Michael was born in Huron, South Dakota on August 15, 1953. His family moved to Vincennes, Indiana in 1969 and he graduated from Rivet H.S. in 1971. Michael attended Vincennes University from 1971-1973 and Indiana University from 1973-1975, obtaining degrees in both Political Science and Economics. He was made a member of Phi Beta Kappa during his undergraduate years. Michael attended the University of Minnesota Law School from 1975-1978. Upon graduation, he accepted a position with the firm of Tuchscherer & Bradley, S.C. in Wausau, Wisconsin were he practiced until June of 1980, at which time he moved his practice to Princeton, Illinois, joining the predecessor firm of Johnson, Martin & Russell, P.C.

Michael has concentrated his practice on transactional work and estate planning for his clients. His areas of practice include transactional real estate, with special emphasis on tax deferred exchanges, estate planning and probate administration, federal and state income taxation and formation and representation of corporations and other business organizations.

Education

• Rivet H.S., Vincennes, Indiana – 1971
• Vincennes University – Associate Degree – 1973
• Indiana University – B.A. – 1975
• University of Minnesota Law School – J. D. – 1978

Court Admissions

• Michael is admitted to practice in the Federal District Courts and to practice before all courts in the state of Illinois.

Professional Activities & Associations

• Member, Bureau County and Illinois State Bar Associations
• Illinois State Bar Association Corporation and Securities Law Section Council 1985-1989
• Illinois State Bar Association Federal Taxation Council 1992-2003 (Chairman 2001/2002), 2025-present
• ISBA Trusts & Estates Section Council 1995-2003, 2016-present
• ISBA Real Estate Section Council 2002- (Chairman 2011-2012)
• Fellow, Illinois Bar Foundation

Community Involvement

• Director, Princeton Industrial Commission 1980-Present
• Director, Princeton H.S. Foundation 1992-1999
• Director, St. Louis Catholic School Foundation 1993-2005
• Chairman, St. Louis Catholic School Commission on Education 1985-1991
• Director, Bureau County United Way 1981-1990
• City of Princeton Fire and Police Commission 1990-2021

Contact: menglish@resblaw.com

Megan Fitzgerald graduated from Saint Bede Academy in 2013 and went on to earn her Associate in Arts and Associate in Science at Illinois Valley Community College (IVCC) in 2016. During her time at IVCC, she was a member of IVCC Honors Society, Phi Theta Kappa, and Sigma Kappa Delta. She earned her
Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology at Loyola University Chicago in 2018. While at Loyola, she was a member of Tau Sigma National Honor’s Society and was an e-board member of WeDignify at Loyola. As part of her studies, she was an intern at the Pediatric Developmental Center (Advocate Health) where she assisted groups for children with autism. In the summer of 2017, she studied abroad in Italy at the John Felice Rome Center.

In May 2022, Megan earned her Juris Doctor from Northern Illinois University College of Law, graduating on the Dean’s List, Cum Laude. She was staff editor and later assistant editor for NIU Law Review and a member of Phi Alpha Delta, a professional law fraternity. She competed in the first-year closing argument competition and was a semi-finalist. She also participated in the NIU COVID-19 Legal Response Clinic, providing assistance at the Eviction Help Desk for Kane County Eviction Court. Megan became licensed to practice law in May 2023. Since then, she has worked as an associate attorney at Russell, English, Scoma and Beneke. She also has experience as working as an assistant Public Defender for Bureau County and as an assistant State’s Attorney for Lasalle County.

Andrew is an associate attorney for Russell, English, Scoma & Beneke, P.C. He was born and raised in Princeton, Illinois, and is a partner in the firm as the fourth generation of lawyers in the Russell family who have practiced law in Princeton. He follows his great-grandfather, Judge R.L. Russell, his grandfather, Fred G. Russell, his great-uncle, William M. Russell, and joins his father, Robert Russell and cousin, Daniel Russell in the firm.

Andrew attended St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa, and graduated Cum Laude in 2005 with a degree in History. He obtained his Juris Doctorate in 2008 from Chicago-Kent College of Law and was admitted to practice law in Illinois in October of 2008. Andrew’s primary areas of practice include: estate planning, real estate, probate, trust law, business and corporate law, and general civil litigation. 

EDUCATION

• Princeton Township High School – 2001
• St. Ambrose University, B.A. – 2005
• Chicago-Kent College of Law, J.D. – 2008

COURT ADMISSIONS

• Admitted to Illinois State Bar in 2008.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES & ASSOCIATIONS

• Member, Illinois State Bar Association as well as the Bureau County Bar Association.
• Member, Bureau County Bar Association

Community Involvement

• Board of Directors for Gateway Services, Inc. 2010-present (Board President 2015-present)
• Trustee of the Princeton Public Library, 2013-present (Vice-President 2025-present)
• Public Guardian/Administrator for Bureau County, Illinois
• City of Princeton Ordinance Hearing Officer 2016-2021

Contact: arussell@resblaw.com

Bob continues a long tradition of legal representation in the City of Princeton as he follows his father and his grandfather in the practice of law. Bob’s practice is primarily concentrated in real estate, local governmental law, business organizations, commercial zoning and permitting, administration of estates, estate planning, including wills and trusts, and estate planning for special needs and elder law considerations. In January of 2011, Bob was honored to be chosen an Illinois Leading Lawyer in the practice areas of residential real estate, commercial real estate, local government law and estate planning.

