ITHACA, NY (TIP): Suby Valluri, an Indian American student who will graduate from Cornell Tech’s Master of Laws (LLM) in Law, Technology, and Entrepreneurship program this year, has won the first Michael Mills Memorial LegalTech Scholarship.
Created by a network of more than 50 donors to celebrate the legacy of Mills, an influential figure in legal technology, the scholarship will support students pursuing careers at the intersection of law and technology through the Cornell Tech LLM program, according to a media release.
Valluri, who holds a PhD in quantitative economics and an MA in law, is the co-founder and CEO of FinMont, a travel payments startup. His work combines law, artificial intelligence, and blockchain technology.
“Receiving the Michael Mills Memorial LegalTech Scholarship marks a profoundly meaningful step in my professional journey,” Valluri said. “Beyond its financial value, the award reflects Michael Mills’s legacy of mentorship, creativity, and his lifelong effort to reshape how law and technology intersect.”
Valluri plans to use the scholarship to develop “smart agreements” – contracts that combine traditional legal language with computer code. These agreements can automatically check compliance and trigger payments across different countries, reducing complexity and making global transactions faster and more reliable.
“My broader aim is to make cross-border transactions more transparent, affordable, and secure,” he said. “This scholarship gives me the space and confidence to deepen my research, test new prototypes, and participate more actively in Cornell Tech’s LegalTech community. Most importantly, it connects me with a network of thinkers and builders who share a common purpose: making legal systems more transparent, equitable, and adaptable through technology.”
The scholarship honors Michael Mills, who co-founded and led Neota, a company that enabled lawyers to build legal software applications without writing code. He also co-founded Central Park Conservancy and Pro Bono Net, a nonprofit that uses technology to expand pro bono legal services. Mills also funded innovation awards in the College of Law Practice Management and mentored professionals moving into technology roles.
Matthew D’Amore, professor of the practice and director of the Law, Technology, and Entrepreneurship Program at Cornell Tech and Cornell Law School, said the scholarship reflects the campus’s commitment to shaping the future of legal innovation. By supporting students working at the intersection of law and technology, the scholarship aims to advance innovations that make legal systems more efficient, accessible, and equitable.
With continued donor support, Cornell Tech plans to grow this fund into a permanent resource for aspiring legal tech leaders – ensuring Michael Mills’s commitment to progress lives on for generations.
“This scholarship will help us attract and inspire future pioneers in the field like Suby to carry on Michael’s legacy and join the growing ranks of legal tech founders and scholars coming out of Cornell Tech,” D’Amore said.
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