Summary

Russell represents businesses, corporations, and individuals in commercial litigation and arbitration. Over the course of his 30-year career, he has gained experience litigating cases involving ERISA, trade secrets, class actions, derivative claims, multi-party litigation, and antitrust litigation across numerous state and federal courts. Clients have turned to Russell for assistance with alternative dispute resolution and arbitration under FINRA, AAA, and JAMS procedures. In the process, he has worked with clients spanning a number of industries, including companies in the healthcare, technology, privacy, medical cannabis, and insurance sectors.

Russell’s work in the financial services sector includes representing broker-dealers, registered representatives, and hedge funds in recruiting matters, customer disputes, regulatory matters, and disputes involving such varied claims as churning, options trading, selling away, suitability, fraud, Securities Act claims, and “ponzi-scheme” allegations.

Russell’s creative litigation solutions and successful track record with representing clients in commercial litigation and arbitration are among the reasons why Best Lawyers® named him “Lawyer of the Year” four times for Cincinnati Appellate Practice, why Benchmark Litigation named him an honoree for “Local Litigation Star – Ohio,” and why he has received honors from Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Super Lawyers, and Leading Lawyers for his commercial and business litigation work.

Russell has spoken at events held by organizations such as ACC Southwest Ohio and has been quoted in publications such as the Cincinnati Enquirer and Cincinnati Business Courier.

Russell earned his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he was executive editor of the Virginia Tax Review, and received his B.A. from Mary Washington College.

Awards

  • Honoree, Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Litigation: General Commercial

  • Honoree, Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers®, Appellate Practice (2015, 2017, 2020, 2023, 2025), Litigation – Banking and Finance (2022), Cincinnati

  • Honoree, Best Lawyers in America®Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Banking and Finance

    (2006 – present)

  • Local Litigation Star Honoree, Benchmark Litigation

  • Honoree, Ohio Super Lawyers, Business Litigation

    (2007 – present)

  • Leading Lawyers Honoree, Cincy Magazine, Business Litigation

    (2009 – present)

  • Top 50 Cincinnati Super Lawyers Honoree (2020 – present)

  • AV Peer Review Rated, LexisNexis/Martindale-Hubbell

All Service Areas

Education

  • University of Virginia School of Law (1990)
  • Mary Washington College (1986)

Admissions

  • Federal - 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Federal - 6th Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Federal - Southern District of Indiana
  • Federal - Southern District of Ohio
  • State - Ohio

Professional Affiliations

  • Cincinnati Bar Association

    Member