Bob is a member of several nationwide organizations, including the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. He is a frequent statewide speaker on government related issues, estate planning and special needs topics, and real estate issues at both conventions and educational seminars. He has written numerous articles relating to real estate law and local government law.

Bob has served as a director and as Chairman of the Board of Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund (now Advocus Title Agency, LLC), has served as director and the President of the Illinois Township Attorneys’ Association, and has served as a member of the Illinois State Bar Association’s Real Estate Section Council and Education Law Section Council.

Education

• Princeton Township High School, 1966
• Stanford University B.A. 1970
• University of Illinois College of Law, J.D., 1973

Court Admissions

• State Courts of Illinois
• Central District of the United States District Court for Illinois

Professional Activities & Associations

• Director, Attorney’s Title Guaranty Fund, Inc., 1995-2022 (Board Secretary, 2002-2005, Vice Chairman 2005-2009, Chairman 2010-2013)
• Member, Bureau County Bar Association, 1974-present (President, 2002-2004; Chair, Bureau County Real Estate Committee 1993–2002; Treasurer 1977-1980)
• Member, Illinois State Bar Association, 1974-present (Committee Member, Real Estate Section Council, 1988–1992, 2008-2012; Committee Member, Education Law Section Council, 1993-95)
• Member, Illinois Township Attorneys Association, 1987-present (Director 2006-2022, President 2013-2015)
• Member, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, 1994-present
• Member, Illinois Real Estate Lawyers Association
• Fellow of the Illinois Bar Foundation

Community Involvement

• Chair of Board of Directors, Bureau County Metropolitan, Exposition, Auditorium, and Office Building Board, 1984-2018
• Chair of Board of Directors, Alfred H. Shoemake Community Foundation, Princeton, 1983-present
• Director, Princeton Park District Foundation, 1999-present
• Director, Bureau County Historical Society, 2013-2018
• Director, Perry Memorial Hospital, 1996-2003 (Chair 1999-2003)
• Director, Amcore Bank NA, North Central, Princeton, Illinois 1994-2000 (Chair, 1999-2000)
• Director, First State Bank of Princeton, Princeton, Illinois 1985-1994
• Director, First State Bancorp, Princeton 1985-1994
• Member of Board of Education, Princeton High School, 1977-1986
• Director, Illinois Valley Community College Foundation, 1976-1995 (Vice-Chair, 1993-1995)
• Director, Bureau County Chapter of American Red Cross, 1975-1994 (Secretary, 1975-1984)
• Director, Perry Memorial Hospital Foundation, 1998-2000
• Director, Princeton Park District Foundation

Recent Publications

• Competitive Bidding for Townships and Township Road Districts, Illinois Township Attorneys’ Newsletter, September 2011
• County Roads: Who Owns Them? Illinois Township Attorneys’ Newsletter, April 2011, also Illinois State Bar Association Real Estate Section Newsletter, July 2011, also Illinois State Bar Association Agricultural Law Section Newsletter, August 2011
• “New” Duties for Townships Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, Township Perspective, May 2010
• Township Cemeteries: Obtaining Additional Burial Space, Township Perspective, April 2010

Recent Public Speaking Engagements

• The Five W’s of Township Construction, presented to Illinois Township Attorneys Association 12th Annual Educational Seminar, May 2014
• Gunning for a Perfect Board Meeting = Illinois New Concealed Carry Firearms Law, presented to Northwestern Illinois Parks and Recreation Association, November 2013
• New Legislation Affecting Townships, presented to Bureau County Township Officials’ Association, October 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
• Estate Planning Toolkit, presented to Princeton Alzheimer’s Support Group, August 2011
• Township Roads: Who Owns Them? How do You Get Rid of Them? Presented to Township Officials Annual Educational Conference, November 2009. Also presented to Northwest Illinois Highway Commissioners Association 2010 spring seminar, May 2010
• Township Cemeteries: Creating & Operating in a Time of Change, presented to Illinois Township Attorneys Association Eighth Annual Educational Seminar, May 2010
• Wind Farm Issues, Real Estate Law for the Experienced Practitioner, Illinois State Bar Association Law Ed Seminar, November 2009
• Competitive Bidding for Townships and Township Road Districts, presented to Illinois Township Attorneys Association Seventh Annual Educational Seminar, May 2009

Contact: rrussell@resblaw.com