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Russell is a former Chairman of the Firm. He is a long-standing strategic advisor to boards and senior management on governance, domestic and international acquisitions, de-mergers and privatisations. He has been an advisor to the Boards of DuluxGroup Ltd, Medibank Private Ltd, National Rail Corporation Ltd and the Murray-Darling Basin Authority.
Russell is also internationally recognised for his leading competition expertise, handling complex merger clearance and cartel cases. He is a non-Government adviser to the International Competition Network, the worldwide regulators’ group, and the author of leading texts on Australian competition and consumer policy and law.
He has held several government appointments, including chair of the International Air Services Commission, director of the National Electricity Code Administrator and member of the Minster for Trade's WTO Advisory Group.
Globally ranked as a leading individual in his field, Russell was awarded an Order of Australia (AM) for his contribution to the legal profession.
Areas of expertise include:
Russell is internationally recognised as one of Australia's leading competition (antitrust) lawyers, providing high-level strategic advice to Australian and international clients. He recently acted on public merger clearances for Suntory Ltd, Sony Pictures International and iSentia Ltd and has been the adviser on competition matters for the International Air Transport Association for many years.
Russell is a non-Government adviser to the International Competition Network, the worldwide organisation of regulators, and the author of the leading Australian text on Australian competition and consumer law.
Russell's corporate advisory work is grounded in his extensive experience with government privatisations over many years. His recent assignments include leading legal teams advising the Board of Medibank Private on its proposed IPO, advising the Board of Dulux Group on its de-merger, and The Zuellig Group on the acquisition of Symbion Pharmacy Services.
Russell has wide-ranging experience as a strategic advisor to Government at the highest levels. He has conducted an inquiry for the Federal Minister for Transport into aspects of Australia's air safety system, led the team on the National Rail Freight Initiative, and was a strategic advisor on the Access Card project for the Commonwealth Department of Human Services. Russell’s extensive corporatisation and privatisation experience includes the Moomba-Sydney Pipeline, National Rail Corporation, the Government Aircraft Factories, and the Office of Defence Production. He has been a member of the Trade Minister's WTO Advisory Group, chair of the Civil Aviation Authority's Advisory Board and a member of the Bureau of Meteorology Advisory Board.
He is a founding member of the Centre for Strategy and Governance and has been the governance adviser to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority. He recently conducted a review for the Australian Taxation Office on its consultative arrangements.
Russell has a strong reputation and deep expertise in the transport industry, particularly the provision of strategic commercial, regulatory and competition advice to participants in the aviation and rail sectors. He has handled airport, airline, rail and defence privatisation projects in Australia and the Asia Pacific region.. He has served as chair of the International Air Services Commission and the CAA Advisory Board. He has advised various international airlines and Australia's largest listed transport logistics group.
He is a former Chair of the International Bar Associations Aviation Committee.