Bar/Court Admissions
- Maryland, 1988
- District of Columbia, 1990
- New York, 2000
- Virginia, 2018
Michael N. Russo, Jr.
Michael N. Russo, Jr. is a partner of Council, Baradel, Kosmerl & Nolan, P.A.
Mr. Russo's practice includes real estate title litigation, insurance law, real property and general civil, commercial and business law. His clients include real property title insurance and general liability insurance companies and self-insured companies; financial and lending institutions; and, small and medium sized businesses requiring general business planning and legal advice. Mr. Russo also represents individuals in business and real property disputes and other legal matters.
Mr. Russo began his career as a Law Clerk to the Honorable H. Chester Goudy, Jr. of the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County. Since 1989, Mr. Russo has been in private practice.
Mr. Russo participates in numerous professional and civic associations in his industry and community.
Mr. Russo has been a presenter and instructor at continuing professional education and continuing legal education courses. He has also completed the Northwestern University Mediation Training Program and is a certified mediator.
He is admitted to practice law in Maryland, the District of Columbia, New York, and Virginia. He is also admitted to practice law in numerous federal trial and appellate courts.
Honors / Awards
- Whats Up? Annapolis Magazine Leading Lawyer in Real Estate Law 2016-2021
- Super Lawyers - 2019-2024
Professional Associations
- District of Columbia Land Title Association (DCLTA) – Past President
- American Land Title Association (ALTA)
- Title Counsel
- Claims Administration Committee
- American Bar Association
- TIPS Section
- Title Litigation Committee
- Maryland Land Title Association – Past Member Board of Directors,
- Chair Agency Committee
- Maryland State Bar Association
- Section Council to the Business Law Section (Representative, 2002-2004)
- District of Columbia Bar Association
- New York State Bar Association
- Virginia State Bar Association
Community Involvement
- Maryland Affordable Housing Association (MAHT) – Trustee (Governor Appointed)
- Leadership Anne Arundel – Flagship Class of 2001; Board Member 2021 to present
- Arts Council of Anne Arundel County – Board of Directors, Past President; Board Member 2013 to 2021; President 2018 to 2020
- United Way of Central Maryland, Community Partnership Board of Anne Arundel County – Past Member of the Board of Directors
- Volunteer Center for Anne Arundel County, a non-profit association "Helping People Volunteer" – Board of Directors 2003-2009
Selected Speaking/Teaching Engagements
- “Navigating Cyber Insurance” – ALTA Springboard Bootcamp Meeting, American Land Title Association (ALTA) Raleigh, North Carolina (April 2018); Chicago, Illinois (April 2019)
- “Make Business Practices Insurance Work for You” – Annual Meeting, American Land Title Association (ALTA) Los Angeles, California (October 2018)
- “On Trial: The Non-Compliant Settlement Agent.” – ALTA Springboard Bootcamp Meeting, American Land Title Association (ALTA) (Indianapolis, IN (2016)
Representative Matters
- Represented National and Regional Title Insurance Underwriters in broad range of coverage and claims matters with exposures in excess of one hundred million dollars.
- Represented buyers and seller in sale of apartment buildings in the District of Columbia including compliance with the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (“TOPA”).
- Represented Condominium Builders and Unit Owners in warranty and construction litigation.
- Represented settlement companies in business management, ALTA Best Practices and their relationships with their customers and underwriters.
- Represented franchised automobile dealers in their relationships with their customers, government regulators, business practices, franchisors and lenders.
- Represented automobile financial institutions in developing their regulatory compliance program, defending against claims of lender liability and commercial enforcement litigation.
- Represented buyers and sellers in Real Estate transactions and litigation.
- Represented individuals and small companies in business organization, start up and management issues.
