Team Member

Personal Experience

Prior to entering law school, Mr. Russell worked as a paralegal at Satin & Russell, a personal injury law firm based in Newport Beach, California. It was there that he developed an interest in this field of practice, after realizing the positive difference a good attorney could make in resolving accident cases. Mr. Russell received his law degree from Santa Clara University School of Law in 1994. While attending Santa Clara, Mr. Russell was awarded the Best Brief for Appellants, at the Pace Environmental Moot Court Competition (Published in the Pace Environmental Law Review, Spring 1994 Edition).

After graduating from Santa Clara, Mr. Russell worked as a Judicial Research Attorney for the Superior Court of Santa Clara County, located in San Jose, California. His duties included the research and preparation of judicial memos in civil law cases. In 1996, Mr. Russell left the Superior Court to become an associate attorney at the law firm of Hopkins & Carley, also located in San Jose. Mr. Russell’s practice focused on business litigation matters, including intellectual property and contract disputes. Mr. Russell draws upon his extensive litigation experience when representing clients in court and he is passionate about leveling the playing field for those injured in accidents.

Mr. Russell graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of California, Irvine. Mr. Russell earned a B.A. degree in Social Ecology, with a dual focus on law and environmental studies.

Verdicts & Settlements

Chris and his associates have successfully litigated over 5,000 personal injury claims to verdict or claims that have been settled prior to trial or arbitration, ranging in value from $25,000 to $16.2 million.

Chris belongs to the American Association of Justice (formerly known as the American Trial Lawyers Association), the Consumer Attorneys Of California, the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, and the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association. Chris has also been admitted to all of the courts of the State of California, and has argued cases in the Federal Courts as well as the California Court of Appeals. He shares strategies and communicates daily with his Plaintiff attorney colleagues across the State of California on topics including trial tactics, judge selection, expert witness background information, medical provider credibility, etc.

These strategies help put his clients in the best position to allow them to resolve their injuries as quickly as possible, and to obtain fair compensation from at-fault parties who are oftentimes represented by insurance companies that seem to have lost the ability to even understand the definition of “fair.”

He has worked on almost every type of personal injury claim imaginable, including motor vehicle collisions, product liability claims, slip, trip and fall claims, premises liability claims, animal inflicted injury claims, work related claims, sexual assault claims, and the list goes on.

The common theme to all of these claims was that someone was injured and they needed help. Chris’ goal in helping people is two fold; get them better and get them fair compensation.

Chris has recovered compensation on behalf of his clients 95% of the time. Chris does not shy away from taking on difficult liability claims when the injuries are substantial, which is why it is not at 100%.

Organizations & Memberships

• The National Law Journal Elite Trial Lawyers
• The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 Trial Lawyers
• Super Lawyers Official Selection, 2016 – 2017
• Million Dollar Advocates Forum
• OC Metro Top Attorney
• BBB Accredited Business
• Avvo Rating: 10 out of 10
• Orange County Trial Lawyers Association
• Consumer Attorneys of California
• Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles

Education

University of California, Irvine, CA. Bachelor of Arts, 1990.

Santa Clara University School of Law, Santa Clara, CA. Juris Doctor, 1994.

Personal Life

Chris has been blessed to be married to Helene for 32 years. He has four grown daughters, who, along with his wife, are the loves of his life. His current hobbies are few, as he lives a busy life practicing law and helping his clients, along with keeping up with weddings and the college comings and goings of his daughters. When his girls where active in sports, he coached, sponsored, or helped coach in excess of 50 of their sports teams.

When he does have spare time, Chris enjoys giving back to the community in the context of activities or events that involve preventing injuries or honoring those who have been injured or killed in accidents. Chris has been a primary sponsor of the Sarah DeMille annual cross country race which was established in memory of one his daughters’ classmates who died tragically in a car crash.

Chris is also a primary sponsor for “Swim for Life,” an organization devoted to preventing child drowning, which is still the number one cause of death for children under the age of 5 in Orange County.

Chris is the third of six children with his youngest brother, John, heading up his affiliate office in Northern California, Russell & Philbrick.

Languages

English (fluent)

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