Jason Russell
Head of Los Angeles office. Adept commercial litigator whose deep experience includes high-profile disputes in the sports and entertainment field.
Jason is the head of our Los Angeles office. He represents a wide variety of clients in commercial litigation disputes in federal and state courts throughout the country, as well as in international forums.
He has earned a reputation as an adept litigator with particular experience litigating some of the most high-profile cases in the sports and entertainment field, as well as complex class actions. Jason has extensive experience in and takes an innovative approach to all aspects of complex litigation matters, ranging from jury trials and appellate arguments to mediation and arbitration.
Jason’s work is recognized by publications including Benchmark Litigation and Chambers USA, where sources say he is “excellent in trial and terrific at oral arguments” and “really understands both nuances of law as well as the strategic element.”
Experience
Jason’s representations prior to joining Davis Polk include:
- Tower Semiconductor in obtaining reversal of denial of motion to dismiss patent claims in Federal Circuit. Named an “Impact Case of the Year” in 2026 by Managing IP.
- Fenix International Limited in obtaining dismissal of RICO and privacy claims brought by nationwide class of consumers
- Credit Acceptance in obtaining summary judgment on antitrust claims by Westlake Services
- Boardriders, Oaktree Capital Group, and Brookfield Asset Management in obtaining dismissal of trademark, antitrust and unfair competition claims
- Christie’s in obtaining dismissal of a putative nationwide class action and declaration that the California Resale Royalties Act was unconstitutional
- Priceline.com in obtaining reversal of a judgment relating to alleged occupancy taxes owed for online travel reservations
- MGA Entertainment in its highly publicized “battle of the dolls” trial against Mattel over the rights to the Bratz doll franchise
- Estée Lauder in obtaining the dismissal of a series of national and California class actions relating to marketing and packaging statements
- Twenty-First Century Fox in successful defense of claims relating to acquisition of entertainment company
- Head USA in its successful defense of claims by Bode Miller and Bomber regarding sponsorship agreements with high-profile athletes
- MGA Entertainment in obtaining summary judgment on copyright claim relating to the Bratz doll franchise
- The underwriters of WorldCom debt securities in successfully defending over 100 individual and class shareholder actions
- National Football League in its successful defense of a $1 billion civil action
- True Religion Apparel in successful defense of putative nationwide class action challenging labeling and advertising
- BPL Films in successfully prosecuting copyright claims, preventing the illegal sale and distribution of the movie “The Debtors,” in an action that Premiere magazine called “one of the wildest legal battles in Hollywood history”
Recognition
Chambers USA – Litigation: General Commercial, California
Benchmark Litigation – California, Star
Los Angeles Business Journal – Top 100 Lawyers of Los Angeles, 2026
Los Angeles Business Journal – “LA500,” 2020-2024
Los Angeles Business Journal – “Top Litigators and Trial Lawyers,” 2019, 2022
Los Angeles and Orange County Business of Law – Legal Visionary, 2021
Daily Journal – Top Antitrust Lawyers, 2021
Lawdragon – 500 Leading Litigators in America, 2022 and 2024-2026
Lawdragon – 500 Leading Global Antitrust & Competition Lawyers, 2025-2026
Lawdragon – 500 Leading Global Litigators, 2023-2025
Best Lawyers – Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Securities, Sports Law
Education
- Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar
- Editor, Columbia Business Law Review
- magna cum laude
- Phi Beta Kappa
Clerkships
Prior experience
- Partner, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, 2002-2026
- Associate, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, 1993-2002
Qualifications and admissions
- District of Columbia
- State of California
- State of New York
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
- U.S. District Court, C.D. California
- U.S. District Court, Colorado
- U.S. District Court, E.D. California
- U.S. District Court, E.D. Michigan
- U.S. District Court, N.D. California
- U.S. District Court, S.D. California
- U.S. Supreme Court