Hugh Russ Appointed President of the Board of Directors of the Bar Association of Erie County

Hodgson Russ Partner Hugh M. Russ, III has been appointed president of the board of directors of the Bar Association Erie County (BAEC) for a one-year term. He previously served as the board’s vice president.

A seasoned trial attorney and business dispute resolution specialist, Russ has argued more than 100 cases before juries over the past 30 years, representing individuals and businesses in virtually all areas of civil litigation throughout New York and the Northeast. He was appointed by the U.S. District Court to be plaintiffs' liaison counsel in the Continental Flight 3407 multi-district litigation. In addition to serving as lead counsel for all plaintiffs, he also represented seven families of victims killed in the 2009 crash.

Russ has represented industries in environmental class action lawsuits, a major insurer in one of the largest environmental insurance coverage litigations in the nation, and represented international businesses in product liability cases. He has tried catastrophic personal injury cases, including those involving claimed medical malpractice and has substantial trial experience on insurance cases involving arson and fraud, personal injury cases, employment litigation, environmental litigation, and shareholder and business disputes. Additionally, he has extensive experience in pro bono and civil rights work.

Russ is a fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, which is comprised of the preeminent members of the trial bar in the United States and Canada. Fellowship is extended only by invitation, to those experienced trial lawyers who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the higher standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility, and collegiality. Membership is limited to less than 1% of the total lawyer population. Other honors include America’s Top 100 Attorneys® Lifetime Achievement Member, and Best Lawyers in America (Commercial Litigation; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants) 2011 – 2021.

Hodgson Russ attorneys facilitate the U.S. legal aspects of transactions around the world. The firm practices in several significant areas of law and uses multidisciplinary work teams to serve the specific, often complex, needs of clients, which include public and privately held businesses, governmental entities, nonprofit institutions, and individuals. Hodgson Russ has offices in Albany, Buffalo, Hackensack, New York City, Palm Beach, Rochester, Saratoga Springs and Toronto. To learn more, visit www.hodgsonruss.com.

The Bar Association of Erie County, founded in 1887, is a professional organization with more than 3,000 member lawyers, judges, law students, legal administrators and paralegals. The BAEC is the largest bar association outside the metropolitan New York City area and each year conducts various programs and services for legal community and the community at large. Members of the BAEC work to improve the profession, the community in which they live and the administration of justice.