Balch & Bingham’s Russ Campbell Named 2023 “Best of the Bar” Honoree by the Birmingham Business Journal

Balch & Bingham is pleased to announce that Russ Campbell, partner in the firm's Birmingham office, founding partner of Balch Sports and member of the firm’s Litigation Practice has been named by the Birmingham Business Journal as a 2023 “Best of the Bar” honoree for excellence in the legal profession. 

Birmingham Business Journal called this year’s honorees the best and brightest from the Magic City’s legal scene, adding that they have helped shape their firms, the Birmingham economy and, in many cases, businesses around the nation. Honorees were selected based on their status within their practice group, their tangible accomplishments, their impact on their firms and their impact on Birmingham and its legal community, among other factors.

Russ served for 16 years as Chair of the firm's Litigation Practice. He is widely recognized as one of the most sought after sports agents and trial lawyers in the nation. With more than three decades of experience, he has built a reputation as a relentless advocate for clients facing complex legal challenges and high-profile negotiations.
Russ represents clients in complex commercial litigation, many ‘bet-the-company” cases, energy-related litigation, Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) claims, and shoreline/reservoir management, including dam safety. He is a frequent and well-respected national speaker on various topics.

Russ is also well respected for his work representing multiple electric utility (pole owners) before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), trial courts, and appellate courts concerning communications company attachments, including National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) issues. 

Russ is the founding partner of Balch Sports, the firm's nationally renowned sports and entertainment practice. Launched at Balch in 1994, his sports agent work involves representing collegiate football, baseball, and basketball coaches, NFL coaches, and sports broadcast personalities. Alongside partner Patrick Strong, Russ has handled record-setting negotiations, including the largest contract in college football history (a mark hit twice in the last four years). In the last six years, Russ and Patrick have negotiated over $600 million in coaching contracts and have also secured the largest coaching contract in school history for a long list of clients at multiple institutions across the country. Russ is regularly consulted to speak on sports-related topics and is a contributor to many national media pieces covering the subject matter.  

For the last eight years, Russ has been recognized by the Chambers USA Guide as a leader in his discipline and geographic area for Litigation: General Commercial. Russ has also been recognized for the last eight years in The Best Lawyers in America®. Benchmark Litigation US recognized Russ Campbell as a Local Litigation Star for at least the last five years.

In 2019, the Birmingham Bar Foundation named Russ as a Fellow, a prestigious honor recognizing his excellence in his field of practice, his dedication to civility in the profession, his commitment to the rule of law, and his demonstration of leadership in the Bar and the community.