About Russell J.
Russell J. Manning earned his Juris Doctor from Widener University Commonwealth Law School in 2003. He completed the law program at a time when many graduates moved directly into clerking and small firm practice. That academic foundation set the stage for a mix of courtroom exposure and private practice work that would mark his career.
His first post-graduate courtroom role came in 2012 when he served as a law clerk to The Honorable James M. McMasters at the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas. That year in the court provided daily exposure to civil and criminal dockets, opinion drafting and motion practice. He then joined Zlock & Coverdale, P.C. as an associate in 2013, where he handled matters typical for a regional firm and continued to develop practical litigation skills.
In 2015 he opened the Law Office of Russell J. Manning, P.C., taking on the responsibilities of running a small firm as well as serving clients directly. The practice allowed him to manage cases from intake through resolution and to balance client counseling with courtroom appearances. In 2017 he returned to an associate role at Karen Ann Ulmer, P.C., which offered a different caseload and collaborative environment. More recently, in 2022, he joined Petrelli Previtera, LLC as a lawyer, bringing his accumulated courtroom and practice experience to a new firm setting.
Manning is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and has been a member of the Bucks County Bar Association since 2012. His background combines public sector insight from the clerkship with the responsibilities of private practice: research and brief writing, client conferences, motion practice, and trial preparation. Colleagues describe him as steady in the courtroom and practical in client communication. He has worked on matters across local courts and learned to adapt to the differing procedures and timelines those courts require.
As of 2026 he is practicing at Petrelli Previtera, LLC, where he represents clients in matters in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and manages both litigation and transactional tasks appropriate to his role in the firm.
