John Russell is a Partner at Dentons Global Advisors Government Relations. Focusing on federal advocacy and strategic communications, he worked for nearly a decade on Capitol Hill, serving on the leadership staffs of a speaker, a House majority whip and the chairman of the House Campaign Committee. Throughout his career, he has worked both extensively and effectively in the legislative, communications and campaign arenas.
Described by the National Journal’s Richard Cohen as experienced and discreet, Mr. Russell has built and maintained strong relationships with members of Congress, as well as committee and personal office staffs. His strong and nuanced working knowledge of the policy, political and personal aspects of Washington, DC, allows him to design winning strategies to accomplish dynamic policy and market objectives. He was named a Top Lobbyist for 2018, 2019 and 2020 by The Hill newspaper.
Mr. Russell joined Dentons Global Advisors from its partner, Dentons, the largest law firm in the world. Earlier in his career, he spent nearly two years working on the floor of the US House of Representatives, interacting with members from both sides of the aisle as he managed the day-to-day legislative operations as a floor assistant and then deputy to the chief of staff for House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert. Before his position with Hastert, he was recognized as the youngest chief of staff on Capitol Hill when he served Congressman J. Randy Forbes, after working as a senior campaign aide during a June 2001 special election.
Prior to that campaign, Mr. Russell was the aide-de-camp to National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Tom Davis, after running the congressman’s successful leadership election in the fall of 2000. Mr. Russell began his Capitol Hill career in the office of Majority Whip Tom DeLay as a staff assistant and rose to become the outreach coordinator responsible for maintaining relationships and building coalitions between key members of the business community and the Republican leadership.
Mr. Russell worked day-to-day in the highest levels on Capitol Hill. This perspective brought lasting relationships and a wealth of real-world experience in designing, implementing and maintaining dynamic, battle-tested legislative and strategic communications plans. He has built high-stakes communications programs for those who face the most stringent levels of media scrutiny. He is well-versed in traditional media and is at the leading edge of ever-growing online news operations. He works on a daily basis with leading newsrooms to bring balance to media coverage of high-profile issues and clients.