Hammerschmidt, Jeffrey T.

Frank D. Russo has resolved 10,000 cases in the past thirty three years, while specializing in Workers' Comp, civil litigation, employment disputes and personal injury law. He founded and managed a very successful law firm, AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell, and has served as an expert witness, as well as lecturing and writing on legal matters. In addition, Mr. Russo has played key policymaking roles in California, written major legislation in the State Capitol, and served as Chief of Staff to the Chair of the Assembly Rules Committee and Legal Counsel to the Speaker of the California Assembly. His understanding of the law is profound…having been involved in the crafting of laws and regulations, while serving as a highly-regarded expert in the state's political process.

Mr. Russo has enjoyed a long career of distinction in the field of Workers' Comp and has successfully advocated for injured workers from all walks of life. An arbitration panel member with the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board, Mr. Russo was first certified as a Workers' Compensation specialist by the State Bar of California in 1985 and served as a Workers' Compensation Judge pro tem as far back as 1982. In 1997, he was selected by his colleagues as President of the California Applicants' Attorneys Association. Mr. Russo has lectured to hundreds of attorneys, judges, and other professionals, and served as the instructor for a comprehensive law school level class on Workers' Compensation. He also authored a chapter in the Continuing Education of the Bar textbook: California Workers' Compensation Practice.

Mr. Russo graduated with honors from Yale University in 1973 and received his law degree from Boalt Hall, at the University of California, Berkeley. He completed his comprehensive mediation training and coursework through Steven Rosenberg's professional program and is a member of the Alameda County Bar Association Alternate Dispute (ADR) Section and serves as a mediator and arbitrator for the Basic Crafts Workers' Compensation Program.

Mr. Russo has never shied away from complex legal matters. He's built his reputation on his extensive experience handling complicated and difficult cases and his skill in resolving thorny disputes, whether legal, political, or those based upon philosophical differences or raw emotions. At his former firm, the Russo Law Firm, the lawyers refer to cases that have expanded into multiple banker's boxes, and reached successful settlements, as "Frank cases."

Throughout his career, Mr. Russo, has been recognized as a natural mediator by his colleagues, and is well-regarded by lawyers who have opposed him in court, as well as those with whom he has negotiated outside of the courtroom. In the state Capitol in Sacramento, he brought disparate interests together in complex negotiations on legislation and the California budget. Mr. Russo's practical experience and proven track record, coupled with his deep commitment for doing whatever it takes to get to a fair resolution, have earned him the title of "peacemaker"… an acknowledgement of his keen ability for inspiring disparate groups to work together to resolve even the most complex legal disputes.

He is a member of Compensation Mediation and Arbitration Services (CMAS), an association of independent mediators and arbitrators, and is ready to help statewide in resolving disputes of all kinds, legal, employment based, community, or political.

Mr. Russo is Of Counsel to the firm of Boxer & Gerson and maintains an office in their downtown Oakland office in the Rotunda Building.