Michael in a practice innovation workshop.

I can't articulate Michael's value to our profession any more eloquently than has already been done by many others.    Michael (wisely) declined to buy the DMS I was trying to sell him in 2003ish, but we became connected as a result of that initial interaction.   When he reached out to me a few years back and invited me to come talk with him about a Sales role at Neota, it was truly one of the most rewarding moments of my career.  Michael Mills thinks highly enough of me to invite me to come work for him!  Wow.  Now I knew what it felt like to win an Academy Award.   His energy was so warm, so calm.   He exuded a calm confidence that naturally drew you in.  I wish I had gotten the chance to spend time with him outside of the professional realm.   He will be sorely missed.   On the Mt Rushmore of our Legal Tech community for sure.   So grateful for Jeff's wonderful obituary which gave us all insight into the whole person he was.   

I met Michael in law school in 1974, and became his friend the following year when we went to work for the same Manhattan law firm. The friendship lasted nearly fifty years, until his death a few days ago. There were so many times that Michael helped me out when I was in need, yet he never once asked for anything in return. To use an old-fashioned term, he was a gentleman, and was perceived as a gentleman by everyone who knew him. I've never known a finer man, or one I loved as much as Michael.  

In [2013], Kira Systems (then terribly named (by me!) "DiligenceEngine") had hardly any customers but a bit of a positive reputation. I got a cold email from Michael over the holidays, asking if I would come in and show him our AI sometime. I demo'd for him and John Lord, and it went well and we got along. Great. Then, he really surprised me. With no prompting by me, Michael sent an email to many Biglaw IT/KM luminaries - Harris Tilevitz, Jeff Rovner, Oz Benamram, V. Mary Abraham, and a bunch of others - saying, basically, 'diligence is a very big deal at your firms, and you have to see this tech.' Many recipients quickly set up demos, and it really helped us get on the map in Biglaw. Michael put effort, credibility, and his network into helping me/us, and really had nothing to gain from it.

For what it's worth, I had two other (successful) legaltech people tell me similar stories about Michael today.

Michael was outstanding. I think he was the best guy I've dealt with in legaltech.

Jeff made a beautiful collage of all the feet in his kitchen and presented it to Michael during our visit in September of last year.  Here is Michael's reaction to that collage,  referred to as the "kitchen gallery",  and his explanation of how his feet ended up the kitchen sink as seen in the picture above.

I only wish I had shared this with Michael Mills while he was still with us and could hear it. Michael was a exceptional mentor to me during my one year tenure as President of Neota Logic. Perhaps more importantly, over the course of our year working together, he became a trusted advisor and ultimately a friend. A tumultuous year for me personally and professionally, Michael taught me these lessons I have carried with me throughout:

1. Stay calm under pressure.

2. The strongest voice in the room is not the same thing as the loudest voice in the room.

3. Perfecting your craft is fully within your control and takes more time than you think.

4. Levity can be a necessary antidote to life. It is often the case that we take ourselves and our careers far too seriously.

5. If something seems catastrophic in the moment but won't in five years, it's probably not that catastrophic in the moment.

6. A glass of good wine and low-key conversation is sometimes all you need.

I so appreciated the personal and professional moments we shared during our year working together and understand your impact across so many of us was likely happening behind the scenes with no required praise, credit or recognition.

Michael -- tonight I will toast you with a glass of good wine. Thank you for your sage advice and friendship!

Michael was an amazing man and a kind soul. He was a lovely example of humanity and will be sorely missed.

My name is Gail Dedrick and I worked for Michael at Davis Polk. I guess you could say that I was there for the beginning. I was working at the library reference desk when Michael asked me to help him prototype a law firm ‘intranet’ - a new word to me. 

I will miss Michael - he was such a brilliant, giving and nice guy.  I enjoyed my many years serving with Michael on the Board of the College of Law Practice Management. I could never say no when he asked me to volunteer and that created some wonderful professional experiences for me. Michael spoke to the Law Firm Leaders of my global network a few years ago and opened our eyes to the future of legal tech. He was quite a visionary.  I will miss Michael. Maybe rest in peace and May his memory always be a blessing to all who knew, loved and respected him.

In 2012, I wrote an email to Michael telling him that my firm would never buy his platform (Neota Logic), but that I was personally very interested.  He invited me to the office and sat down  with me one day after work to explain Neota and what it could do and how it worked.  

I eventually worked at Neota as a client success manager and a strategist.  Michael was a good friend and a mentor during those years and his support continued long after I had left Neota and started consulting.   As an employee of Neota I remember thinking, “Damn it Michael, why would you waste time talking to a kid that told you his firm would never buy Neota.” As the recipient of his immense generosity, I am eternally grateful that he did.  It is rare to be able to pinpoint a moment in time and a person and say, “that one conversation changed my life”.  That one conversation with Michael, and his friendship, and continued support changed my life.  I am a better person and in a better place for having known Michael Mills.  

Thank you for everything, Michael.  

I am so incredibly sad about the passing of Michael. I first met Michael in 2003 when he was at Davis Polk and I was trying to sell him something. That was the start of a 20 year friendship where we would find each other on varying sides of the legal tech spectrum. Since those early interactions, my memories of Michael are dominated by his kindness, integrity and overall being a wonderful human being, a real mensch as Harris Tillevitz rightly called him. 

I will truly miss Michael and am proud to have gotten to know him as a friend.

I love how Michael talks with his hands!