Russell is a partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP where he has spent his entire 33+ year career. He focuses his trial, appellate and alternative dispute resolution practice on patent infringement matters and disputes involving, and relating to, patent license agreements. He focuses his licensing practice on structuring and negotiating both licensing-in and licensing-out transactions.
Russell has received many accolades for his IP practice. His strategy of seeking and obtaining a writ of mandamus earned “stand-out” recognition in the Financial Times, U.S. Innovative Lawyers 2011. He also won the International Law Office 2012 Client Choice Award in Litigation for the U.S. The clients ILO interviewed had this to say about him: “Russell has that unique ability to provide legal advice in a manner that is understandable, practical and useful for our business.”
Russell is included year after year in Chambers USA, MIP’s “IP Stars,” IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Practitioners and IAM Strategy 300: The World’s Leading IP Strategists. Comments in these publications have included: “We have worked with Russell Levine for several years. I find he has great insight into how to give clear, concise input focused on legal solutions that leverage business needs.” “He is fantastic and has a knack for breaking down complex subjects to their essentials without getting caught in the weeds. He really knows his audience and how to get points across effectively;” he is “well known for the depth of his licensing expertise;” and “for the most important cases, he is one of the leading figures in Chicago and nationally.”
Russell is active in bar associations, industry organizations and his community. He is a Past-President of LES (USA and Canada); a past-chair of the By-Laws Committee of the USTA’s Midwest Section; and a past-chair of the President’s Council at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry.
He is an author and frequent speaker on IP issues. He is co-editor of International Licensing and Technology Transfer: Practice and the Law. His “Top 10 Court Decisions of the Year” workshop at the LES Annual Meeting is consistently standing room only.
Russell holds a B.S. in Engineering and a B.S. in Economics, both degrees from the University of Michigan, and his J.D. from the University of Chicago. He is on WIPO’s List of Mediators and Arbitrators, and he is registered to practice before the USPTO. He also is a Certified Licensing Professional.
