Michael T. Russell
Managing Director
Mike joined Hoff Curtis in 2002 after returning to Vermont with his family in 1996 and working as an associate in Shelburne. Mike’s business and property practice is primarily transactional in nature, but he has a growing litigation practice, which stems from years of experience in property law. Mike has a diverse client base that includes significant casework representing condominium and other homeowner associations in a variety of matters, and neighbors and developers in property disputes, land use permitting and zoning disputes, property rights, and many others. He also counsels parties in real estate including high-end residential and commercial transactions.
Mike’s business practice involves large and small businesses and not-for-profits in all phases of business development. He provides legal services on issues such as start-up entity selection and business formation, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, commercial transactions, as well as general business counseling.
Mike also provides legal services for probate administration and litigation, revocable trust estate planning and elder law including Medicaid planning, asset protection and guardianships.
Mike graduated from The Colorado College in 1986. He received his J.D. from the University of Denver College of Law in 1997, where he studied for two years with nationally recognized land use scholar, Professor Edward H. Ziegler. While attending Vermont Law School as a third-year exchange student, he researched and wrote on the topics of: Legal Devices Employed by Land Trusts - Cooperative Agreements and Restrictive Mechanisms; Durable Land Conservation Through Land Trusts - The Obligations of a Charitable Trust; and Off-Site Mitigation of Developed Farmland - Vermont’s Underutilized Statutory Authority.
Mike is a member of the Vermont Bar Association and the American Bar Association. In addition to his professional activities, he spends countless hours giving back to the local community through boards and other philanthropic activities. Currently, Mike is a Trustee and Treasurer of the Vermont Commons School.
Mike and his family reside in Charlotte where he enjoys running, sailing and golf in addition to his soccer, hockey and ultimate Frisbee involvement. With both of their children in college, Mike and his wife enjoy spending time together building their dream of a sustainable farmstead, making music together, and building family and community ties through socializing and certain board games.
Bar Admissions
State of Vermont
Seminars Presented
Fundamentals of Will Drafting
Land Use for Surveyors and Engineers
Real Estate Closings Made Simple