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
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
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