Russell D. Garrett

Shareholder

Russell D. Garrett

OVERVIEW

Russ represents fiduciaries, such as bankruptcy trustees and receivers, banks, credit unions, other financial groups, and significant creditors and shareholders in domestic matters. His current and previous clients consist of Chapter 7, 12, and 13 Trustees, creditors’ committees, insurance carriers, and financial institutions, including the largest auto finance companies in the world. Russ is an experienced trial lawyer and practices before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and Bankruptcy Appellate Panel. Russ serves as a panel Chapter 7 Trustee for the Western District of Washington and, from time to time, has served from as a Chapter 11 Trustee and state court Receiver.

A recognized contributor in bankruptcy and commercial litigation issues, Russ speaks on bankruptcy and litigation topics around the country for the National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees, American Bankruptcy Institute, National Business Institute, Oregon State Bar, Washington State Bar, and Hawaii Bankruptcy Bar.

Russ is the 2024 President-elect for the National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees. He is also a member of the Executive Committee for the Washington State Bar Creditor-Debtor Section.

Russ is a former Ninth Circuit Lawyer Representative from the Western District of Washington, a former Trustee for the Federal Bar Association in the Western District of Washington, and a former member of the Oregon State Bar Debtor-Creditor executive committee. Russ also helped to form the Oregon State Bar New Lawyers Division and served on the ABA-YLD team.

Russ received his B.A. from the University of Oregon and his J.D. from Willamette University in 1988 where he served as a member of the Law Review and as an author.

Russ has a Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent® Attorney rating, the highest possible rating for an attorney for both ethical standards and legal ability. He is also recognized as a top-rated lawyer in both Oregon and Washington by Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers.

Outside of practicing law, Russ is an active volunteer for several non-profit organizations. A distinguished Scoutmaster, Venturing Crew Advisor, District Commissioner, and District Chair, Russ promotes youth development for young men and women through the scouting program and high adventure. Russ promoted Co-ed Venturing crews shortly after the program began and was the advisor for multiple co-ed crews at Philmont. Russ also serves as an Assistant Section Manager for the National Association for Amateur Radio’s Oregon Section.

Education

  • Mediation Certification, “Mediating the Litigated Case,” Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law, 2023
  • J.D., Willamette University, College of Law, 1988
  • B.S., University of Oregon, 1980

Admissions

  • State of Oregon
  • State of Washington
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, District of Oregon
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Washington
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
  • U.S. Supreme Court

Membership and Activities

  • American Bar Association, Young Lawyer Division Fellows
  • Clark County Bar Association
  • Federal Bar Association
  • Oregon State Bar, Debtor-Creditor Section; Legislative Sub-Committee (Past), House of Delegates – Delegate (Past)
  • Washington State Bar Association, Debtor-Creditor Section (Executive Committee 2020 – 2022); Litigation Section; Real Property Section; Probate and Trust Section
  • American Bankruptcy Institute
  • National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees, Board Member (2018 – Present)
  • Lake Oswego Amateur Radio Emergency Service, Emergency Coordinator
  • Clackamas County Amateur Radio Emergency Service, Assistant Emergency Coordinator
  • Friends of Timberline

Awards and Honors

  • The Best Lawyers in America®, “Lawyer of the Year,” Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Portland area, 2013-2025
  • Best Lawyers in America®, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 2012-2022
  • Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent® Attorney
  • Washington Super Lawyers listing, Creditor Debtor Rights: Business, 2017-2020
  • Oregon Super Lawyers listing, Business and Corporate, 2019-2020

Presentations

  • “Bankruptcy and Family Law: A potentially dissonant combination,” Northwest Bankruptcy Institute, Bellevue, Washington, April 12, 2024
  • “Chapter 7 Tips and Traps,” National Business Institute Webinar, September 2021
  • “Bankruptcy Law 101,” Oregon State Bar ONLD Section’s Friday FUNdamentals Seminar, June 2021
  • “Creditor Remedies, Bankruptcy Rights & Financial Workouts,” National Business Institute, December 2020
  • “A Day in the Life of a Chapter 7 Trustee,” National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees and Insolvency Summit, October 2020
  • “Lien Stripping in Bankruptcy,” National Bankruptcy Institute, June 2020
  • “Chapter 7 and 13 Trustee Hot Topics,” 32nd Annual NW Bankruptcy Institute Seminar, April 2019
  • “Bankruptcy: From the Creditor’s Perspective,” National Business Institute, March 2019
  • Presentation, “Bankruptcy and Family Law: A Mashup of harmony and Dissonance,” Clackamas County Bar Association’s Spring Half Day CLE and Social (April 2018)

RESOURCES

Best Lawyers® Recognizes Seven Jordan Ramis Attorneys for 2025 Edition

August 15, 2024

Jordan Ramis PC is thrilled to have seven of our attorneys recognized in the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers in America®.

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An insider’s view on the rewrite of ORS Chapter 18 Judgments, Part Four: Judgment Execution and Remedies

August 4, 2023

In 2001, long before he was a Jordan Ramis Shareholder, Gary Blacklidge joined the Oregon Law Commission work group for judgments reform. Three years later, the Oregon Legislature passed HB 2646, based nearly entirely on the work group’s recommendation[1] and…

READ MORE

An insider’s view on the rewrite of ORS Chapter 18 Judgments, Part Three: Money Awards in Judgments

July 21, 2023

In 2001, long before he was a Jordan Ramis Shareholder, Gary Blacklidge joined the Oregon Law Commission work group for judgments reform. Three years later, the Oregon Legislature passed HB 2646, based nearly entirely on the work group’s recommendation[1] and…

READ MORE

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