Ian Russell is Lane & Waterman’s newest Managing Partner, succeeding Mike Byrne, who held the role from 2021 until last year. At its December meeting, the Lane & Waterman partners elected Russell as their Managing Partner.

Michael P. Byrne began his career at Lane & Waterman in 1986 and for nearly 40 years has practiced primarily in the areas of health care law, general corporate (organization, operation and planning), and business law, professional corporations, and employment related matters,

From 2013 to the present, Mike has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America for Health Care Law, Insurance Law, Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law. Mike has served on the Board of Governors for the Iowa State Bar Association (2009-2013), as a member of the Iowa Supreme Court Board of Professional Ethics and Conduct (1994-2003), a member of the Iowa Board of Medicine (2000-2004), and President of the Iowa Society of Healthcare Attorneys (2003-2004). Mike is a member of the American Health Lawyers Association and the Iowa Society of Healthcare Attorneys. Mike is also a board member for the Scott County Catholic Schools and a past Trustee and Finance Council member at St. Paul the Apostle Church.

Mike will continue to practice law at the firm in an Of Counsel role and looks forward to having more time to travel with his wife, Bonnie. Ian shared, “Lane & Waterman is better because of Mike’s leadership. His guidance helped Lane & Waterman grow its practice and continue to recruit talented lawyers. We will miss his steadiness, intellect and insight. We wish him well in this well-deserved transition.”    In making this transition, Mike noted, “Lane & Waterman has talented and hard-working attorneys. Ian is a skilled attorney and highly respected, both within and outside of Lane & Waterman and has the talents to lead the firm.”

Ian J. Russell helps clients resolve disputes and solve complex challenges both before and during litigation. With more than 20 years’ experience in commercial litigation, medical malpractice defense, and personal injury, Ian’s work drives successful outcomes for businesses and individuals. He also counsels clients and provides analysis of issues involving media and first amendment law, election issues, and aviation matters.

Ian is active in the legal community at a state and national level, serving as the President of the Iowa State Bar Association in 2023-24 and helping the ISBA celebrate its 150th anniversary during his leadership. Ten years earlier, he served as President of the Iowa State Bar Association Young Lawyers Division (2013-14). He was inducted into the American Board of Trial Advocates in 2024. Dedicated to excellence throughout his career, he was named a Super Lawyers Great Plains Rising Star in 2014 and in 2019 was named to The Best Lawyers in America list for Personal Injury Litigation. Ian maintains an AV rating with Martindale-Hubbell.

A native Iowan, Ian calls the Quad Cities home and has worked with several community nonprofits as a board or committee member, including the Downtown Davenport Partnership, Family Resources, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois, and Friends of the Davenport Library. He has also been active in politics, where he worked as the campaign treasurer for a United States Congressional Campaign and as a member of the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce Business Advocacy Council that lobbied on behalf of the Quad Cities on the local, state, and national level.

Ian is excited to lead the firm noting “Lane & Waterman will continue to be the preeminent law firm in the Quad Cities serving clients throughout Iowa and Western Illinois. It is an honor to be elected by my peers to help lead this firm. I look forward to helping grow our practice and firm over the next several years.”