Overview

Mr. Russin was one of the co-founders of Russin & Vecchi International Legal Counselors and established the office in the Dominican Republic in 1969. He conceptualized, organized, and supervised the firm’s integrated practice of Russian and American lawyers from its inception in Moscow in 1991 (expanding to Vladivostok in 1995 and Sakhalin in 2001) until his relocation to the United States in 2015. Mr. Russin served as Senior Counsel to the Russian offices in his final years, working from the firm’s office in Washington, D. C.

With a legal career spanning 60 years as an international business lawyer, Mr. Russin collaborated with companies, governments, and NGOs across various jurisdictions, including Russia, the Dominican Republic, Spain, and Turkey.

Having been raised in the Russian Orthodox Church, Mr. Russin maintained a profound interest in Russia, where he dedicated the latter part of his legal career.

Mr. Russin also contributed to various philanthropic endeavors, serving on the board of the renowned cellist Mstislav Rostropovich’s Rostropovich-Vishnevskaya Foundation, and on the board of International Orthodox Christian Charities. He was honored with the Order of St. Vladimir from the Russian Orthodox Church and the Order of St. Innocent from the Orthodox Church in America. Throughout his career, Mr. Russin advised clients from America, Europe, and Asia on establishing industrial and commercial activities in Russia. He facilitated the formation of Western-Russian joint venture companies and provided counsel on dispute resolution in multicultural settings, as well as compliance with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in Russia. He also trained Russian staff in delivering legal services according to United States standards of legal ethics, including the identification and resolution of conflicts of interest and issues related to bribery and corruption when dealing with courts, government officials, and private parties. Additionally, Mr. Russin offered legal guidance to philanthropic and not-for-profit organizations to enhance their operations in Russia.

Jonathan Russin passed away on December 31, 2022, at the age of 85.