Rachael L. Russo

Shareholder, Practice Group Manager, Business Litigation
Cleveland
1375 East Ninth Street
One Cleveland Center, 10th Floor
Cleveland, OH 44114
P 216.696.7282
F 216.623.0134
P 216.696.7282 | F 216.623.0134



Overview

As Practice Group Manager for the Business Litigation Group, Rachael represents both public and private companies in complex commercial contract disputes, complex arbitration, construction claims and litigation, class actions, claims arising out of Ponzi schemes and other alleged frauds, shareholder disputes, and trade secret/noncompetition litigation.

Rachael has over 20 years of experience handling complex commercial litigation in federal and state courts, as well as complex mediations and arbitrations. Rachael has extensive experience in construction litigation matters, representing both public and private owners, general contractors, subcontractors and design professionals. She has also successfully argued litigation issues at the appellate level. Rachael also has considerable experience in multidistrict litigation and class action defense, including representing a national bank in a federal multi-district commercial fraud case. She has also successfully defended a major manufacturer in an action to prevent the public disclosure of confidential information produced during the discovery process. 

Rachael has experience advising and managing nonprofit corporations and is the past Executive Director of The Prayers From Maria Children’s Glioma Cancer Foundation. She is also a member of the Roetzel & Andress Diversity & Inclusion Committee.

Experience
  • Obtained summary judgment for major energy technology company on multi-million dollar breach of contract case filed in federal court
  • Represents national organization in federal class action involving claims of fraud and breach of contract
  • Prevailed in the New Jersey Supreme Court on behalf of a Fortune 500 company on a high profile issue involving the protection of trade secrets and confidential information produced during the litigation discovery process
  • Prevailed in the Fifth District Court of Appeals on behalf of architect in case involving Ohio’s construction Statute of Repose
  • Represented area bank in multi-million-dollar Multi-District Litigation involving claims of commercial fraud, bad faith and breach of contract
  • Defeated breach-of-contract complaint at trial and on appeal on behalf of area nursing home developer
  • Represents owners, contractors, and design/engineering firms during the claim process and in complex litigation and arbitration
  • Represents public and private companies in breach of contract issues including non-compete agreements, class actions including shareholder class and derivative actions, common law fraud, and complex business and commercial litigation
Services

Education

  1. The Ohio State University, Moritz College of Law, J.D.
    • with honors
  2. The Ohio State University, B.A., Political Science
    • magna cum laude
    • with honors in the liberal arts

Credentials

Bar Admissions
  1. Ohio
Court Admissions
  1. U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
  2. U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
  3. U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit

Recognitions

  • Named to The Best Lawyers in America® for Commercial Litigation (2024)

Affiliations

Professional Affiliations
  • Former Executive Director at Prayers from Maria Children's Glioma Cancer Foundation
  • Federal Bar Association
  • American Bar Association Forum on Construction Litigation

Insights

Overview

As Practice Group Manager for the Business Litigation Group, Rachael represents both public and private companies in complex commercial contract disputes, complex arbitration, construction claims and litigation, class actions, claims arising out of Ponzi schemes and other alleged frauds, shareholder disputes, and trade secret/noncompetition litigation.

Rachael has over 20 years of experience handling complex commercial litigation in federal and state courts, as well as complex mediations and arbitrations. Rachael has extensive experience in construction litigation matters, representing both public and private owners, general contractors, subcontractors and design professionals. She has also successfully argued litigation issues at the appellate level. Rachael also has considerable experience in multidistrict litigation and class action defense, including representing a national bank in a federal multi-district commercial fraud case. She has also successfully defended a major manufacturer in an action to prevent the public disclosure of confidential information produced during the discovery process. 

Rachael has experience advising and managing nonprofit corporations and is the past Executive Director of The Prayers From Maria Children’s Glioma Cancer Foundation. She is also a member of the Roetzel & Andress Diversity & Inclusion Committee.

Experience
  • Obtained summary judgment for major energy technology company on multi-million dollar breach of contract case filed in federal court
  • Represents national organization in federal class action involving claims of fraud and breach of contract
  • Prevailed in the New Jersey Supreme Court on behalf of a Fortune 500 company on a high profile issue involving the protection of trade secrets and confidential information produced during the litigation discovery process
  • Prevailed in the Fifth District Court of Appeals on behalf of architect in case involving Ohio’s construction Statute of Repose
  • Represented area bank in multi-million-dollar Multi-District Litigation involving claims of commercial fraud, bad faith and breach of contract
  • Defeated breach-of-contract complaint at trial and on appeal on behalf of area nursing home developer
  • Represents owners, contractors, and design/engineering firms during the claim process and in complex litigation and arbitration
  • Represents public and private companies in breach of contract issues including non-compete agreements, class actions including shareholder class and derivative actions, common law fraud, and complex business and commercial litigation

Education

  1. The Ohio State University, Moritz College of Law, J.D.
    • with honors
  2. The Ohio State University, B.A., Political Science
    • magna cum laude
    • with honors in the liberal arts

Credentials

Bar Admissions
  1. Ohio
Court Admissions
  1. U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
  2. U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
  3. U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit

Recognitions

  • Named to The Best Lawyers in America® for Commercial Litigation (2024)

Affiliations

Professional Affiliations
  • Former Executive Director at Prayers from Maria Children's Glioma Cancer Foundation
  • Federal Bar Association
  • American Bar Association Forum on Construction Litigation