Russell T. Monahan

Russell was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and attended Penn State University. Russ graduated from Penn State in 1984 with a Bachelors of Art Degree in Film. After graduation Russ worked up and down the East Coast in various theater productions as a technical director, set and lighting designer, production stage manager, director and performer. He did national tours and worked on operas, modern dance productions, television and film productions and several of the New York spring and fall fashion seasons. After several years of traveling with theater companies, Russell decided to return to the family trade of boilermaking. He also began working in other constructions areas while he searched for a different career path.

Russell was accepted to the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville. At Louisville, Russ concentrated his studies in Environmental, Labor and International law. He received his Juris Doctorate in 1998 and was admitted to the Pennsylvania and Kentucky bars. Russ worked for the Jefferson County Metropolitan Sewer District concentrating mainly on wetlands, floodplains and easement issues. Russ enjoyed his time in Louisville (pronounced Lue a vull). However, his desire to be near to be near a more dynamic environment brought him of to Utah where he enrolled in the LLM program at the University of Utah. Russell received his LLM in Energy and Environmental Law in 2001.

While working towards his LLM Russ saw a posting from Stephen W. Cook on the law school employment board looking for law students with knowledge of labor law. While working with Steve, Russ saw that Utah needed of attorneys who would protect the working people of Utah. Russell has been working with Steve ever since. He concentrates his efforts on labor, discrimination, and civil rights. He provides advice on collective bargaining and represents clients in matters NLRB actions such as unfair labor practices, NLRB elections, certification and decertification petitions, and unit clarifications. He has litigated Title VII actions, ADA actions, ADEA actions, Section 1983 Civil Rights actions, FLSA actions and non-competes, in federal and state courts. He has argued multiple arbitrations and career service cases. He has argued before the Utah Court of Appeals and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. Russell remains a strong advocate for the civil rights of all people.

Russ married his opposing counsel in 2007 and they have a set of twins. Russ skis, bikes, climbs, hikes, hashes and watches Penn State football.