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C. Russell Riddle

Summary:

• Formerly Vice President of Legal and Business Affairs and Associate General Counsel for HIT Entertainment, protecting and licensing such children’s brands as Barney^®, Bob the Builder^®, Wishbone^®, Thomas & Friends^®, and other properties. Russ was responsible for all publishing and music matters, as well as handling company legal issues throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
• Formerly Associate General Counsel of CROSSMARK, Inc., serving as lead counsel for the company’s corporate governance, intellectual property, and commercial real estate matters.
• Ran a solo practice, specializing in licensing, branding, marketing, distribution, and media matters.
• Worked as a general practitioner for a law firm in Fort Worth, Texas.
• Currently serves as a council member of the Entertainment and Sports Law Section, State Bar of Texas (since 2004).
• Holds Juris Doctor, Texas Tech University School of Law; and Bachelor of Science, East Texas State University (now Texas A&M at Commerce).

Full Bio:

Russ has practiced law for over 16 years, primarily in the areas of copyright, trademark, licensing, publishing, music, and corporate law, and has extensive expertise in day-to-day in-house legal and business affairs operations.

He began his legal career as an associate of Bishop, Payne, Lamsens, Williams & Werley (currently Bishop, Payne, Harvard & Kaitcer, LLP) in Fort Worth, Texas, practicing general business defense on both the transactional and litigation sides. Russ was a member of the prevailing trial team in a four-week libel defense of the ABC Network affiliate in Houston, Texas.

Russ then joined Lyrick Studios, Inc. as in-house counsel, working closely with the General Counsel to establish company legal and business affairs strategies, policies, and budgets. He assisted in managing the legal department in Texas and later in the UK following Lyrick’s merger with HIT Entertainment PLC. Russ was part of the executive team that successfully completed that merger, as well as HIT’s subsequent acquisition of Gullane Entertainment.

Upon leaving HIT Entertainment, Russ established The Riddle Firm. The majority of the firm’s clients were former senior executives of HIT Entertainment and/or Lyrick Studios, who had transitioned to other companies. Russ specialized in providing counsel, negotiation, and contract drafting services in licensing, branding, marketing, distribution, and media matters.

Russ resumed his in-house practice in 2004 by joining CROSSMARK, Inc. as Associate General Counsel. He had primary oversight of CROSSMARK’s corporate books and governance, as well as its intellectual property portfolio and commercial office leases. Russ assisted in managing the legal department and daily interactions with the Board of Directors. He substantially handled lender transactions and company acquisitions. Senior management selected him as a Service Leader for the company’s customer service initiative.

Prior to helping establish the Dallas office of Phillips & Reiter, Russ briefly returned to solo practice.

Russ is a graduate of Texas Tech University School of Law (J.D. 1991) and East Texas State University, now Texas A&M at Commerce (B.S. 1983).


Phone Number: 972.392.0400
Email:  rriddle@outsourcegc.com

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