State Bar of California
Association Memberships
State Bar of Texas
American Bar Association
Contra Costa County Bar Association
Alameda County Bar Association
John B. McDonald received his undergraduate degree of Bachelor of Arts in government with minors in history and psychology from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida in 1968. After receiving an honorable discharge from the United States Army, he obtained his Juris Doctorate degree from St. Mary's University School of Law in San Antonio, Texas in 1973 and was admitted to the Texas Bar in that year.
Mr. McDonald worked as an associate at the law firm of Shaw, Thorpe & Stone in Corpus Christi, Texas where he gained extensive experience representing public entities in governmental tort litigation in both state and federal courts as well as gaining exposure to commercial and real estate litigation for client banks and title companies.
In 1977, Mr. McDonald relocated to San Francisco and was admitted to the California Bar in 1978. He worked as staff counsel for Home Insurance Companies, primarily defending major corporations and their employees in the areas of products liability, construction accident and automobile accident litigation and gaining invaluable trail experience. He later worked as private defense counsel for the Law Offices of Patrick Catalano and the law firm of Maurer, Higginbotham & Harris in San Francisco where he litigated a broad range of personal injury, construction defect, insurance contract and bad faith matters.
Mr. McDonald is a member of the State Bar of California, State Bar of Texas (inactive), American Bar Association, Contra Costa County Bar Association, and the Alameda County Bar Association. He is also admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.