The Attorney
Russell Roby — NFA Attorney & Retired CIA Officer
Trusted counsel for clients who value discretion and judgment.
My clients are serious people navigating consequential decisions — protecting a firearms legacy and planning for their families. They expect direct access to their attorney, expect that attorney to understand their world, and expect results grounded in real experience — not theory.
Russell Roby, Esq.
I work with clients who value discretion, expect direct access to their counsel, and understand that experienced judgment cannot be replaced by a junior associate or an online form. Whatever the NFA or firearms matter, I bring the same standard: careful, informed, first-person counsel — from someone who has been inside these systems himself.
My background — 26 years in federal intelligence, Maryland bar admission, and over 35 years as an active NFA firearms owner — is not a marketing credential. It is the source of the judgment I apply to every client matter. I have navigated the ATF process personally, many times. When I advise you, I am drawing on that experience, not approximating it.
Education
- J.D., Catholic University Columbus School of Law
- Graduate Certificate, University of Maryland School of Public Policy
- B.S., Old Dominion University
Bar Admission
Maryland — attorney-drafted NFA trusts and state-law matters.
For clients outside Maryland, NFA trust documents are provided as a document preparation service, consistent with bar admission rules. For matters governed by state law, individuals located outside Maryland may be referred to counsel licensed in their jurisdiction.
Background & Experience
- Retired CIA Officer — 26 years of service in the federal intelligence community
- Former federal law enforcement officer
- Over 35 years as an active shooter and NFA firearm owner
- NRA Life Member
Views expressed on this website are Mr. Roby’s own, in his individual capacity as an attorney. They do not represent the position of any employer, client, agency, or organization with which he is or has been affiliated. Nothing on this site reflects or discloses classified or otherwise protected information.
Russell Roby, Esq.
NFA Attorney & Retired CIA Officer
What This Means for You
You work directly with me — not a paralegal, not a form service, not a junior associate. Every question you ask is answered by the attorney whose name is on the door.
Discretion is not a feature I advertise — it is the foundation of how I practice. My clients include federal employees, cleared contractors, and firearms owners who have chosen not to trust their most sensitive matters to a commodity service.
Ready to Work Together?
Contact me for a free initial consultation. I'll respond within approximately one business day.
"As a retired CIA officer and lifelong NFA owner, I've been through these processes myself. When I advise you, I'm drawing on firsthand experience — not theory."
— Russell Roby, Esq.