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.

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)