Attorneys of Mills & Williams

Thomas W. Mills, Jr.

Thomas W. Mills, Jr. has been at the forefront of many large and at times colorful, controversial, and legally significant cases. Since entering private law practice in 1972, Mr. Mills' skilled representation in high profile cases has earned him a reputation as one of the top trial lawyers in Texas. In 2003 and again in 2004, Texas Monthly named him a “Texas Super Lawyer”. D Magazine identified Mr. Mills one of “The Best Lawyers in Dallas” in both criminal defense and white-collar defense. He is the only criminal defense lawyer to make the list twice. Mr. Mills has received the coveted President's Commendation Award from the National Association for Criminal Defense Lawyers, and is a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation.

Mr. Mills professional emphasis has been primarily with criminal law and civil trial law with criminal law issues. His civil representation has covered complex defense work representing those accused of wrongdoing in the business environment. Mr. Mills criminal practice includes grand jury representation, criminal antitrust, financial and investment crimes, environmental violations, money laundering investigations and prosecutions, anti-money laundering compliance, mail fraud, bank fraud, government procurement fraud, RICO claims, insurance fraud, theft of trade secrets litigation and computer fraud litigation. Mr. Mills has represented many business executives personally, and has tried cases in approximately half of the United States.

Mr. Mills cases have included representation of a group as diverse as a manager of Muhammad Ali; Dallas School Trustee Dan Peavy (42 indictment counts of not guilty); Darling Industries; Northrop Corporation; McCormick Distilling Corp.; Oxford Capital Corporation; the Federal Deposit Insurance Company; nuns protesting nuclear radiation damages; the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Company; a government contractor found innocent of trying to bribe ex-Congressman Traficant; and Greyhound Bus.

In addition to his legal practice, Mr. Mills frequently appears in the news media as a legal expert, serving as an on-air analyst for numerous media outlets including Court-TV, KXAS-TV Channel 5, KTVT Channel 11, KLIF 570 AM, and KRLD 1080 AM. He has also been an instructor at Southern Methodist University School of Law and the National College of Criminal Defense Lawyers and Public Defenders and the National Institute for Trial Advocacy.

Mr. Mills received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern Methodist University in 1969 and earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Texas in 1972. After completing a Ford Foundation Grant Project at the Washington, D.C. Public Defender Office, Mr. Mills began his private practice of law in Dallas, Texas, primarily engaging in litigation in civil and criminal trial practice in federal court. Before opening his own practice, Mr. Mills held positions as a partner at Vial, Hamilton, Koch & Knox, and as head of the white collar crime section at Gardere & Wynne.

Mr. Mills is board certified in criminal law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He is presently chair of the ABA Intellectual Property subsection on computer crime and security, and was the 1991 and 1992 Chairman of the Dallas Bar Association Criminal Justice Committee. Mr. Mills is an Executive Committee member and the Legislative Committee co-chair of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer Association, and is a life member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He has served on the Complex Crimes Committee and the White Collar Crime Committee of the American Bar Association, and is presently chair of the ABA Intellectual Property subsection on computer crime and security.

EDUCATION
University of Texas
J.D., 1972

Southern Methodist University
B.A., 1969

BAR ADMISSIONS
State Bar of Texas

COURT ADMISSIONS
United States Supreme Court

United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit

United States District Courts,
Northern District of Texas
Eastern District of Texas
Southern District of Texas
Western District of Texas

TEACHING POSITIONS
Southern Methodist University School of Law, 1977-1978, 1988-1990

University of North Texas, "American Jurisprudence," guest lecturer

National College of Criminal Defense Lawyers and Public Defenders

National Institute for Trial Advocacy, 1985-1990

Dallas Bar Association Trial Skills Course, 1986-1990

AUTHOR / LECTURER
"Annual Survey of Texas Criminal Law and Procedure," Southwestern Law Journal

"Maximizing the Scope of the Motion to Suppress," Voice for the Defense

"Jury Selection in Death Penalty and High Publicity Cases,"
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and Public Defenders

"Defending the Defender - The Lawyer Target,"
Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Project

MEMBERSHIPS
American Bar Association,
Intellectual Property - Computer Crime & Security Subsection, Chairman
White Collar Crime Committee, Member
Complex Crimes Committee, Member

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Life Member

Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow

Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer Association,
Legislative Committee, Co-Chair
Executive Committee, Member

Dallas Bar Association,
Criminal Justice Committee, Chairman - 1991, 1992

American Board of Trial Advocates, Member