Russell Powell

Russell Powell is a Professor of Law and the Fr. John Topel S.J. Endowed Scholar at the Seattle University School of Law, where he also directs the SJD Program. His expertise spans Business Entities, Comparative Law in the Middle East, Corporate Governance, and Law and Religion, with a focus on Catholic social thought and Islamic legal theory. He has held leadership roles in the AALS Section on Islamic Law and the American Branch of the International Law Association.

Dr. Powell holds a B.A. in Near Eastern History (Harvard College), J.D. (University of Virginia School of Law), M.A. in Social Philosophy (Loyola University Chicago), and Ph.D. in Near and Middle Eastern Studies (University of Washington). His research explores comparative constitutionalism, secularism, ethical corporate governance, and the intersection of religion with legal frameworks.

His scholarship emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to law and religion, including studies on Islamic constitutionalism, religious originalism, and the role of faith in corporate governance. He has contributed to debates on secularism in Turkey and France, as well as the ethical dimensions of business practices. Dr. Powell is fluent in Arabic, Turkish, and Farsi, enhancing his comparative legal research.

Professional experience includes roles as a corporate attorney at Coudert Brothers and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, and as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. State Department.