandson of Alexander Mills, K.C., one of the founders of the firm, grandson of Ralph S. Mills, Q.C., and a son of J. Paul Mills, K.C. David served his articles with Mills & Mills LLP, joined the firm following his call to the Bar and became a Partner in 2006.

David’s practice is focused on estate law.

As an estate lawyer, David provides a comprehensive range of services in the planning and administration of estates as well as with respect to the litigation of estate disputes.

David works with clients, together with their financial and tax advisors, to implement comprehensive estate planning strategies. For many clients, a complete estate plan can be limited to carefully drafted Wills and Powers of Attorney. For others, more complex planning – involving tools such as multiple Wills, life insurance trusts, disability trusts, education trusts, alter ego trusts, joint spousal trusts, family trusts, and planning strategies for blended families – is required.

When disputes arise, David engages his clients in a cost-effective and results-driven dispute resolution process. This involves a thorough analysis of his clients’ rights and interests and an assessment of the risks and benefits of each strategic option. Working with the firm’s team of litigators, the optimal strategy – which may include alternative dispute resolution techniques or traditional court action – is then designed and vigorously pursued.

David regularly acts as an Estate Trustee and is proud to serve the needs of estate beneficiaries and their counsel by acting as a court-appointed Estate Trustee During Litigation.

David also acts as a mediator in estate disputes. David is passionate about the power of mediation to bring resolution to complex, painful, and costly litigation.

Prior to turning his focus to estates law, David maintained a substantial business law practice. He continues to work with some of his long-standing business clients, but mostly relies on the firm’s outstanding Business Law Group for those services. In his business practice, David acted for the owners and managers of private business, providing strategic business structure advice for sole proprietorships, joint ventures, partnerships and corporations; negotiation and drafting of business agreements; mergers and acquisitions (by way of asset or share purchase); corporate governance and record-keeping; fund-raising transactions, including private placements, debt structuring and secured transactions; and comprehensive employment law advice, including the hiring and termination of employees and proper structuring of stock options and other compensation plans.