R. Russell Hollenbeck

Practice Areas

Russ Hollenbeck has briefed and argued dozens of appeals, appearing before the Supreme Court of Texas, the Texas intermediate appellate courts, the Fifth and Federal Circuit Courts of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of the United States. He has assisted in or handled all phases of litigation in a wide variety of matters, including products liability, catastrophic personal injury, intellectual property, insurance coverage, employment discrimination, and commercial lawsuits. Before joining the firm, Russ served on an intermediate appellate court assisting its justices in preparing opinions in complex civil appeals and original proceedings. Russ is Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and has earned selection to Texas Super Lawyers® (2008 to present) in Appellate and Civil Litigation, and to Best Lawyers® (2020 to present).

Career

Partner, Wright Close & Barger, LLP, 2007 – Present

Associate, Wright Brown & Close, LLP, 2005 – 2007

Staff Attorney, First Court of Appeals, 2001 – 2005

Associate, Ramsey & Murray, PC, 1996 – 2001

Briefing Attorney, First Court of Appeals, 1994 – 1996

Professional Memberships

State Bar of Texas (Appellate Section)

Houston Bar Association (Appellate Practice Section)

Sustaining Life Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation

Fellow, Houston Bar Foundation

Texas Board of Legal Specialization (Civil Appellate Law exam drafting committee)

ADMISSIONS:

State Bar of Texas

Supreme Court of the United States

United States Federal and Fifth Circuit Courts of Appeals

United States District Courts for the Eastern, Northern, Western, and Southern Districts of Texas

Publications

Presentations:

“One Lie Spoils a Thousand Truths: Trends and Questions in Spoliation Claims Since Brookshire Brothers.” State Bar of Texas Advanced Civil Appellate Practice CLE Conference (Sept. 2022).

“Evidentiary Objections.” Harris County Civil Judges CLE (Aug. 2018).

“Ethics: To Tell the Truth.” UT Advanced Civil Appellate CLE (June 2018).

“Ethics Apprentice.” UT Advanced Civil Appellate CLE (June 2017).

“Developments in Premises Claims.” HBA Bench-Bar CLE (April 2017).

“Ethics Jeopardy.” HBA Appellate Section (July 2015).

“Getting the Charge Right and Charge Error Preservation.” State Bar of Texas Advanced Civil Trial CLE Course (Oct. 2014).

“Disqualification of Counsel.” Texas Bar CLE Advanced Civil Trial Course (Oct. 2014).

“Appellate Jeopardy.” Texas Bar CLE Advanced Civil Appellate Course (Sept. 2010).

Education