Russell serves as the managing partner for FordHarrison's Memphis office and is known for his extreme responsiveness and excellent communication with clients.
Russell is a go-to trusted counselor for employers facing the full spectrum of labor and employment challenges. Russell’s approach puts clients first, uniting preventive foresight with practical execution to deliver creative, business-driven solutions that remain legally compliant. Employers value Russell’s inventive, hard-hitting and aggressive strategies to protect their interests in litigation.
Comprehensive Practice, Nationwide Reach
- Litigation: Russell defends companies coast-to-coast against claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful discharge, restrictive-covenant breaches, and wage-and-hour violations. He appears regularly before federal and state courts as well as the EEOC, DOL, NLRB, OSHA, and other agencies.
- Counseling: From terminations and discipline to ADA, FMLA, PWFA leave and accommodation requests, trade-secret protection, wage-and-hour audits, and unfair-labor-practice matters, Russell steers employers through every stage of the employment relationship.
- Training & Investigations: An engaging teacher and meticulous investigator, Russell equips executives, HR teams, and frontline supervisors with practical skills on topics such as harassment prevention, respectful-workplace culture, leave management, investigation best practices, union avoidance, and independent contractor v. employee classification.
Proven Results & Industry Diversity
Licensed in Tennessee and Mississippi and admitted in courts nationwide, Russell has obtained victories at every level – including the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fifth, Sixth, and Eleventh Circuits and briefing before the U.S. Supreme Court. His client roster spans residential services, manufacturing, logistics, insurance, healthcare, finance, property management, staffing, retail, and more.
Leadership & Community Commitment
As Office Managing Partner of the firm’s Memphis office, Russell fosters an energizing, collaborative culture. A Memphis native, he gives back through board service with several local nonprofits, including having served as president of a 501(c)(3) organization.
Russell delivers inventive, legally sound solutions that advance business goals – whether preventing problems before they arise or winning high-stakes disputes when they do.