Practice Areas
Industries
Education
- Columbia University School of Law, New York, J.D., 1972
- Rutgers University, A.B., 1969
Bar & Court Admissions
Russ is a retired partner in the Vorys Columbus office and served as the firm’s managing partner from 2007 until his retirement on Dec. 31, 2017. Russ engaged in the practice of general corporate and contract law, including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and initial public offerings (IPO). He acted as general counsel to a variety of public and private corporations.
Russ received his J.D. from Columbia University School of Law and his B.A. from Rutgers University.
Russ is a member of the Columbus Bar Association.
Professional and Community Activities
- The Wexner Center for the Arts, Current Board Member
- Ohio State University Holding Corp., Current Board Member
- White Oak Partners, Current Advisory Board Member
- The Columbus Partnership, Past Member
- Ohio State University Hospital, Past Board Member
- Abercrombie & Fitch Co., Past Board Member
- The Columbus Metropolitan Library Foundation, Past Board Member
- Columbus Council on World Affairs, Honorary Trustee
- Goodwill Industries, Honorary Trustee
- AirNet Systems, Inc., Past Board Member
- Liqui-Box Corporation, Past Board Member
- Columbus Museum of Art, Former Trustee
- The Buckeye Boys Ranch, Past Board President
- The Columbus Academy, Past Board President
- The Police Athletic League, Former Board Member
- The Columbus Regional Information Service, Past Board President
Honors & Awards
- The Best Lawyers in America, Columbus Corporate Governance Law "Lawyer of the Year," 2014, 2016-2018
- The Best Lawyers in America, Columbus Corporate Compliance Law "Lawyer of the Year," 2015
- The Best Lawyers in America, Corporate Compliance Law, 2012-2019
- The Best Lawyers in America, Corporate Governance Law, 2012-2019
- Columbus CEO, Top Lawyers in Columbus, 2010-2014, 2017-2018
- Ohio Super Lawyers, Business/Corporate, 2004 & 2007
- Fellow of the Columbus Bar Foundation since 1990
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Peer Review Rated
News
- 8/15/2018One hundred and thirteen lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2019.
- 8/17/2017Twenty Vorys attorneys have been named 2018 Lawyers of the Year by Best Lawyers. Each year, only a single lawyer in each specialty in each community is honored as the “Lawyer of the Year.”
- 8/17/2017One hundred and eight lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2018.
- 3/28/2017This year, 54 Vorys attorneys were listed in the 2017 Columbus CEO “Top Lawyers” List.
- 8/15/2016Fifteen Vorys attorneys have been named 2017 Lawyers of the Year by Best Lawyers.
- 8/15/2016One-hundred and eleven lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2017.
- 8/17/2015One-hundred and eighteen lawyers from Vorys were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2016.
- 8/17/2015Sixteen Vorys attorneys have been named 2016 Lawyers of the Year by Best Lawyers.
- 10/6/2014Russ Gertmenian, Vorys’ managing partner, was included on the inaugural Smart Business: Columbus "Smart 50"List.
- 8/18/2014One-hundred and ten lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2015.
- 8/18/2014Seven Vorys attorneys have been named 2015 Lawyers of the Year by Best Lawyers. Each year, only a single lawyer in each specialty in each community is honored as the “Lawyer of the Year.”
- 9/20/2013Russ Gertmenian, the firm’s managing partner, was included on the Columbus Business First “20 People to Know in Law” list.
- 8/14/2013One hundred and eleven lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2014.
- 8/14/2013Ten Vorys attorneys from three offices have been named 2014 Lawyers of the Year by Best Lawyers. Each year, only a single lawyer in each specialty in each community is honored as the “Lawyer of the Year.”
- 8/2/2013Russell Gertmenian, a partner in the Vorys Columbus office and the firm’s managing partner was quoted in a story about Lancaster Pollard’s growth over the past 25 years that appeared in the August 2, 2013 edition of Columbus Business First.
- 4/1/2013Russ Gertmenian, Vorys' managing partner, was profiled in the April 2013 edition of Smart Business Columbus Magazine. The profile story highlighted the changes made at the firm and in the legal profession following the 2008-2009 financial downturn.
- 1/23/2013Vorys hosted a gathering to celebrate the inauguration of President Obama on January 21. The celebration was featured in a Legal BisNow story entitled “Inauguration Day Roundup.”
- 8/23/2012One hundred and twenty-six lawyers from Vorys were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2013.
- 9/6/2011
- 7/15/2010
- 7/5/2008
- 10/1/2007
Insights
- 11/21/2008