Russell (“Russ”) Racine is a partner and Chair of the firm’s Intellectual Property Practice Group. He has more than 20 years of experience representing businesses, professionals, and individuals in intellectual property matters, professional liability, construction defect litigation, and related disputes in state and federal courts.
Russ is a licensed patent attorney. His intellectual property litigation practice includes matters involving patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, trade dress, domain names, cybersquatting, website infringement, false advertising, licensing, enforcement, procurement, and pre-litigation dispute resolution. He also appears before the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.
Intellectual Property Litigation and Brand Protection
Russ represents clients ranging from startups to Fortune 100 companies in intellectual property disputes and related counseling matters. His representation includes patent infringement claims, trademark disputes, copyright claims, trade secret misappropriation matters, trade dress disputes, and domain name proceedings.
In trademark and brand protection matters, Russ handles all aspects of infringement issues, opposition and cancellation proceedings, registration issues, licensing, enforcement, and purchasing and sales of intellectual property. His practice also includes digital-rights matters involving domain names, cybersquatting, website infringement, and false advertising.
Trade Secret Protection and Litigation
Russ advises businesses on trade secret protection programs, non-disclosure agreements, and practical measures intended to reduce the risk of misappropriation. When disputes arise, he handles litigation involving trade secret claims under the Uniform Trade Secrets Act and the Defend Trade Secrets Act, including matters in both state and federal courts.
Name, Image, and Likeness
Russ assists athletes, influencers, and public figures with name, image, and likeness matters involving personal brand protection, endorsement agreements, licensing arrangements, sponsorship agreements, trademark registration, intellectual property portfolio management, and risk mitigation. His work includes drafting and negotiating NIL-related agreements and advising clients on compliance considerations and enforcement.
Professional Liability Defense
Russ defends professionals and organizations accused of malpractice, negligence, and breach of fiduciary-duty claims in North Carolina and South Carolina. His professional liability defense practice includes claims involving attorneys, real estate agents and brokers, title companies, executives and officers, homeowner association boards and management companies, and insurance professionals, including claims administrators, underwriters, and adjusters accused of bad faith practices.
Construction Defect Litigation
Russ defends contractors, developers, and design professionals in construction defect claims, including matters involving allegations of faulty workmanship and code violations. His construction litigation practice includes complex, multiparty disputes in North Carolina and South Carolina. He routinely counsels clients through negotiation, discovery, and trial.
Aviation, Transportation, Insurance Litigation, and Dispute Resolution
Russ represents clients in aviation, transportation, automobile, motorcycle, tractor-trailer, wrongful death, and other insurance-related matters. His practice includes disputes addressed through mediation, arbitration, pre-suit resolution, settlement negotiations, and litigation.
Accomplishments
•Selected for inclusion in North Carolina Lawyers Weekly Legal 250 in the field of Intellectual Property (2026)
•Named to Legal 500 City Elite - Charlotte, Intellectual Property (2026)
•Business North Carolina Legal Elite - Intellectual Property (2018, 2019, 2022)
•Inducted into the Business North Carolina Legal Elite Hall of Fame in 2020 for receiving the most votes in the state in Intellectual Property.
•Martindale-Hubbell, AV Rated
Most Recent Posts
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Cranfill Sumner LLP Attorneys Listed Among NC Lawyers Weekly Legal 250
Four attorneys at Cranfill Sumner LLP have been listed among the North Carolina Lawyers Weekly Legal 250....
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Cranfill Sumner LLP Attorneys Named to Legal 500 City Elite in Charlotte
Cranfill Sumner LLP today announced that Mica Nguyen Worthy and Russ Racine have been named to the Legal 500 US City Elite in Charlotte for Commercial Litigation and Intellectual Property respectively....
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Russ Racine Recognized for Pro Bono Service in South Carolina
Russ Racine was recently honored by the South Carolina Bar Pro Bono Program for his pro bono services in the state....
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Cranfill Sumner Participates in NCBF Empower Hour
On May 30, the attorneys, staff, and summer clerks of Cranfill Sumner LLP joined forces with the North Carolina Bar Foundation to host the Empower Hour, a pro bono legal advice clinic....
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Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Discuss International Intellectual Property Management
Russ Racine and Charlie Raphun presented at the May 12 Export Coffee Talk webinar about International Intellectual Property Management. The event was hosted by the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina....
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Russ Racine Leads Cranfill Conversation About Advertising Injury Claims
Russ Racine led the Sept. 8 Cranfill Conversation about Advertising Injury Claims. The discussion was a follow up to his Aug. 18 webinar based on the same topic....
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Russ Racine Presents Advertising Injury Claims Webinar
On Aug. 18, Russ Racine presented the “Advertising Injury Claims” webinar as part of the Cranfill Sumner LLP webinar series. ...
