ATTORNEY PROFILES

Philip Russell

Board Certified in Criminal Trial Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy since 1994, Philip Russell has tried more than fifty felony trials to verdict, and has defended criminal cases throughout the metro New York area and Connecticut, in the Midwest and abroad. Professionally, Mr. Russell enjoys an AV rating from Martindale Hubbell, the highest rating in ability and ethics that his colleagues can confer upon him.

Philip Russell is a 1984 graduate of Brooklyn Law School. Prior to graduation, Mr. Russell worked for three years as a paralegal for a prominent criminal litigation firm in New York City, assisting in narcotics trafficking and homicide trials and investigations, larceny and extortion cases, appeals, clemency petitions, and official corruption matters.

From 1984 through 1988 Mr. Russell was a prosecutor in the Bronx County District Attorney’s office, where he served in the Criminal Court, Grand Jury, and Rackets/Investigations bureaus, prosecuting assaults, homicides, burglaries, thefts, and official misconduct.

In 1988 Mr. Russell joined a medium-sized Greenwich law firm, where his practice included civil litigation involving secured transactions, bankruptcy and business reorganizations, commercial disputes, and real estate litigation. In 1993 he formed this firm, specifically focused on litigation.

Mr. Russell has lectured attorneys both locally and at national meetings and symposia on matters involving incarceration, police investigations, drunk driving enforcement. His firm has received awards and commendations for pro-bono work, for “friend of the court” briefs filed on behalf of professional organizations, and for service to the professional community.

Mr. Russell has served as President of the Greenwich Bar association, as a board member of the Fairfield County Bar Association, the Westchester County Criminal Justice Section of the County Bar, and is member of the National and Connecticut associations of criminal defense attorneys. He has served on the Editorial Board of the Connecticut Law Tribune and the Brooklyn Law School Alumni Association Board of Directors.

Louis Bonsangue

Attorney Bonsangue practices primarily in the areas of personal injury, general civil litigation, and environmental litigation, but also has extensive experience in other practice areas including real estate litigation, and contract law. For over 13 years before coming to Philip Russell LLC, he was an attorney at a prestigious New Haven County civil litigation firm where he focused on complex, primarily environmental litigation. Mr. Bonsangue is an experienced litigator who handles all types of personal injury cases including automobile accidents, truck accidents, slip and falls, and lead paint exposure. Mr. Bonsangue has extensive experience in environmental litigation matters and regularly represents individuals and business organizations in lawsuits involving contaminated properties. He also represents clients in the defense of administrative orders by state agencies and handles administrative appeals to the Superior Court regarding environmental issues. He is also experienced in complex civil litigation matters, including insurance coverage and environmental issues.

He routinely represents current and former owners of real property regarding legal issues relating to the transfer or remediation of contaminated properties and in the prosecution and defense of environmental cost recovery actions. He advises businesses, property owners, and individuals regarding environmental regulation, permitting and enforcement. He appears before environmental regulatory agencies and federal and state courts regarding environmental matters. He has lectured colleagues as part of Continuing Legal Education on complex and environmental litigation and regulation issues, under the auspices of the Fairfield County Bar Association.

He served as lead counsel in personal injury and environmental trials in state and federal court. He served as lead counsel in appeals to the Connecticut Supreme and Appellate Courts involving important issues in tax appeals, foreclosure, and real estate law. Mr. Bonsangue is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association. He is the Co-Chair of the Environmental Law Committee of the Fairfield County Bar Association. He is a former President of the Devon Rotary Club in Milford. Mr. Bonsangue is a member of the Conservation Commission/Inland Wetland Agency for the city of Norwalk. Mr. Bonsangue is also an adjunct professor at Norwalk Community College. At its 2011 Annual Meeting, Attorney Bonsangue was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Fairfield County Bar Association.

Mr. Bonsangue is admitted to practice in the States of Connecticut and New York, the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, Southern District of New York, and the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Mr. Bonsangue obtained a B.S. in Business Administration (Finance), cum laude, in the business honors program at Fordham University 1990. He obtained his J.D. at Hofstra University School of Law in 1993. While in law school, he was a member of the Property Law Journal. He competed on the Hofstra Trial Team and Hofstra Moot Court Team.

Jessica A. Kordas

Attorney Kordas earned her Bachelor of General Studies with a focus in Law and Society from the University of Connecticut and her J.D. from Pace University School of Law, cum laude. She is admitted to practice in Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey, and is a member of the Connecticut, New York and Fairfield County Bar Associations Prior to joining the firm in March, 2011, Kordas, of Norwalk, CT interned for a prominent New York City criminal defense firm, where she investigated, and prepared several matters, including a homicide trial in Queens County, New York.

Prior to her legal career Attorney Kordas worked for a Greenwich, CT hedge fund.

At Philip Russell, LLC, Attorney Kordas practice is focused on criminal defense, claims litigation, and civil rights and appellate practice.