Russell R. Bruch

Partner

Russell R. Bruch provides strategic advice to guide companies through complex US Department of Labor (DOL) audit investigations and defends corporate clients in high-stakes employment litigation, including collective and class actions and wage and hour matters. As co-leader of the firm’s aerospace and defense practice, Russell counsels government contractors on compliance with the Service Contract Act, prevailing wage, and other wage and hour requirements. He also provides advice to energy and construction industry clients navigating compliance requirements associated with the Inflation Reduction Act.

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Russell manages complex wage and hour compliance reviews, particularly related to pay practice and classification reviews. He collaborates with clients to develop compliant compensation programs, create practical policies and practices, revise payroll practices and calculation methods, review position classifications, and coordinate messaging and training to communicate changes to the workforce.

Russell also represents clients through all stages of wage and hour litigation involving a range of allegations, including misclassification, improper calculation of overtime compensation, misapplication of the tip credit for tipped workers, “off-the-clock” work, and joint employment liability with respect to wage and hour claims.

Russell advises clients in diverse sectors on compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), state wage and hour issues, per diem issues, and wage payment requirements. He also counsels on employment policies and procedures, hiring and termination issues, and executive employment contracts in order to help clients avoid claims and litigation. Russell serves as a co-lead of both the firm’s wage and hour litigation practice and Independent Contractor Task Force.

Through his experience conducting numerous comprehensive internal wage and hour audits for clients, Russell helps to properly classify employees as exempt or nonexempt, and to bring other wage and hour and wage payment practices into compliance.

He also conducts board-level independent investigations of alleged code of conduct violations, workplace harassment claims, and whistleblower allegations.

University of Virginia School of Law, 2004, J.D.
Wake Forest University, 2000, B.A., Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa

District of Columbia
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
US District Court for the District of Columbia
US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
US District Court for the District of Maryland
US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Litigation – Labor and Employment, Washington, DC (2023–2025)

Member, Law360, Practice Group of the Year, Employment (2017, 2019)

Member, The National Law Journal, Litigation Department of the Year, Labor and Employment (2014)

Listed, Washington, DC Super Lawyers, Rising Star (2014)

Member, American Bar Association, Employment Law Section

No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. A description of the selection methodology for the above awards can be found here.