Russell J. Stein

Partner

Russell focuses his practice on advising businesses on mergers and acquisitions and general corporate matters, the intricacies of U.S. Federal and State tax regulations, and advising nonprofit charities and charitable foundations on Federal tax regulations and State charitable regulations as well as general business matters. Russell has extensive experience counseling businesses on business and tax matters relating to corporate mergers & acquisitions, real estate development and investment fund structuring, tax planning, business restructurings, partnership taxation and Opportunity Zone Investments. He has considerable experience in drafting partnership agreements, reviewing and negotiating merger agreements, and advising companies on tax structuring regarding international holdings.

Russell advises nonprofit organizations, charities, and private foundations on a variety of issues ranging from start-up organizational matters through mergers and dissolutions. Russell provides guidance on joint ventures and partnerships between nonprofit and for-profit entities, including advice regarding state regulations and registration requirements involving commercial co-venture agreements.

Russell is a frequent speaker and writer on tax issues for businesses and nonprofit organizations.

Russell serves on the board of directors of Thrive Scholars, a national non-profit helping high-achieving, low-income underrepresented students get into and graduate from top colleges equipped to achieve their full career potential. Russell is a former Co-Chair of the Boston Bar Association Tax Section, and former Co-Chair of the Boston Bar Association Tax-Exempt Fundamentals Committee.

Practice Areas

Corporate & Business

Energy & Environmental

Nonprofit & Tax-Exempt

Real Estate

Tax

Education

Boston University School of Law, J.D. and LL.M.

Boston University School of Management, M.B.A

Northwestern University, B.A.

Bar Memberships

Massachusetts

New Hampshire

Rhode Island

U.S. District Court, Massachusetts

U.S. Tax Court

U.S. Supreme Court

Personal Note

Russell was born into a tax family, both his parents were CPAs and he started his tax career as a teenager copying tax returns at his father’s CPA firm in Pleasantville, New York. After college, Russell joined the family tax software business, Pencil Pushers Tax Software, where he not only learned about taxes but also the intricacies involved in running a growing privately-held family business. Russell resides in Newton, Massachusetts, with his wife and son and all their books and Legos.

Professional Affiliations

Boston Bar Association, Tax Section
- Former co-chair of the Federal Tax Sub-Committee
- Former Section co-chair
Boston Bar Association, Tax-Exempt Organization
- Former co-chair of the Special Speakers Series
- Former co-chair of the Continuing Legal Education Sub-Committee and the Tax-Exempt Fundamentals Committee
New Hampshire Bar Association, Tax Section
Rhode Island Bar Association

Boards and Community Activities

Thrive Scholars
- Board Member
Cub Scout Pack 208 – Former Cubmaster and Den Leader

Honors

Named 2024 Super Lawyer
Boston Magazine’s 2021 Top Lawyer for Corporate Law inaugural edition November 2021
Named 2021 Super Lawyer
Named Massachusetts Super Lawyer 2017-2019
Named a “New England Super Lawyer” in Boston Magazine in 2017
Named a “New England Super Lawyer Rising Star” in Boston Magazine in 2013 and 2014
Edward F. Hennessey Scholar; Top 25% of Third Year Class
Sylvia Beinecke Robinson Award for “significant contribution to the life of the School of Law”
Albers Honors Moot Court: 1st Place and Best Brief; Stone Moot Court Best Oralist
Dean’s Award: Family Law Spring 2004