Rachael L. Russo
Shareholder, Practice Group Manager, Business Litigation
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 focuses on complex commercial contract disputes, construction claims and litigation, complex arbitration, 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 construction 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
- Represents owners, contractors, and design/engineering firms during the claim process and in complex litigation and arbitration
- Prevailed in the Fifth District Court of Appeals on behalf of architect in case involving Ohio’s construction Statute of Repose
- 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
- 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
- Represented clients 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
-
The Ohio State University, Moritz College of Law,
J.D.
- with honors
-
The Ohio State University,
B.A.,
Political Science
- magna cum laude
- with honors in the liberal arts
Credentials
Bar Admissions
- Ohio
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
Affiliations
Professional Affiliations
- Former Executive Director at Prayers from Maria Children's Glioma Cancer Foundation
- American Bar Association Forum on Construction Litigation
Insights
Alerts
Litigation Impacts that Ohio HB 606 Will Have on Helping Ohio Businesses Defend against COVID-Related Transmission (Oct 26, 2020)
Handling COVID-19 Issues on Construction Project Sites in Ohio (Mar 31, 2020)
Supreme Court of Ohio Tolls Litigation Deadlines and Timelines (Mar 29, 2020)
New Ohio Law Tolls Statutes of Limitations and Deadlines in Civil Lawsuits Due to COVID-19 (Mar 27, 2020)
Practical Tips for Ohio Construction in Response to the Coronavirus Pandemic (Mar 24, 2020)
Firm News
Roetzel & Andress Appoints Five Attorneys to Key Leadership Roles (May 9, 2023)
Roetzel & Andress Seeks Mansfield Rule Certification to Boost Diversity (Jul 6, 2021)
Overview
As Practice Group Manager for the Business Litigation Group, Rachael focuses on complex commercial contract disputes, construction claims and litigation, complex arbitration, 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 construction 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
- Represents owners, contractors, and design/engineering firms during the claim process and in complex litigation and arbitration
- Prevailed in the Fifth District Court of Appeals on behalf of architect in case involving Ohio’s construction Statute of Repose
- 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
- 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
- Represented clients 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
-
The Ohio State University, Moritz College of Law,
J.D.
- with honors
-
The Ohio State University,
B.A.,
Political Science
- magna cum laude
- with honors in the liberal arts
Credentials
Bar Admissions
- Ohio
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
Affiliations
Professional Affiliations
- Former Executive Director at Prayers from Maria Children's Glioma Cancer Foundation
- American Bar Association Forum on Construction Litigation
Insights
Alerts
Litigation Impacts that Ohio HB 606 Will Have on Helping Ohio Businesses Defend against COVID-Related Transmission (Oct 26, 2020)
Handling COVID-19 Issues on Construction Project Sites in Ohio (Mar 31, 2020)
Supreme Court of Ohio Tolls Litigation Deadlines and Timelines (Mar 29, 2020)
New Ohio Law Tolls Statutes of Limitations and Deadlines in Civil Lawsuits Due to COVID-19 (Mar 27, 2020)
Practical Tips for Ohio Construction in Response to the Coronavirus Pandemic (Mar 24, 2020)
Firm News
Roetzel & Andress Appoints Five Attorneys to Key Leadership Roles (May 9, 2023)
Roetzel & Andress Seeks Mansfield Rule Certification to Boost Diversity (Jul 6, 2021)