Special Counsel
Contact Information
2600 One Wachovia Center
301 South College Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
Phone: (704) 716-0837
Fax: (704) 372-2619
E-mail Russell Schwartz
Area of Practice
Litigation; Real Estate
Profile
For the last ten years, Russell Schwartz has held the position of Senior Vice President and General Counsel for Bahakel Communications, a radio and television broadcaster based in Charlotte with operations in eight states. In that capacity, he managed relationships with outside counsel and oversaw real estate and station acquisitions and sales, compliance with complex broadcasting operations and advertising sales regulations, and the myriad of corporate and employment law issues inherent in managing a 500-employee business.
Throughout, Russell has remained Of Counsel to Horack Talley; the firm regularly calls upon his unique expertise and perspective. His private practice experience has included commercial real estate, land use and zoning, and litigation. He has represented broadcasters, cable systems, television programming producers, real estate developers, and other clients with rezoning, subdivision, and variance issues. He is currently Chair of the Real Estate and Litigation Practice Groups at the firm.
Mr. Schwartz is an expert at working with bureaucracy from local government to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). He was recruited to serve on the Mecklenburg County Solid Waste Management Committee and successfully represented the City of Charlotte in a landmark billboard regulation case. Russell Schwartz also maintains a strong pro bono practice, working on behalf of YWCA Central Carolinas, A Child’s Place of Charlotte, Charlotte Rescue Mission, and Goodwill Industries. In September, 2009, Russell agreed to serve the United Way of the Central Carolinas as its Vice President/Administration.
Education
J.D., Duke University, 1982
B.A., Political Science, University of South Carolina, 1979, Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa
Bar Admission
North Carolina, 1982; South Carolina, 1982
Professional Affiliations
Mecklenburg County Bar
North Carolina Bar Association
South Carolina Bar
American Bar Association
Federal Communications Bar Association