As the youngest partner at Davis & Campbell, Richard Russo’s practice focuses on representing management in labor and employment law matters and commercial litigation. He has represented clients at all levels of state and federal courts, in arbitration, and in front of organizations such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, National Labor Relations Board and Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
Russo is admitted to practice in all Illinois state courts, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court. Two years ago, he was elected to partnership status in recognition of his efforts and acknowledgement of the great level of confidence he inspires in his supervising attorneys. This month, he will receive the rare opportunity to appear before the U.S. Supreme Court as part of an appellate team defending employers’ rights to make non-discriminatory termination decisions.
Russo served as vice-chair of the Peoria County Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Committee in 2007-2008 and chair in 2008-2009. In 2009-2010, he was an at-large member of the PCBA, and currently serves as vice-chair of the Bylaws Committee. Russo has been a member of the Illinois State Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Law Selection Council since 2006, serving as the council’s Illinois Department of Human Rights Liaison. He is also serving his first term as representative for the 10th District in the Illinois State Bar Association’s Assembly.
Russo is a volunteer arbitrator for the Central Illinois Better Business Bureau, a role which requires him to rule on automobile and commercial disputes. In 2008, he was named the organization’s Arbitrator of the Year. Illinois Super Lawyers magazine named Russo a 2010 Rising Star in Labor & Employment, and he has served on the board of the Greater Illinois Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation since 2005, helping to organize the chapter’s annual Jingle Bell Run.
Russo also serves as co-chair of the Young Professionals Organization of Greater Peoria, where he works to provide professional, social and cultural development opportunities for the next generation of leaders. He participated in the YPGP’s LEAP leadership academy in 2006 and 2007, and is a 2005 graduate of the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce Community Leadership School. iBi
