providing paralegal consulting services to licensed professionals

Until recently based in Portland, Oregon, now transplanted to Tucson, Arizona, Russ works as a freelance paralegal consultant with nonprofits, donors, and their advisors in structuring charitable contributions of closely held business and real property interests, so as to serve the mutual advantage of all parties. He also provides legal research and advice on income and transfer tax planning more generally.

For ten years, Russ provided daily content for a subscription website that provided daily coverage and in-depth analysis of developments in tax law affecting charitable gift planning. Last year he launched his own newsletter, the Jack Straw Fortnightly, covering developments in the law, both tax and nontax, concerning wealth transfers more generally. Back issues are posted to his website. Russ has spoken at any number of national and regional conferences, and to local planned giving roundtables, community foundations, and bar associations. Some of his recent papers are posted to his website.

Russ has an undergraduate degree in English literature from Indiana University in Bloomington and a master's in English from the University of Chicago. He earned his J.D. at St. Louis University and his master's in taxation law at Washington University in St. Louis.

A transportational bicyclist and sometime bike mechanic, Russ was a founding board member of the St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation and chaired its policy and advocacy committee before moving to Portland in 2008 to live car-free.

Work Terms

My standard billing rate on guru is 175 per hour, with a minimum 600 dollar commitment, but I am willing to make flat fee arrangements. My availability is quite flexible, and I can usually promise very quick turnaround times.