Meet the Attorneys Serving Southwest Virginia

Bruce H. Russell, II is the founder and managing attorney of the firm. A graduate of the University of Virginia and the University of Richmond, he began practicing law in Charlottesville with a law firm that focused on representing high-tech companies. Mr. Russell returned to his native southwest Virginia to become assistant commonwealth's attorney for Buchanan County, where he prosecuted hundreds of cases ranging from misdemeanor traffic offenses to felony drug charges. He also taught at the Appaalchian School of Law. Mr. Russell went back to private practice in 2002. He serves a diverse group of clients in a wide range of cases throughout southwest Virginia.

Additionally, Laken worked as an intern for the Criminal Section of the Virginia Office of the Attorney General as part of ASL's Advanced Appellate Advocacy Clinic. Through her experience, Laken developed a thorough understanding of the state and federal criminal justice system, at both the trial and appellate level. During law school, Laken also served on the Executive Board for the Appalachian Journal of Law and Moot Court Team. As a moot court participant, Laken won 2nd place in the ASL Thurgood Marshall Moot Court Competition and the Appellate Advocacy Intraschool Moot Court Competition. She also served as a Senator for the Student Bar Association. As the VBA Committee Chair for SBA, Laken led the ASL team to victory two years in a row in the Annual Legal Food Frenzy competition, an effort that provided meals to families in need across Southwest Virginia. Since graduating and passing the bar, Laken has developed a portfolio of diverse clients with a broad range of legal issues.

In January 2012, Chase moved back home to Virginia to serve as Law Clerk to the Tazewell County Attorney's Office. In January 2013, Chase began his first stint at Bruce H. Russell, II, P.C., working primarily from Tazewell, VA. In August 2016, Chase returned to the Tazewell County Attorney's Office as Assistant County Attorney. Chase was named Interim County Attorney in February 2019 and received the full title of County Attorney in February 2020. Chase had myriad duties as Tazewell County Attorney, but he is proudest of his work representing the Tazewell County Department of Social Services and Tazewell County delinquent tax collection, where he recovered $3,000,000.00 from 2017-2025 for Tazewell County.

Chase returned home to Bruce H. Russell, II, P.C. on July 7, 2025. While Chase proudly represents clients in almost all facets of law, Chase's specialties are real estate transactions, estate planning and administration, and civil litigation. 

Chase has 2 children (Landon and Madeleine) who are the light of his world, and he loves being in the crowd as he watches them excel at swimming (both) and dance (Madeleine). Chase adores his Goldendoodle (Lemon) and is equal parts amazed by and suspicious toward his 3 cats (Felix, Maple, Graham). Many folks in Tazewell County better know Chase as the "Voice of the Bulldogs" with his work on the Tazewell Bulldog Radio Network. Chase is an avid recreational bowler with a 189 average, and you may find him competing in various tournaments in the eastern half of the United States. Chase is also a diehard UVA fan (Go Hoos), and he will talk your ear off if you get him started on the Wahoos.

If you feel like Chase would be the ideal fit for whatever legal situation you have, please give him a call at (276) 889-1750  or by email at chase@bhr2law.com.