Tom McDonald
Ambassador Tom McDonald is an Equity Partner at National Law Firm of Taft, Stettinius & Hollister LLP in their DC Office. A former U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Ambassador McDonald provides strategic business and government relations counsel to clients, effectively mixing his extensive legal and lobbying experience. He regularly advises corporate CEOs and chief legal officers on a variety of government relations issues in Washington, internationally, and in major U.S. state capitals.
Ambassador McDonald is a registered lobbyist before the U.S. Senate and House and has an active federal agency and Capitol Hill practice. He is also a registered lobbyist in several states including New York and California. Ambassador McDonald's lobbying experience includes financial services, insurance products, U.S. departments of labor and state, environmental, tax, health care, and foreign affairs.
Ambassador McDonald is also an accomplished labor and employment litigator and counselor. He has successfully tried employment lawsuits from the defense side. His experience includes more than 500 depositions, multiple non-jury and jury trials, injunctions, and temporary restraining order matters. He has handled employment cases across the U.S. with significant experience in state and federal courts in Ohio at the trial and appellate levels.
In addition, Ambassador McDonald counsels clients on regulatory matters involving the U.S. Treasury and Justice Departments, including Foreign Corrupt Practices (FCPA) and Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) issues. He also assists clients in regulatory compliance before the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Ambassador McDonald's career experience has provided him with a strong understanding of legal, political, and economic issues of Africa, Asia (including South Asia), the Middle East, Latin America, Cuba, and Eastern Europe. He has significant experience in international law and arbitration and regularly negotiates the resolution of legal matters and disputes for U.S. multinationals and major South African companies in various countries.
Ambassador McDonald received his J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School and has continued his involvement with the law school throughout his legal career. Ambassador McDonald received his B.A. from George Washington University.
