Russell Pfeifer

Russell M. Pfeifer is a partner in the Miami office of The Chartwell Law Offices, LLP and is a trial lawyer whose practice focuses on general business litigation with an emphasis in products liability and premises liability matters. He has a proven record of obtaining results including a defense verdict in a two week wrongful death case representing Simon Malls from the 2006 Christmas Eve shooting of a twenty-four year old at the Boynton Beach Mall. The shooting made national headlines and the suspect was captured after being featured on America's Most Wanted. The family of the deceased asked the jury to award $5 million during trial. Mr. Pfeifer was also retained as trial counsel on behalf of Mansion Nightclub (Miami Beach) in another highly publicized wrongful death case involving the stabbing and tragic death of a newlywed nightclub bouncer and two patrons. He was instrumental in securing a favorable global settlement on confidential terms. In 2013, Mr. Pfeifer obtained another defense verdict for a Tampa area condominium association. In addition to the defense verdict, the court entered a final judgment against the plaintiff in excess of $100,000 for the condominium association's attorney's fees and costs after a one week jury trial. Mr. Pfeifer graduated from Nova Southeastern University, (magna cum laude), with a B.S. in 1999, and earned his law degree from the University of Miami School of Law, (cum laude), in 2003 where he received the Dean's Certificate of Achievement Award in Legal Research and Writing, the Cali Excellence for the Future Award in Legal Research and Writing, Dean's Merit Scholarship and the Paul B. Anton Scholarship for academic excellence. He was previously an attorney with Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker, LLP and a member of the firm's appellate and trial practice groups handling the defense for national and international product manufacturers, commercial premises owners, and professional liability claims of attorneys, accountants, insurance professionals and architects. Mr. Pfeifer has argued before four of the five District Courts of Appeal in Florida and is admitted to the Florida Bar, all state courts in Florida, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States District Courts for the Southern, Middle and Northern districts of Florida. Prior to joining the Chartwell Law Offices, LLP, Mr. Pfeifer was also affiliated with two admiralty and maritime boutique law firms. Mr. Pfeifer headed the appellate practice groups achieving a string of favorable published decisions on forum non conveniens and other jurisdictional grounds. He is experienced in the defense of Jones Act claims, marine salvage, and recreational marine matters and has authored an article on marine insurance published by the University of San Francisco Maritime Law Journal. He also is a regular guest lecturer at the University of Miami, School of Communication in advocacy and public speaking.

• Partner

• Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker, LLP, Attorney

• Florida, 2003
• U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida, 2005
• U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit, 2001
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida, 2004
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Florida, 2009

• American Bar Association
• Dade County Bar Association