Russell is a Partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP where he has spent his entire 36+ year career. He focuses his trial, appellate and alternative dispute resolution practice on patent infringement matters and disputes involving and related to technology transfer and patent license agreements. His trial practice includes jury trials, arbitrations and Section 337 proceedings before the U.S. International Trade Commission. His appellate practice concentrates on appeals in the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. His technology transfer and licensing practice includes structuring and negotiating both licensing-in and licensing-out transactions.

Russell has received numerous, year-after-year, accolades for his IP practice. He is included in the current editions of IAM Global Leaders, IAM Strategy 300 and IAM Patent 1000. The 2023 edition of IAM Global Leaders states:

“Russell Levine plays a special role at Kirkland & Ellis as both a top litigator and licensing lawyer. He is a worldly-wise veteran with a profound understanding of the business of intellectual property.”

The 2022 edition of IAM Strategy 300 describes Russell as an:

“accomplished attorney with vast experience in a wide array of IP matters”, including big-ticket litigation and industry-shaping transactions. He’s looked up to by all as a thought and practice leader.”

Similar comments were included in the 2018 edition of IAM Patent 1000:

“Lifelong Kirkland & Ellis lawyer Levine, a patent litigation and dispute resolution all-rounder, routinely garners outstanding feedback from the market: ‘He focuses on what success looks like for your business — this is rare among outside counsel, but Russell has ingrained this approach into his team. Accordingly, he provides advice that is very strategic and practical. He takes an owner mentality to everything he does and tries to keep client costs to a minimum at all stages; he will also advise you against long, drawn-out legal proceedings if he sees a commercial argument for resolution another way. His technical expertise is spotless, too.’”

Previous IAM publications stated that Russell is “one of the market’s stars” and that:

“Levine is hard-nosed and presses his client’s position to the maximum extent without ever being unreasonable.”
“He is fantastic and has a knack for breaking down complex subjects to their essentials without getting caught in the weeds. He really knows his audience and how to get points across effectively.”
He has “a spot in the gold tier.”
Russell “brings a great sense for clients' IP objectives to the table.”
He is “well known for the depth of his licensing expertise.”
“For the most important cases, he is one of the leading figures in Chicago and nationally.”
“Russell Levine is a pleasure to work with equally for his legal expertise, project management skills, sensitivity to relationship aspects, and zeal for the work he does. He is the best law firm lawyer I have ever worked with.”
Russell is “always exceptionally well prepared.”
He is “as good as anyone in terms of risk analysis,” while his “understanding of the legal ramifications of any issue is finely tuned.”
He can also “sense how others are positioning themselves and is an extremely gifted negotiator and mediator.”
“With his arbitration experience shining through, he does a fantastic job diffusing the power struggles in negotiations and moving proceedings along with the facts as he lays them out. He has a refined delivery style in court and doesn’t demonstrate the bravado that you often see from litigators. A careful, reasonable thinker, he achieves great results.”
He is a “decorated litigator and transactional guiding light... whom peers refer to 'without hesitation'.”

Russell also has been recognized by The Legal 500 United States. Comments about him in The Legal 500 include: “With a long track record at the Firm, Russell Levine has built a solid reputation; he has a strong contentious practice but also handles technology transfer and licensing transactions;” he's a “key player” in Kirkland's patent licensing team; he's “a first-class professional that presents himself and the Firm in a down-to-earth manner that always keeps the best interests of the client first;” “Russell comes highly recommended: his strength is in understanding the issues in a business context and seeking creative ways to end litigation;" and he is an “outstanding strategist.”

Russell has been selected by his peers every year since 2008 for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America in the areas of Litigation — Intellectual Property, Litigation — Patent, and Patent Law. His client comments include:

“Russell Levine and his team are outstanding; their substantive expertise, service orientation and responsiveness, and case management are impressive, as are the results.”
“Mr. Russell Levine has great insight into the heart of a matter and the business interests attendant thereto. He is always looking for the solution that will best serve the needs of the client.”
“Russell has deep experience and expertise, is an outstanding strategist, and is always thoroughly prepared.”

In 2012, he won the International Law Office 2012 Client Choice Award in Litigation for the U.S. The clients ILO interviewed had this to say about Russell:

“Russell has that unique ability to provide legal advice in a manner that is understandable, practical and useful for our business,”
“Mr. Levine is constantly reachable and willing to take on tough assignments. He is up to date with the law and able to provide solutions to numerous problems without excessive research,
“Russell always maintains a keen focus on the client's objectives and need for a business solution to litigation,”
“Russell stands out as a good communicator. His manner instills confidence when called upon to present matters to the management team.”

Russell has been included in Chambers USA each year since 2008 with comments describing him as having a “strategic and client-oriented mindset,” being "an awe-inspiringly good litigator," "an excellent patent litigator," and "very bright and effective;" and praising him "for delivering pragmatic and well-reasoned legal advice in an understandable, business-friendly way."

Russell is included in Managing Intellectual Property 2022 "IP Stars," as he has been for several years. In a previous edition of IP Stars, a Firm client praised Russell, noting, "We have worked with Russell Levine for several years. I find he has great insight into how to give clear, concise input focused on legal solutions that leverage business needs."

He has been named each year since 2004 by the Leading Lawyers Network to be one of the Top Lawyers in Illinois in Intellectual Property; and based on a statewide nomination process, he has been selected for several years running for inclusion on the Illinois Super Lawyers List. Russell was also named as one of the top thirty patent practitioners in the United States by Expert Guide’s: Best of the Best USA.

Russell was recognized as the 2018 “Lawyer of the Year” for Patent Law in Chicago by Best Lawyers.

Russell is active in bar associations, industry organizations, and his community. He is a Past-President of LES (USA & Canada). He has served on the American Heart Association’s Chicago Board of Directors and was the 2013 Co-Chair for the Metro Chicago Heart Walk. He is a Past-Chair of the President’s Council at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry. He also is a Past-Chair of the By-Laws Committee of the Midwest Section of the United States Tennis Association.

Russell is an author and frequent speaker on Intellectual Property issues. For example, he is co-editor (with A. Liberman of Australia and P. Chrocziel of Germany) of “International Licensing and Technology Transfer: Practice and the Law.” This publication started shipping in 2008 and quickly obtained a global audience with copies sold in more than 30 countries across six continents. His “Top 10” workshop at the LES Annual Meeting consistently is standing room only; he has spoken at numerous LES local chapter meetings, LESI National Society meetings, and AUTM meetings; and he has been an instructor in several LES educational courses. For 25 years, Russell taught a course for the Society of Automotive Engineers entitled “Patent Law for Engineers.”

Russell is on the World Intellectual Property Organization's List of Mediators and Arbitrators, he is a member of the CPR Patent Mediation Task Force, he is a Certified Licensing Professional (CLP)*, and he is registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Supreme Court, and numerous Circuit Court of Appeals and District Courts.

*The Supreme Court of Illinois does not recognize certifications of specialties in the practice of law and the CLP™ certification is not a requirement to practice law in Illinois.