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Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Participate in 4ALL Statewide Service Day
Members of the Cranfill Sumner LLP offices participated in the North Carolina Bar Foundation’s 15th Annual 4ALL Statewide Service Day on Friday, March 4. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the event was held virtually this year....
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Cranfill Sumner LLP Attorneys Listed Among 2022 Legal Elite
Eight Cranfill Sumner LLP attorneys were recognized by Business North Carolina magazine as part of the magazine’s Legal Elite program. ...
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CSH Law Attorneys Presented at CWTA & CIAS Webinar
Russ Racine and Mica Nguyen Worthy, attorneys at Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law), presented on International Trade Business Contracts: 2021 International Arbitration Trends at the April 21st meeting of the Carolina World Trade Association (CWTA) in conjunction with the Charlotte International Arbitration Society (CIAS)....
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Cranfill Sumner Staff Members Participate in 4ALL Statewide Service Day
Members of the Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) offices participated in the North Carolina Bar Foundation’s 13th Annual 4ALL Statewide Service Day on Friday, March 6....
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Russell Racine Chosen as Legal Elite Overall Winner in Intellectual Property
Russell Racine, a partner at Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner), was recently recognized as the Overall Winner in Intellectual Property by the 2020 Legal Elite from Business North Carolina magazine. As an Overall Winner, Russ is now a member of the Business North Carolina’s Legal Elite Hall of Fame....
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Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Listed Among 2020 Legal Elite
Seven Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) attorneys were recognized by Business North Carolina magazine as part of the magazine’s Legal Elite program....
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Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Listed Among 2019 Legal Elite
Six Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) attorneys were recognized by Business North Carolina magazine as part of the magazine’s Legal Elite program....
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4ALL Statewide Service Day
Attorneys from the offices of Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) participated in the North Carolina Bar Association’s 11th Annual 4ALL Statewide Service Day on Friday, March 2....
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Cranfill Sumner LLP Names Two New Partners
Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) today announced that Jerri Simmons and Russ Racine have been named partners in the firm. Both attorneys are based in the firm’s Charlotte office....
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Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Listed Among 2018 Legal Elite
Seven Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) attorneys were recognized by Business North Carolina magazine as part of the magazine’s Legal Elite program....
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Russ Racine to Speak at TAP Talk
Russ Racine, Of Counsel with Cranfill Sumner LLP, will present at the Nov. 14 TAP Talk presented by the North Carolina Retail Merchants Association. The event will be held at the Pitt Community College Small Business Center in Greenville....
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Russ Racine to Speak at NCRMA TAP Talk
Russ Racine, an attorney in the Charlotte office of Cranfill Sumner LLP, will speak at the April 20th TAP Talk sponsored by the North Carolina Retail Merchants Association. Russ will be presenting “Tips for Navigating Intellectual Property Issues for Retail Businesses” to North Carolina business owners. ...
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Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Receive AV Rating From Martindale-Hubbell
Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) today announced that 11 attorneys have recently received an AV Rating from Martindale-Hubbell....
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Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Participate in 4ALL Statewide Service Day
Six attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) participated in the North Carolina Bar Association’s 10th Annual 4ALL Statewide Service Day on Friday, March 3. The statewide event is sponsored by the North Carolina Bar Association Foundation and the North Carolina Bar Association (NCBA)....
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Russ Racine to Present at NCRMA TAP Talks
Russ Racine, an attorney in the Charlotte office of Cranfill Sumner LLP, will serve as a featured speaker at the Raleigh and Charlotte editions of TAP Talks. TAP Talks is an event sponsored by the North Carolina Retail Merchants Association. ...
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Russ Racine to Speak at NCRMA TAP Talk Seminar
Russ Racine, an attorney in the Charlotte office of Cranfill Sumner LLP, will be a featured speaker at the North Carolina Retail Merchants Association Retail TAP Talk. The seminars offer information for retail businesses from marketing, legal and insurance perspectives. Russ will discuss “Intellectual Property Issues for Retail Businesses.”...
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Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Participate in 4ALL Statewide Service Day
Eight attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) participated in the North Carolina Bar Association’s 9th Annual 4ALL Statewide Service Day on Friday, March 4. The statewide event is sponsored by the North Carolina Bar Association Foundation and the North Carolina Bar Association (NCBA)....
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Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Participate in 4ALL Statewide Service Day
Eleven attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) participated in the North Carolina Bar Association’s 8th Annual 4ALL Statewide Service Day on Friday, March 6. ...
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Russ Racine Joins Cranfill Sumner Charlotte
Russ Racine has joined Cranfill Sumner, where he will focus his practice in the areas of Aviation Law, Construction, Criminal Defense and Intellectual Property....
