Patrick J. McDonald

Patrick J. McDonald’s litigation practice is focused on complex commercial disputes. Before entering private practice, Mr. McDonald served as the judicial law clerk to the Honorable Judges of the Circuit Court of Arlington County, Virginia. He also served as a judicial intern to the Honorable Dennis J. Smith of the Fairfax County Circuit Court in Fairfax, Virginia. In both instances, Mr. McDonald gained extensive experience in trial practice through conducting legal research and drafting bench memoranda in connection with matters on the civil and criminal dockets.

A unique aspect of Mr. McDonald’s prior experience is his tenure as a law clerk for the Committee on the Judiciary of the United States Senate. As part of the Crime & Oversight Unit, Mr. McDonald worked on issues of national importance and gained valuable insights into the legislative and investigatory processes, with a particular focus on witness preparation.

Mr. McDonald is admitted to practice in the state courts of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Litigation Focus

While a trial lawyer’s strong suit is in the area of courtroom practice and procedure, Mr. McDonald applies that discipline regularly in the following areas, among others:

Complex Commercial Litigation
Employment Law
Business Torts
Congressional Hearings & Investigations

Bar Admissions

Virginia
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia

Professional Activities

Virginia State Bar
Fairfax Bar Association
Virginia Bar Association

Publications

Patrick J. McDonald, Cerqueira v. American Airlines: What are the Appropriate Limits of an Air Carrier’s Permissive Refusal Power?, 20 Geo. Mason U. Civ. Rts. L.J. 111 (2009)

Education

J.D., George Mason University School of Law, Cum Laude
– George Mason University Civil Rights Law Journal – Senior Notes Editor
B.A., Princeton University