Russ is a native of Clinton, Maryland, and worked for several years as a software engineer after graduating from the University of Maryland, College Park, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Sciences (with concentrations in Physics, Computer Science, and Mathematics). He then moved to Miami, Florida, where he attended law school on an academic scholarship at St. Thomas University School of Law. During law school, Russ was an editor of the school's law review, was professionally published, and was the president of the local chapter of the largest legal fraternity in the nation (Phi Alpha Delta). Russ graduated law school and received a J.D. with academic honors. He then went on to continue his education at New York University where he received a Master of Laws Degree (LL.M.) in the top federal taxation law program in the country.

Russ built his legal career in New York where he worked for a well known international tax law firm designing large estate plans. He was then recruited by one of the Big Four accounting firms as a federal tax manager to service their largest corporate clients. Russ has a significant amount of international planning experience as he has transacted business in over 50 countries.

Russ has built his practice in Longmont primarily working with families and business owners. His practice centers on basic and complex estate planning, probate and estate administration, asset protection, disability and special needs planning, planning for unmarried couples, and business law and entity design for entrepreneurs (with the related corporate and partnership taxation planning).

Russ is always willing to discuss strategy and answer questions. As part of his professional philosophy, he thinks it is important for legal consumers to have the ability to easily and inexpensively gather multiple opinions on planning matters.

In addition to being licensed to practice law in Colorado, Russ is actively licensed in New York and regularly works with the extensive network of international service providers he has established.

Russ belongs to various estate planning, charitable, and legal organizations in Colorado, including the Colorado Bar Association, the Boulder County Bar Association, the Boulder County Estate Planning Council, and RSVP of Boulder County, where he currently serves as board chair.

Russ is married to M. Carolina Lombardy and has a young daughter, Sophia. Russ and his family spend as much time as their busy schedules allow hiking, snowshoeing, camping, mountain biking, and generally playing in the Rocky Mountains that border Longmont.

Areas of Practice

• 50% Estate Planning: Wills and Trusts
• 20% Estate Administration: Probate and Intestate Administration
• 10% Disability Planning: Powers of Attorney
• 5% Special Needs Trust Planning
• 8% Asset Protection for Entrepreneurs
• 2% International Estate Planning

Bar Admissions

• New York, 1998
• Colorado, 2004

Education

• New York University School of Law, New York, New York
  LL.M.
  Major: Tax
  
  
• St Thomas University School of Law, Miami, Florida, 1997
  J.D.
  Honors: With Honors
  Honors: Dean's List Each Semester
  Honors: Multiple Book Awards
  Honors: Phi Alpha Delta, President (1996-1997)
  Law Review: St. Thomas University Law Review, Notes and Comments Editor, 1995 - 1997
  
  
• University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
  B.S.
  Major: Physical Sciences
  
  

Published Works

• The Myth of Market Power: Why Market Power Should Not Be Presumed When Applying Antitrust Principles to the Analysis of Tying Agreements Involving Intellectual Property, 8 St. Thomas L. Rev. 449, 1996

Classes/Seminars Taught

• Frequent Lecturer on Estate Planning, Multiple Sponsoring Orgs.

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Boulder County Estate Planning Council, 2005 - 2008
  Member
  
  
• Boulder County Bar Association, 2005 - 2008
  Member
  
  
• Colorado Bar Association, 2005 - 2008
  Member
  
  

Pro Bono Activities

• RSVP of Boulder County (current Board Chair), 2005 - 2008

Fraternities/Sororities

• Phi Alpha Delta

Birth Information

• November 4, 1966, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America