Faculty Profile: Russell Abrutyn

Russell Abrutyn has a full-service immigration law firm, Abrutyn Law, in Berkley, Michigan. 

Russell has served on the AILA Michigan Chapter Executive Committee since 2017 and currently is the Vice-Chair. He has chaired AILA’s National Membership Committee since 2020. He has served on or chaired other committees including chairing AILA’s Amicus Committee. Russell also serves on the Michigan State Bar Immigration Law Section Council and the Michigan ACLU Lawyer’s Committee.

From AILA, Russell has been honored to receive the Edith Lowenstein Award for excellence in advancing the practice of immigration law, the Sam Williamson Mentor Award, four President’s Commendations, and he was a co-recipient of the Jack Wasserman Award for excellence in litigation in the field of immigration law.

As counsel, co-counsel, or amici, he has successfully litigated Kada v. Barr, 946 F.3d 960 (6th Cir. 2020); Hernandez v. Whitaker, 914 F.3d 430 (6th Cir. 2019); Arangure v. Whitaker, 911 F.3d 333 (6th Cir. 2018); Shuti v. Lynch, 828 F.3d 440 (6th Cir. 2016); Matter of Ruzku, 26 I&N Dec. 731 (BIA 2016); Yousif v. Lynch, 796 F.3d 622 (6th Cir. 2015); Matter of Ordaz-Gonzalez, 26 I&N Dec. 637 (BIA 2015); Hanna v. Holder, 740 F.3d 379 (6th Cir. 2014); Pruidze v. Holder, 632 F.3d 234 (6th Cir. 2011); Zhang v. Mukasey, 509 F.3d 313 (6th Cir. 2007); Matovski v. Gonzales, 492 F.3d 722 (6th Cir. 2007); and Pickering v. Gonzales, 465 F.3d 263 (6th Cir. 2006), among others. 

He graduated cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School. He is licensed to practice law in Michigan, Washington State, and multiple federal courts.