Russell Jessee is a commercial litigator who focuses primarily on defending businesses in consumer credit, employment, and unfair trade practices cases. He also has significant experience in defending class actions. Before becoming an attorney, Mr. Jessee was managing editor of The Pocahontas Times, in Marlinton, West Virginia.

AREAS OF CONCENTRATION 

• Creditor defense 
• Employer defense 
• Business tort and statutory claim defense 
• Commercial collections 
• White collar defense 
• Appellate advocacy 
• Government regulation

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2005             Steptoe & Johnson
1999-2005     Covington & Burling, Washington, D.C.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

• American Bar Association
• Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia
• Judge John A. Field, Jr. American Inn of Court

INDUSTRY / CIVIC MEMBERSHIPS

• West Virginia Chamber of Commerce 
• Elder, Kanawha United Presbyterian Church

AWARDS / HONORS

• J.D. summa cum laude, 1999 
• Order of the Coif, 1999 
• Lead Articles Editor, Washington and Lee Law Review, 1998-1999 
• West Publishing Award for Outstanding Scholastic Achievement, 1997 & 1998
• Thomas Smith Purdie Honor Scholarship, 1996-1999 
• B.A. summa cum laude, 1988 
• Phi Beta Kappa, 1988 
• John W. Eure Award for Excellence in Journalism, 1988 
• Kappa Tau Alpha, National Journalism Scholarship Society, 1988

PUBLICATIONS

• Recent Antitrust Decisions Affecting West Virginia, Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia Annual Meeting Notebook of Articles (May 2008) 
• Bank Customer Privacy Rights – What Can You Do When Something Seems Wrong?, West Virginia Banker Magazine (Summer 2007) 
• Protecting the Employment Rights of Those Who Serve: A Case Law Update on USERRA, Lead Article, The Job Description, Defense Research Institute (Spring 2006) 
• Note, Pleading to Stay in State Court: Forum Control, Federal Removal Jurisdiction, and the Amount in Controversy Requirement, 56 Wash. & Lee L. Rev. 651 (1999)