Derivatives and Futures Law Securities / Capital Markets Law
Charles R. "Charley" Mills
Awarded Practice Areas
Biography
Mr. Mills’ practice concentrates on securities and derivatives enforcement, regulatory counseling, and litigation. His clients include public and private companies, corporate officers, hedge funds, traders, energy marketers, broker-dealers, investment advisers commodity trading advisors and pool operators, and other professionals and executives. He represents clients in investigations and enforcement actions of the SEC, CFTC, FINRA, FERC, DOJ, state regulators and self-regulatory organizations and in private litigation and arbitration. He also regularly counsels and represents clients in agency and regulatory matters including company-specific matters, agency rulemakings, and such issues as registration, disclosure, derivatives trading compliance, regulatory audits, internal compliance procedures, and fiduciary duties. He has represented many companies in listing and de-listing proceedings before the principal securities exchanges.
In 2005, the Compliance Reporter, a publication of Institutional Investor, honored Mr. Mills as one of its “Lawyers of the Year” for his precedent-setting victory in WHX Corp. v. SEC, 362 F.3d 854 (D.C. Cir. 2004). TheBest Lawyers in America has selected Mr. Mills as one of its Best Lawyers for Derivatives Law and Securities Law.
In 2005, the Compliance Reporter, a publication of Institutional Investor, honored Mr. Mills as one of its “Lawyers of the Year” for his precedent-setting victory in WHX Corp. v. SEC, 362 F.3d 854 (D.C. Cir. 2004). TheBest Lawyers in America has selected Mr. Mills as one of its Best Lawyers for Derivatives Law and Securities Law.
Overview
- Georgetown University, J.D., graduated 1977
- Occidental College, BA
- California, The State Bar of California
- Virginia, Virginia State Bar
- New York, New York State Bar Association
- Maryland, Maryland State Bar Association
- District of Columbia, The District of Columbia Bar
- California, The State Bar of California
- Virginia, Virginia State Bar
- New York, New York State Bar Association
- Maryland, Maryland State Bar Association
- District of Columbia, The District of Columbia Bar
- Georgetown University, J.D., graduated 1977
- Occidental College, BA
Client Testimonials
Awards & Focus

Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
- Derivatives and Futures Law, Washington, D.C. (2024)
- Derivatives and Futures Law, Washington, D.C. (2019)
- Derivatives and Futures Law, Washington, DC (2017)
- Derivatives and Futures Law, Washington, DC (2012)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
- Derivatives and Futures Law
- Securities / Capital Markets Law
News & Media
Case History
Cases
- Other Court Admissions
- Supreme Court of the United States
- United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- United States District Court for the Central District of California
- United States District Court for the District of Columbia
- United States District Court for the District of Maryland
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
- United States District Court for the Northern District of California
- United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
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