Thomas A. Russo
Encyclopedia
Thomas A. Russo is currently executive vice president and general counsel of American International Group, Inc., with responsibility for legal, compliance, and regulatory and government affairs. Prior to joining AIG in February 2010, Mr. Russo was senior counsel at Patton Boggs LLP... Mr. Russo is also an Adjunct Professor at the Columbia University Graduate School of Business.
and chief legal officer of Lehman Brothers Holdings. While at Lehman he was responsible for the firm’s corporate advisory division, which included legal, compliance, corporate audit, government relations, and transaction
management.
Prior to joining Lehman Brothers in January of 1993, Russo was a partner and member of the Management Committee of the law firm Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft. At Cadwalader, Mr. Russo specialized in SEC enforcement and broker-dealer operations, CFTC enforcement and regulation, and derivatives, financial and general corporate law. From 1975 to 1977, Russo was the deputy general counsel of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
, where he served as the first director of the agency's Division of Trading and Markets. From 1969 to 1971, he was an attorney in the Division of Market Regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and from 1971-1975, an associate with Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft. Mr. Russo also served as advisor to the Brady Commission in 1987.
Russo holds board positions with the March of Dimes
(vice chairman, National Board of Trustees,
Executive Committee and Finance Committee; chairman, Pensions Investment Committee; member, Nominating Committee); The Institute for Financial Markets. (vice chairman, Board of Trustees; member, Executive Committee and Audit Committee); the Institute of International Education
, which administers the Fulbright Scholarship Program (chairman, Executive Committee; member, Development Committee, Vision & Outreach Committee, Executive Compensation Committee, Scholar Rescue Fund Committee, Scholar Rescue Fund Selection Committee, and the Scholar Rescue Fund Board; co-founder, Scholar Rescue Fund); United States Council for International Business
and the Committee on Capital Markets Regulation
.
He is also a member of The Economic Club of New York and the Fellows of the Phi Beta Kappa Society
.
Russo has authored numerous articles and books on topics in the commodities, securities and corporate legal fields relating to financial market regulation. He was born in Staten Island, New York, in 1943.
Russo is an inaugural inductee into the Futures Hall of Fame.
and his B.A from Fordham University.
Biography
Before joining Patton Boggs, Mr. Russo served as vice chairman of Lehman BrothersLehman Brothers
Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. was a global financial services firm. Before declaring bankruptcy in 2008, Lehman was the fourth largest investment bank in the USA , doing business in investment banking, equity and fixed-income sales and trading Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. (former NYSE ticker...
and chief legal officer of Lehman Brothers Holdings. While at Lehman he was responsible for the firm’s corporate advisory division, which included legal, compliance, corporate audit, government relations, and transaction
Financial transaction
A financial transaction is an event or condition under the contract between a buyer and a seller to exchange an asset for payment. It involves a change in the status of the finances of two or more businesses or individuals.-History:...
management.
Prior to joining Lehman Brothers in January of 1993, Russo was a partner and member of the Management Committee of the law firm Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft. At Cadwalader, Mr. Russo specialized in SEC enforcement and broker-dealer operations, CFTC enforcement and regulation, and derivatives, financial and general corporate law. From 1975 to 1977, Russo was the deputy general counsel of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
Commodity Futures Trading Commission
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission is an independent agency of the United States government that regulates futures and option markets....
, where he served as the first director of the agency's Division of Trading and Markets. From 1969 to 1971, he was an attorney in the Division of Market Regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and from 1971-1975, an associate with Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft. Mr. Russo also served as advisor to the Brady Commission in 1987.
Russo holds board positions with the March of Dimes
March of Dimes
The March of Dimes Foundation is a United States nonprofit organization that works to improve the health of mothers and babies.-Organization:...
(vice chairman, National Board of Trustees,
Executive Committee and Finance Committee; chairman, Pensions Investment Committee; member, Nominating Committee); The Institute for Financial Markets. (vice chairman, Board of Trustees; member, Executive Committee and Audit Committee); the Institute of International Education
Institute of International Education
Institute of International Education - is a non-profit organization promoting international exchange of education and training. It was established in 1919 and is based in the USA....
, which administers the Fulbright Scholarship Program (chairman, Executive Committee; member, Development Committee, Vision & Outreach Committee, Executive Compensation Committee, Scholar Rescue Fund Committee, Scholar Rescue Fund Selection Committee, and the Scholar Rescue Fund Board; co-founder, Scholar Rescue Fund); United States Council for International Business
United States Council for International Business
United States Council for International Business is an independent business advocacy group originally founded in 1945 to promote free trade and help represent U.S. business in the, then new, United Nations. One of its primary goals is expanding market access for U.S. products and services abroad...
and the Committee on Capital Markets Regulation
Committee on Capital Markets Regulation
The Committee on Capital Markets Regulation is an independent and nonpartisan 501 research organization dedicated to improving the regulation of U.S. capital markets.-Background:...
.
He is also a member of The Economic Club of New York and the Fellows of the Phi Beta Kappa Society
Phi Beta Kappa Society
The Phi Beta Kappa Society is an academic honor society. Its mission is to "celebrate and advocate excellence in the liberal arts and sciences"; and induct "the most outstanding students of arts and sciences at America’s leading colleges and universities." Founded at The College of William and...
.
Russo has authored numerous articles and books on topics in the commodities, securities and corporate legal fields relating to financial market regulation. He was born in Staten Island, New York, in 1943.
Books
- Regulation of Brokers, Dealers and Securities Markets (contributor) (Warren, Gorham & Lamont, 1977) - ISBN 978-0882621333
- Regulation of the Commodities Futures and Options Markets (contributor)(Shepard's/McGraw-Hill, 1983) - ISBN 978-0070543485
Who's Who
Russo is listed in Who's Who in America, Who's Who in American Law, Who's Who in Finance and Business, and Who's Who in American Education. He also has been listed in the National Law Journal as one of the “100 Most Influential Lawyers in America.”Russo is an inaugural inductee into the Futures Hall of Fame.
Education
Russo received his J.D. and MBA degrees from Cornell UniversityCornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
and his B.A from Fordham University.