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Practice Areas

Education

Georgetown University Law Center
LL.M., Taxation and Employee Benefits Certificate, with distinction, 2008

Wayne State University Law School
Detroit, Michigan
J.D., 2007

Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan
B.A., Psychology, 2004

Bar Admissions

Michigan

Court Admissions

All Michigan state courts

Employee Benefits Attorney

Charles is an experienced attorney whose practice is focused on employee benefits, executive compensation, tax and data privacy matters. He helps clients design and implement benefits plans including wrap plans, cafeteria plans, health and welfare plans, 401(k)s, pension plans, 457 plans and 403 (b) plans, and provides guidance and counsel on employer fiduciary matters. He regularly assists employers with income tax withholding and unemployment tax questions. Russman also provides counsel and expertise to financial institutions and other businesses regarding IRAs, Health Savings Accounts and Educational Savings Accounts.

With a strong background in data privacy matters, Charles counsels clients on policies and procedures, assistance with regulatory compliance, risk assessment, and data breach prevention and response. He is an IAPP-certified information privacy professional (CIPP/US and CIPP/E) and certified information program manager (CIPM). 

Charles frequently writes and speaks on a variety of employee benefit matters, including COBRA, HIPAA, and implications of the Affordable Care Act. He has also written and presented on privacy and cybersecurity matters for educational institutions and municipalities.

Honors and Recognitions

Best Lawyers in America®, Banking and Finance Law, Employee Benefits, 2023

DBusiness© Top Lawyers, Employee Benefits Law, 2023

Michigan Super Lawyers Rising Star, Employee Benefits (ERISA), 2021

Michigan Lawyers Weekly, Up and Coming Lawyer, 2016

Professional Affiliations

International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP)

Jewish Bar Association

State Bar of Michigan

Certifications

Certified Information Privacy Professional/Europe (CIPP/E)

Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States (CIPP/US)

Certified Information Program Manager (CIPM)

Presentations

Affordable Care Act: A Practical Refresher, 2023

Privacy and Cybersecurity for Educational Institutions and Municipalities, 2019-2023

SECURE 2.0, 2023

Benefits and Compensation for Educational Institutions, 2022

COBRA: A Detailed Training, 2019-2022

HIPAA for Employers: A Comprehensive Review, 2019-2022

Privacy Considerations for Employee Benefits, 2019 and 2022

Employee Benefits for Educational Institutions: Considerations for During and After COVID, 2021

Privacy in and for Schools, 2021

CARES Act for Employers, 2020

Tea and Tidbits: Avoiding Discrimination in Employee Benefits, 2020

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