Washington Lawyer - May 2020 - 37

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
McDONALD continued from page 35
The work in Zimbabwe speaks to his passion for
helping people. McDonald's loyal client base
- some he's represented for more than a
decade and one corporate client for more
than 30 years - is a testament, too. In 2018
McDonald brought his talent to Vorys, where he
says he couldn't be happier. He is one of at least
375 attorneys in the Columbus, Ohio-based
firm, which also has offices in Houston and
Pittsburgh.
"I love the Washington office. I was happy to
come here a couple years ago. It's a collegial
place, old and iconic," he says. He adds that the
firm management is extremely supportive of
him, especially during his work on the Delaware
pro bono case.
On working pro bono, McDonald says it's a privilege to be a lawyer. That's at the heart of what
drove him to donate more than $1 million
worth of legal hours to the Delaware coalition.

"Pro bono is important. Get justice, but
remember to give back, too. You can do good
to make the world a better place."

He also loves jazz, pop, and R&B music; watching
college football; and sitting down with a good
book or a copy of the New York Times.

One can bet he felt satisfaction in getting
justice for the Carver students and parents,
among them a single mother McDonald met by
happenstance on one of his trips to Delaware.
The woman said her son was wrongly placed
in the special needs program at Carver for
eight years, finally leaving in 2015. Today, he's
a busboy at a local pizza restaurant and reads
at a third-grade level.

You might also find him working on pro bono
and humanitarian projects, including the effort
to bring five high school graduates from the
Gaza Strip in the Middle East to study at U.S.
colleges and universities on full scholarships.
The project came out of his cooperative work
with both Israeli and Palestinian diplomats
while he was ambassador.

"She was very emotional and happy that we
won," McDonald says. "If I needed a reason for
why I was prosecuting the case on that day, that
was it."

"The first Gaza student is already here as a
freshman at Hamilton College in Clinton, New
York, on a full four-year scholarship," he says.
"There is much more for me to do on this
important project. I'm very excited!"

When he's not negotiating deals and trekking
around the world, McDonald enjoys relaxing
in the Finger Lakes near his hometown of
Binghamton, New York. He fast-walks to stay
in shape, and could very well be listening to Lil
Uzi Vert, Drake, or Billie Eilish to keep up his pace.

Stacy Julien is a regular contributor to Washington
Lawyer.

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