Brandi A. Russell and Robert Humphrey Join 2024 Leadership Challenge

Brandi A. Russell, Balch & Bingham’s Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer and Director of Talent Management, and Robert Humphrey, attorney in the firm’s Birmingham office and member of the Corporate & Commercial Practice will join the 2024 Leadership Challenge in Birmingham, dedicating their efforts to fundraising, raising awareness and advocating for programs benefitting the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society.

The National MS Society hosts the annual MS Leadership Challenge across different cities, providing participants with opportunities to engage with top executives, refine their business skills, and expand their professional network, all while contributing to global MS research through fundraising efforts. Originally called the Leadership Class, the program is headlining the Leadership Challenge as its new name in 2024.

At Balch, Brandi works alongside firm leadership to direct the firm’s diversity, equity and inclusion strategic priorities, addressing opportunities to build upon a foundation of equity and inclusion, thus driving greater diversity. She also works to empower attorneys to reach their full potential, delivering greater value to clients. In pursuit of this goal, she leads a professional team that focuses on a holistic approach to recruitment, development, advancement, and retention of next-generation talent.

Brandi is a passionate business and philanthropic leader in the Birmingham community. In 2023, she was recognized as one of the “Top 40 Under 40” by the Birmingham Business Journal. She serves on the Board of Directors at One Place, the Junior Board of Lakeshore Foundation, and the Executive Leadership Team for March of Dimes March for Babies. Brandi co-directs admissions for the Junior League of Birmingham, and she has successfully completed the Momentum Upward Early Career Program.

Robert's practice focuses on a wide variety of corporate and business-related matters. He primarily advises public and private companies through middle market mergers and acquisitions. But he also counsels individuals, startup companies, midsized businesses and large corporations on general matters such as commercial contracts, business planning and entity formation, capital raise efforts, software development and intellectual property, corporate governance and reorganizations, debt and equity financings, and economic development incentives. Robert works closely with our clients' legal and business teams through the entirety of the business life cycle—from entity formation, day-to-day corporate matters, owner exits and eventual dissolution.

Robert is deeply involved in the local community, currently participating in the 2023-2024 Alabama Leadership Initiative Class VI. He serves on the Executive Committee of the Birmingham Bar Association’s Young Lawyer Section, the Junior Board of the Levite Jewish Community Center, and actively engages with Volunteer Lawyers of Birmingham and the Rotaract Club of Birmingham.