E. powell miller

How E. Powell Miller (JD86) Unlocked the Explosive Power of Gift Matching

When E. Powell Miller committed to generously donating $1 million to Wayne Law, he did so in the form of a matching gift challenge, promising to cut the check only if other donors stepped up to match the amount by September 30, 2024. The wisdom of that choice became clear when additional Law School donors not only matched Miller’s gift but surpassed it, ultimately contributing an additional $1,178,103. Knowing the competitiveness of attorneys, it’s hardly surprising that many of the matching gifts were explicitly inspired by the challenge.

The beneficiaries of E. Powell Miller’s philanthropy and the alumni and friends who joined him are Wayne Law’s students and programs. A portion of the gift supports the E. Powell Miller Program in Class Action Studies, with the remainder used at the Dean’s discretion, primarily funding projects and initiatives that strengthen the national standing and reputation of the Law School. Richard A. Bierschbach, Dean of Wayne Law, described Miller’s gift as “awesome” and noted that “your gift matching plan has been a smashing success, and your generosity will have a major impact.”

Miller, whose gifts previously established Wayne Law’s Wall of Fame, views the Law School as critical to the advancement and growth of Michigan’s legal community. “I am Wayne State through and through. My mom, Edna Miller, was a professor in the social work department; my dad, Bruce Miller (JD54), and sister, Ann Miller (JD89), also graduated from the Law School; and my sister Liz and my wife, Karol, from the undergraduate school. I never forgot my mom telling me that Wayne State, in the heart of Detroit, is an essential bridge to working class families having an opportunity for higher education.”

Miller’s distinguished legal career includes recognition as Michigan’s Number One attorney by Super Lawyers Magazine in 2023 and a consistent place among the Top 10 lawyers in Michigan. He is a recipient of the Cook-Friedman Civility Award, the Oakland County Bar Association Professionalism Award, and has been named one of the Best Lawyers in America every year since 2005. Additionally, he has earned Martindale-Hubbell’s highest rating, AV® Preeminent™ 5/5.0 for legal ethics and ability, and a 10/10 from AVVO, a public rating system.

A 1986 graduate of Wayne Law, Miller finished third in his class, magna cum laude, was named to the honor society Order of the Coif, and served as Editor of the Wayne Law Review. After graduation, he joined the Detroit law firm of Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn, where he was elected partner in 1990. He later founded Miller Law as a two-person firm in 1996, which has since grown into a nationally recognized 38-lawyer litigation boutique with over $10 billion recovered for clients.

Miller’s career is emblematic of the caliber of legal professionals graduating from Wayne Law, and his generosity—more than doubled thanks to the power of gift matching—continues to serve as a transformative legacy for the School and future generations of law students.

How to Give

For information on endowing a gift at Wayne Law, please contact: Rob MacGregor, Senior Director of Philanthropy at 313- 577-4141; rmacgregor@wayne.edu; or visit bit.ly/donatetowaynelaw. Other types of gift include One-time/Current use, Hybrid (endowment plus current use), and Naming Opportunity.

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