Nicole Marie Mills

For 11 years, Ms. Mills practiced law as a litigator. In Spring, 2007, she gave up the practice of litigation to focus exclusively on mediation. Today, Ms. Mills is a mediator focusing on elder mediation and civil mediation. Most of her practice is in Contra Costa County, but she will travel throughout the Bay Area for mediation.

Cornell University

Law Degree | Law

1993 - 1996

Honors: Graduated Cum Laude

Activities: Moot Court Executive Board

Bates College

Undergraduate Degree | History, Women's Studies, French

1989 - 1993

Honors: Dana Scholar, Graduated Cum Laude, Honors Thesis

Mediator, Owner

Mills ADR Services

2007 - Current

Ms. Mills is the owner of Mills ADR Services, which provides mediation services, specializing in Elder Mediation and Civil Mediation. Mills ADR Services is based in Walnut Creek, California and generally services both Contra Costa and Alameda Counties.

Of Counsel

Garcia Law Group

2004 - 2007

While at Garcia Law Group, Ms. Mills served the needs of small businesses and small business owners as litigator. She handled a variety of cases including (among other things): elder abuse (financial and physical), trust and will contest, fraud, breach of contract and non-disclosure. Ms. Mills represented her clients in Court, mediation and negotiation.

Associate

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP

2000 - 2004

While at Skadden, Ms. Mills was on the litigation team that defended what was, at the time, the largest securities class action to date, working on all aspects of the case, including the Answer, discovery, briefing, motion practice and mediation efforts.

Associate

Crosby, Heafey, Roach & May

1998 - 2000

While at Crosby, Ms. Mills re-focused her practice on litigation, working primarily on class-action litigation from the insurance defense perspective, and moved from Southern to Northern California, staying with the firm during that move.

Associate

Sonnenschien, Nath & Rosenthal

1996 - 1998

Ms. Mills began her practice at Sonnenschien, first as a Summer Associate in 1995, and then as an Associate in the Washington, DC office. Ms. Mills practiced as a litigator on a variety of matters, and was fortunate to work on the civil case filed against the bombers of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. In Fall, 1997, Ms. Mills moved from DC to Southern California, staying with the firm, but working primarily on Health Care and insurance matters.

Center for Human Development

Volunteer

2008 - Current

Activities: Volunteer mediator with the Center for Human Development which provides free or low cost mediation services for members of the community in Contra Costa County

Contra Costa County Bar Association- Lawyer Magazine

Editorial Board

2008 - Current

Congress of Neutrals

Member/Volunteer

2007 - Current

Activities: Volunteer with the Congress of Neutrals, which provides mediation services in the Superior Courts of Contra Costa County.

Contra Costa County Bar Association

Member

2000 - Current

California State Bar  # 193861

Member

1997 - Current

California

Since 1997