Selected Reported Decisions
- York Roofing, Inc. v. Adcock, 634 A.2d 39, 333 Md. 158 (Md. 1993)
- Heat & Power Corp. v. Air Products & Chemicals, Inc., 578 A.2d 1202, 320 Md. 584 (Md.1990)
- Superior Bank, F.S.B. v. Tandem Nat. Mortg., Inc., 197 F.Supp.2d 298 (D. Md. 2000)
- Miller v. Ryder Truck Rental, Inc., 198 F.R.D. 70 (D. Md. 2000)
- Trustee 1245 13th Street, NW No. 608 Trust v. Anderson, 905 A.2d 181 (D.C. 2006)
- In re Williams, 400 B.R. 47 (Bankr. Md. 2008)
- Wilder v. Toyota Motor Credit Co,. 290 Fed .Appx. 601 (4th Cir. 2008)
- Juergens v. Urban Title Services, Inc. , 533 F.Supp.2d 64 (D. DC 2008); 652 F.Supp.2d 40 (D. DC 2010); 689 F.Supp.2d 94 (D. DC 2010); 770 F.Supp.2d 227 (D. DC 2011)
- Alcazar Tenants' Ass'n v. Smith Property Holdings, L.P., 981 A.2d 1202 (D.C. 2009)
- Steward v. Moskowitz, 5 A.3d 638 (D.C. 2010)
- In re Ostroff, 433 B.R. 442 (Bankr. DC 2010)
- Bopp v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. , 740 F.Supp.2d 12 (D. DC 2010)
- Han v. Southeast Academy of Scholastic Excellence Public Charter School, 32 A.3d 413 (D.C. 2011)
- OneWest Bank, FSB v. Marshall, 18 A.3d 715 (D.C. 2011)
- Robinson v. Georgetown Court Condo., LLC, 39 A.3d 1286 (D.C. 2012)
- In re Stevenson, 519 B.R. 881 (Bankr. DC. 2014)
- U.S. Bank, NA, v. 1905 2nd Street NE, LLC, 85 A.3d 1284 (DC 2014.)
- Coleman v. Toyota Motor Credit Corporation, 109 F.Supp.3d 4 (D. DC 2015)
- Saunders v. Hudgens, 184 A.3d 345 (DC 2018)
- Board of Trustees Grand Lodge of Independent Order of Odd Fellows of District of Columbia v. Carmine's DC, LLC, 225 A.3d 737 (DC 2020)
- First American Title Ins. Co., No. 20-CV-346, (DC March 21, 2022)
- Saunders v. Hudgens, No. 19-CV-0584 (DC May 11, 2022)
- Davis v. Complete Auto Recovery Services, Inc., No. 20-1851, 2022 WL 17038956 (4th Cir. Nov. 17, 2022)
- Czajka v. Holt Graphic Arts, Inc., 310 A.3d 1051 (D.C. 2024)
Education
- Catholic University of America School of Law (J.D., 1988)
- Lafayette College (B.A., 1985)
Practice Areas
News
- Michael N. Russo, Jr. and Rebecca K. Schisler-Adams Win 3-Day Jury Trial on Contentious Real Property Dispute
- Fifteen Council Baradel Attorneys Recognized by Maryland Super Lawyers 2024
- Thirteen Council Baradel Attorneys Recognized by Maryland Super Lawyers 2023
- Fifteen Council Baradel Attorneys Recognized by Maryland Super Lawyers 2022
- Twelve Council Baradel Attorneys Recognized in What's Up? Magazine's "Leading Lawyers" 2021
- Michael N. Russo, Jr. Joins Board of Leadership Anne Arundel
- Seventeen Council Baradel Attorneys Recognized by Maryland Super Lawyers 2020
- Sixteen Council Baradel Attorneys Recognized in What's Up? Magazine's "Leading Lawyers" 2019
- ALTA "Navigating Cyber Insurance" Presentation by Michael N. Russo, Jr.
- Michael N. Russo, Jr. Speaks to Title Companies on Cyber Fraud Insurance
- Michael N. Russo, Jr. Admitted to Practice Law in Virginia
- Michael N. Russo, Jr. Appointed President of Arts Council of Anne Arundel County Board
- Joseph F. Devlin and Michael N. Russo, Jr. to Participate in MSBA Real Property Section Breakfast
- Michael N. Russo, Jr. Spoke on D.C. Title Law Claims at DCLTA Spring Seminar
- Michael N. Russo, Jr. to Attend ALTA Springboard Conference in Fort Worth, Texas
- Michael N. Russo, Jr joined his wife Betsy Russo, Esquire of MCP Title Services, LLC in making a presentation to the District of Columbia Association of Realtors on the DC Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act.
- Mike Russo Participates in Congressional Briefing on Title Insurance Issues
- Mike Russo reviews new Maryland case on impact of Bankruptcy on property title.
- Mike Russo provides comments on new DC Court of Appeals decision on super-priority of DC Condo Liens over first Deeds of Trust.
- Michael N. Russo, Jr. Elected to the Anne Arundel County Community Partnership Board for the United Way of Central Maryland.
- Michael N. Russo, Jr. Elected to Board of Directors of the Arts Council for Anne Arundel County.
- Michael N. Russo, Jr. Elected President of the District of Columbia Land Title Association