Overview
Russell Anderson’s business and technology practice focuses on assisting clients accomplish “what’s next” – whether “next” is a new mobile app, marketing campaign or a merger. In particular, Russ has significant experience advising clients in the software, e-commerce, marketing, market research, healthcare and biotechnology industries. Russ's strength is partnering with clients, frequently in the role of outside general counsel, to help them achieve their goals.
Russ is a Member in Pullman & Comley’s Business and Finance practice. His general business practice includes representing clients in the structure and consummation of mergers and acquisitions, joint venture, and financing transactions. Additionally, he is experienced in both for-profit and nonprofit corporate formation and governance matters.
Clients rely on Russ to review, draft and negotiate license agreements for software and other common technology contracts for mobile applications, software-as-a-service (SaaS) offerings, websites and APIs. Russ also counsels clients regarding the registration, protection and licensing of trademarks and copyrights. As artificial intelligence products have swarmed the market, Russ has been helping clients understand how to deploy these services in a way that protects his clients’ interests and complies with existing and new laws that govern the use of AI.
Russ has notable experience in the marketing and advertising industries, as well as in market research and data analytics. In the marketing and advertising field, Russ assists clients to structure compliant advertising and promotions, including sweepstakes and contests. He has experience in negotiating agreements between advertisers and agencies. Russ has presented on several occasions to the American Association of Advertising Agencies (the 4As). In the area of market research and data analytics, Russ has represented a wide range of firms in industry, and previously served as outside governmental affairs counsel to the largest trade group for market research businesses in the United States. He is a regular presenter to the Insights Association’s General Counsel and Privacy Officer Forums.
Russ’ health care practice embraces providers’ growing use of technology, as he represents physicians, hospitals and home health care agencies on matters related to software, contracts and intellectual property, as well as regulatory compliance. Clients also include pharmaceutical, medical device, and mobile health-related entities. As outside general counsel to a pharmaceutical contract manufacturer, Russ has drafted and negotiated numerous contracts common in the pharmaceutical industry, such as product development and commercial supply agreements.
As Russ counsels clients that collect and use large amounts of personal data, he understands the expansive web of state, federal and international privacy and data protection regulations, including questions regarding privacy policies and procedures; security breaches; the Connecticut Data Privacy Act(CTDPA); California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and other state privacy laws; HIPAA; FERPA; cross-border data transfers and processing (including GDPR compliance); and email and telemarketing regulation.
Office
Professional Affiliations
Insights Association
Honors & Recognitions
Named a Moffly Media Top Lawyer in Fairfield County, 2021 and 2023 - Technology Virtual
Named a Super Lawyers "Rising Star" in 2009, 2010, 2018 and 2019 in the area of Business/Corporate
Experience
Software and intellectual property
- Created a form of application partner for a travel-related SaaS company to permit sales of integration on its software platform.
- Drafted and negotiated an agreement for the Connecticut Paid Family & Medical Leave Insurance Authority with AFLAC for AFLAC to provide substantially all aspects of the Authority’s claims processing functions, including its website, database, reporting and call centers.
- Negotiated a series of contracts on behalf of a national sports association with a development consultancy and several major software companies to transform the association’s website and underlying data infrastructure.
- Drafted several end-user subscription agreements and privacy policies for mobile applications.
- Assisted a clothing manufacturer negotiate rights to create licensed apparel using trademarks of an international auto racing event and a renowned charity.
Marketing and advertising
- As part of a substantial investment by a private equity firm in an expanding cosmetics company conducted a review of the cosmetic company’s advertising materials for federal (including FDA and FTC) and state legal compliance.
- Drafted a form of “ambassador agreement” for use with social influencers by a video production client on behalf of its global brand customer.
- Negotiated numerous case-marketing agreements between a large media and entertainment company with its non-profit partners
Market research
- Negotiated a global master service agreement for a publicly-traded market research client with one of its largest pharmaceutical customers.
- Advised a customer satisfaction research firm on how to comply with numerous European privacy laws as well as all applicable industry codes in structuring an international survey program on behalf of its Fortune 500 client.
- Negotiated an alliance agreement on behalf of a global market research firm with a web analytics provider to permit the two parties to present a joint offering to the market.
Healthcare
- Represented a pharmaceutical and medical device contract manufacturer as outside general counsel, culminating in its successful sale to a multi-national pharmaceutical concern.
- Negotiated numerous collaborative agreements, including product development and commercial supply agreements.
- Worked hand-in-hand with a start-up pharmaceutical firm to secure financing and create a marketing strategy by providing compliance advice on FDA regulations, Open Payments and fraud and abuse compliance.
- Served as on-site outside general counsel to a community hospital for six months as the hospital prepared to affiliate with a major Connecticut-based health system.
- Assisted a large Connecticut-based radiology provider acquire a controlling-interest in two additional radiology centers.
Privacy and data security
- Represented a Connecticut-based health care provider in the investigation of a data breach by HHS’s Office for Civil Rights. OCR determined that no further action was required.
- Assisted a global entertainment company to structure a contest directed towards children, including drafting contest rules, a promotion-specific privacy policy, and COPPA-compliant parental consent.
- Provided guidance to a national sports association regarding compliance with the EU’s GDPR in connection with the negotiation of a data protection agreement with numerous other international sports associations related to the sharing of player data.
- Drafted and negotiated protected information transfer agreements.
News & Insights
News
Speaking Engagements
Publications
Press Releases
Blog Posts
Case Studies
Practice Areas
- Business and Finance
- Emerging Business and Venture Capital
- Privacy and Data Security
- Marketing, Advertising and Entertainment
- Health Care
- Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical and Life Science
- Colleges, Universities and Independent Schools
- Commercial Finance
- Education Law
- Intellectual Property and Technology
- Market Research
Industries
Bar and Court Admissions
- Connecticut
Education
College of William & Mary, Marshall Wythe School of Law, J.D., 2004
Wesleyan University, B.A., with high honors, 2001