Russell J. Austin

Russell Austin has extensive experience in real estate and business law. He has planned, negotiated and documented a complete array of real property transactions and supporting documentation, including purchase and sale transactions, exchanges, syndications and development of partnerships, and a wide variety of financing transactions and conservation transactions. Russell also has substantial experience in several aspects of real estate litigation, including complex foreclosure actions. He is listed in the 2000 through 2010 editions of The Best Lawyers in America as one of the Sacramento area's outstanding real estate attorneys and from 2005 through 2009, he has been listed as a Super Lawyer in Northern California Super Lawyers®. Russell was named Best Lawyers’ 2010 Sacramento Real Estate Lawyer of the Year.

Russell has been a Lecturer at King Hall School of Law at the University of California (Davis), teaching Real Estate Finance, has served as an Adjunct Professor in the graduate tax program at the McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, and was an Instructor at Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco. Russell was a contributing editor for Real Estate Purchase and Sale Transactions and Organizing Corporations in California, both published by the California Continuing Education of the Bar. He has been a frequent panel speaker and moderator at continuing education seminars on real estate law.

Russell has been active in a number of community organizations and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Sacramento Valley Conservancy and the Board of Directors for the Sacramento Sutter Club. He was recognized by the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce as its “Volunteer of the Year” for 2001.

Russell has also been active in the Sacramento County Bar Association, has served as Chair of the Voluntary Legal Services Program and President of Legal Services of Northern California. In 1992, Russell received a President’s Pro Bono Service award from the California State Bar and, in 1993, he received a Pro Bono Publico award from the American Bar Association. In 1994, Russell was recognized by the Sacramento County Bar Association as its Humanitarian of the Year.

Upon graduation from law school in 1980, Russell joined the San Francisco firm of Marron Reid, LLP and in 1982 helped open its Sacramento office. In 1998, Russell joined the Sacramento firm of Diepenbrock, Wulff, Plant & Hannegan, LLP as Chair of its Business and Real Estate Department. From 1999 through 2001, and from 2005 through 2007, Russell served as Managing Partner of Murphy Austin Adams Schoenfeld LLP.

He received his B.A. with highest honors from the University of California Santa Barbara, his J.D. from University of California, Berkeley Boalt Hall School of Law, and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and the Order of the Coif.

Areas of Practice

Real Estate Law, Corporations and Business Law, Commercial Law, Corporate and Securities

Speaking Engagements and Teaching Positions

• Lecturer, Real Property Section of the Sacramento County Bar Association, Conservation Easements, (2008)

• Panelist and Moderator, California Continuing Education of the Bar, Real Property Law Programs, (1990-2006)

• California Commercial Real Estate Financing, Lorman Education Services (2001)

• Lecturer in Law, Real Estate Finance/University of California, Davis, (1992-1993)

• Adjunct Professor, Corporate Taxation/McGeorge School of Law, (1983-1989)

• Instructor, Hastings College of the Law, University of California, (1981-1982)

Leadership Positions and Community Activities

• The Sutter Club, Board of Directors (2010)

• Co-Chair of Flood Control Transition Team for Mayor Kevin Johnson (2008-2009)

• Crocker Art Museum Association, Board of Directors (2001-2008)

• Sacramento Valley Open Space Conservancy, Board of Directors (2002-2008), President (2004-2006), Vice President (2003-2004)

• Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors, (2000-2003)

• Sacramento Public Library Foundation, Board of Directors, (1999-2002)

• Golden State Museum, Board of Directors, (1997-2000)

• Boalt Hall Alumni Association, Board of Directors, (1997-2000)

• Legal Services Trust Fund Commission, Commission Member, (1994-1997); Commission Chair, (1997)

• Legal Services of Northern California, Board of Directors, (1988-1994); President, (1989-1993)

• Voluntary Legal Services of Northern California, Board of Directors, (1986-1992); Chair, (1988-1992)

• Business Volunteers for the Arts, President, (1993-1994); Board of Directors (1988-1994)

Honors and Awards

• Fellow, American Bar Foundation (2006)

• Named The Best Lawyers in America’s 2010 Sacramento Real Estate Lawyer of the Year (2010)

• Listed as a Super Lawyer in Northern California Super Lawyers (2005-2009)

• Listed in The Best Lawyers in America (2000 through 2009 Editions)

• Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce Volunteer of the Year, 2001

• Sacramento County Bar Association Humanitarian of the Year, (1994)

• American Bar Association Pro Bono Publico Award, (1993)

• California State Bar President's Pro Bono Service Award, (1992)

• Business Volunteer of the Year, Business Volunteers for the Arts, (1991)

Education

University of California, Berkeley School of Law
J.D., 1980

University of California, Santa Barbara
B.A., History, summa cum laude, 1974

 

Russell J. Austin

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