Michael T. Russell

Michael returned to his native Vermont with his family in 1996, beginning his legal career in 1998 as an associate with Stuart M. Bennett, PC in Shelburne. He moved his practice to Burlington and joined Hoff Curtis as an associate in 2002. In 2006 he made partner and became Managing Director in 2008. Michael’s business and property practice is primarily consultative and transactional in nature, but he has done substantial litigation, and continues to provide litigation services in support of his business and individual clients. Michael’s significant cases include representing corporations in commercial disputes, condominium and other homeowner associations in a variety of matters, and neighbors and developers in property disputes, land use permitting and zoning disputes, property rights, and others. He also counsels parties in real estate including high-end residential and commercial transactions.

Michael's business practice involves large and small businesses and not-for-profits in all phases of business development. He provides legal services on issues such as start-up entity selection and business formation, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, commercial transactions, as well as general business counseling.

Michael also provides legal services for probate administration and litigation, revocable trust estate planning, and elder law including Medicaid planning, asset protection and guardianships.

Michael graduated from The Colorado College in 1986. He received his J.D. from the University of Denver College of Law in 1997, where he studied for two years with nationally recognized land use scholar, Professor Edward H. Ziegler. While attending Vermont Law School as a third-year exchange student, he researched and wrote on the topics of: Legal Devices Employed by Land Trusts - Cooperative Agreements and Restrictive Mechanisms; Durable Land Conservation Through Land Trusts - The Obligations of a Charitable Trust; and Off-Site Mitigation of Developed Farmland - Vermont’s Underutilized Statutory Authority.

Michael is a member of the Vermont Bar Association. In addition to his professional activities, he spends countless hours giving back to the local community through boards and other philanthropic activities.

Michael and his family reside in Charlotte where he enjoys yoga, running, and back-country skiing. With both of their children in college, Michael and his wife enjoy spending time together building their dream of a sustainable farmstead, making music together and with their extended family, and building family and community ties through socializing and certain board games.