I am a results-oriented corporate lawyer and board director with over 40 years of experience in M&A, capital formation, and risk assessment. I serve as a trusted advisor and strategist to corporations in multiple industries, notably regulated financial services companies. I offer a global perspective, leadership experience, strategic acumen, and analysis-based judgment. I regularly assist C-suite management, corporate boards, and directors on challenging issues, including corporate governance, compliance, business planning and execution, strategic M&A transactions, policy initiatives, and crisis management. The principal focus of my practice is on M&A, capital formation, risk assessment, and governance. Over the course of my career, I have advised on more than 600 M&A and capital markets (both debt and equity) transactions with an aggregate deal value of more than $200 billion.At Covington & Burling LLP, I am a Corporate partner in the Financial Institutions industry group and have developed and maintained a robust client base. Previously, I served in senior leadership roles at several AmLaw 100 firms, including DLA Piper LLP and Alston & Bird LLP. At DLA Piper, I was a member of the U.S. Executive and U.S. Policy Committees and managing partner of the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. Prior to joining DLA Piper, I founded and served as managing partner of Alston & Bird’s Washington, D.C. office, and later, served as Chair of the firm’s Partners Committee.During my career I have chaired the boards of various large-scale organizations. As Rector (Chairman of the Board) of the University of Virginia, I was responsible for overseeing a $4.0 billion academic and medical center enterprise. I guided UVA through a leadership change and significant challenge and crisis management following the Unite the Right March in Charlottesville, home of UVA, that involved demonstrations and counter protests and erupted in violence. As an officer and board member of the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs and a former Chair of the Boards of the Virginia College Savings Plan and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, I have focused on long-term strategy and working with stakeholders to promote consensus – always looking for creative solutions to business problems. I have been recognized and held in high regard as a leading lawyer by Chambers USA, Best Lawyers in America, The National Law Journal, and Washington Super Lawyers. My clients note that “He (Rusty) is excellent all around. He's knowledgeable and very responsive.” (Chambers USA)
