ABOUT US
OUR FIRM
Our firm is proud to carry forward the legacy of the Koss Law Firm, founded by attorney Russell Koss in 2009, whose distinguished legal career spans over 50 years. Since 2009, Bryan Buenaventura has worked alongside Russell throughout the years—first as a paralegal and later briefly as an associate attorney—earning his trust as a dedicated protégé.
Now stepping into the role of managing partner, Bryan leads the firm into a new chapter, bringing continuity and a renewed vision to its mission of providing immigration, bankruptcy, and personal injury legal services to the greater Tampa Bay area. While Bryan now leads the firm’s direction, Russell continues to offer his guidance and insight, ensuring the firm remains rooted in the values and standards that built its reputation.
We are honored to serve both longstanding and new clients with the same care, integrity, and dedication that have defined this practice for years.
Bryan Buenaventura, Esq.
Managing Partner
Bryan Buenaventura is the Managing Partner of Buenaventura Koss PLLC and a proud longtime resident of Tampa. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of South Florida in 2013 and received his J.D., magna cum laude, from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in January 2020. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in April of that same year.
Since 2009, Bryan has worked with founding attorney Russell Koss in various capacities, including as a longtime paralegal and later as an associate attorney. Now, as Managing Partner, Bryan leads the firm with a deep commitment to serving the greater Tampa Bay community in immigration, bankruptcy, and personal injury matters.
Before returning to private practice, Bryan served as a Trial Attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice immediately after law school, having been selected through the prestigious Honors Program. He worked with the United States Trustee Program in both the Orlando and Tampa field offices, located within the Middle District of Florida. These offices, which at the time handled the highest volume of small business Chapter 11 filings in the nation, gave Bryan valuable insight into the Chapter 11 process and its benefits for small business owners. During his tenure, he specialized in Chapter 11 bankruptcies, litigating cases to uphold the integrity of the bankruptcy system.
Prior to law school, Bryan worked in the financial services industry as a licensed life insurance agent and FINRA-registered representative, advising clients on retirement planning and wealth preservation. During law school, he volunteered as a Certified Legal Intern at the St. Michael’s Legal Clinic for Women and Children, representing indigent clients in family law matters, and externed with the U.S. Air Force JAG Corps at MacDill Air Force Base.
Bryan’s years of hands-on experience working alongside Russell Koss, combined with his litigation background at the Department of Justice and early experience in financial services, uniquely position him to lead a firm capable of navigating a wide range of legal matters. This blend of mentorship, regulatory insight, courtroom advocacy, and financial acumen ensures that clients receive skilled and strategic representation.
Bryan is admitted to practice in all Florida state courts, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida, the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). He is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and the Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association (TBBBA). Bryan is fluent in Spanish and is proud to assist Spanish-speaking clients as they navigate complex legal issues.
Outside of his legal practice, Bryan enjoys traveling and spending time with his wife and their two daughters—whom he hopes to inspire through his work serving the community.
Russell Stanley Koss, Esq.
Equity Partner & Founding Attorney
Russell Koss is an equity partner at Buenaventura Koss PLLC and the founding attorney of the original Koss Law Firm, which he established in 2009. With over five decades of legal experience, he brings unmatched depth, insight, and dedication to the firm’s practice across immigration, bankruptcy, tax, and general civil matters.
After serving as a U.S. Navy officer from 1962 to 1966, Russell received his J.D. with high honors from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1969, where he was inducted into the Order of the Coif. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from the University of Illinois and previously held CPA certification in the State of Illinois.
Prior to founding his own firm, Russell practiced at several respected law firms, including Williams Parker in Sarasota and Thorp Reed & Armstrong, a Pittsburgh-based firm with a Sarasota office. There, he represented institutional and private clients in complex legal matters.
A member in good standing with the Florida Bar since 1969, Russell is among the few attorneys in the state to have practiced law for over 50 consecutive years. Throughout his distinguished career, he has represented a wide range of clients—from individuals and small businesses to public institutions—handling complex matters involving tax controversies, aviation liability, immigration, and estate planning. He has successfully litigated high-stakes tax cases, including disputes over the deductibility of business expenses challenged by the IRS as hobby losses, helping clarify key distinctions in federal tax law. His work has also included representation of Sarasota Memorial Hospital, the Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority, and numerous successful tax and audit matters.
Russell is admitted to practice before the Florida Supreme Court, the U.S. District Court and U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, the United States Tax Court, the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). He also serves as a certified arbitrator in the Florida court system and is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).
As partner, Russell remains an integral part of the firm and is committed to providing Bryan with the guidance and insight needed to serve the firm’s clients when needed. As Bryan Buenaventura’s long-time mentor and trusted advisor, Russell plays a key role in supporting the firm’s next generation while ensuring its legacy of client-focused, high-quality legal service continues to thrive.
