Overview

Jim McDonald is managing partner of the Irvine office and a partner in the Los Angeles office. Jim tries employment cases before juries, judges and arbitrators. He has defended hundreds of employment lawsuits alleging wrongful termination, employment discrimination, sexual and other forms of harassment, wage and hour violations, retaliation, defamation and related torts. He also has prosecuted and defended cases involving misappropriation of trade secrets and unfair competition. He has won numerous trials, arbitrations, summary judgments and motions to dismiss and has obtained many favorable settlements in mediation. He also has served as an expert witness in several cases.

Jim also advises employers on how to prevent employment disputes from arising and on various strategic human resource management issues. He drafts employment agreements, nondisclosure and confidentiality agreements, and contractor agreements. He also has advised employers on the labor and employment law aspects of mergers and acquisitions in the hospitality, manufacturing and technology industries.

Jim additionally advises employers on how to manage union strikes and picketing, he has obtained injunctions against unlawful union picketing, and he obtained a six-figure settlement against a union for unlawful secondary boycott activity. He also has counseled numerous employers regarding layoffs and “right-sizing” their workforces, provided advice on the Worker Adjustment Retraining and Notification (WARN) Act, counseled clients regarding their obligations under the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act, and he has drafted severance agreements and conducted effects bargaining.

Jim is author of the book California Employment Law: An Employer’s Guide, published annually by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). He is also editor of the treatise, Mental and Emotional Injuries in Employment Litigation published by BNA Books and he is the author of more than 50 published law review articles. He has spoken before many trade and professional organizations on issues such as political correctness and religion in the workplace, mental disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the defense of psychological injury claims in employment litigation, new theories of harassment and discrimination, the use of expert witnesses, and California employment law.

Jim teaches labor and employment law in the Human Resources Management Program at the University of California, Irvine. He is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) by the Human Resources Certification Institute and he holds the SHRM-SCP certification as well.

Jim has served on the Board of Directors of the Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce for more than 20 years, including two terms as Board chair and several years as vice chair and general counsel.

Experience

Obtained Summary Judgment in Transgender Student Lawsuit Against Christian University. The court awarded summary judgment on four of five of the plaintiff’s claims, holding that a private Christian university’s education program was not a “business establishment” under California’s Unruh Act and that the student was obligated to appeal disciplinary action via writ of mandate versus civil lawsuit.

Won Appellate Court Affirmance of Summary Judgment Victory for Employer in Disability Discrimination Case. Trial and appellate courts rejected disability discrimination claim by former manager of a national manufacturing company who was terminated after he failed to return to work after 14 months of medical leave.

Won Arbitration Victory in Defamation, Tortious Interference Case. Arbitrator rejected the plaintiff’s claims that her former employer defamed her and interfered with her business following her termination for misrepresenting to an unemployment appeals judge the reason for her missing an appeal hearing.

Won Arbitration Victory in Age Discrimination, Breach of Contract Case. Arbitrator rejected automobile dealership manager’s claims that he was terminated in breach of contract and on account of his age, and that he was owed guaranteed bonuses.

Obtained Nonsuit During Trial of Disability Discrimination Case. Court disqualified the plaintiff’s expert witness and granted nonsuit on her claim of disability discrimination, finding that her job stress and antagonistic relationship with her manager did not amount to a mental disability. The court also awarded attorneys’ fees to the defendant employer.

Won Arbitration Involving Claims of Wrongful Termination and Partnership Interest. Arbitrator rejected claims of former general manager of automobile dealership that he was wrongfully terminated and that he had been granted a partnership interest in the dealership he managed.

Obtained Defense Verdict in Whistleblower Case. Jury rejected claim of former human resources administrator for country club that she was terminated for complaining of employment law violations.

Won Bench Trial in Wrongful Termination Case. Court rejected claim of former manager of a business that he was terminated without good cause in violation of the Montana Wrongful Discharge in Employment Act.

Won Arbitration of Sexual Harassment, Retaliation Claims. Arbitrator rejected plaintiff’s claims that she was sexually harassed and terminated for complaining about the harassment and alleged race discrimination against a co-worker.

Representative Work

Building Contractor Wins All Aspects of Strike By Carpenters Union, Plus A Six-Figure Secondary Boycott Settlement

Honors & Leadership

Honors & Awards

Named Best Lawyers "Lawyer of the Year," Employment Law - Management - Orange County, 2015-2016, 2016-2017
Listed in The Best Lawyers in America since 2007.
Listed in Southern California Super Lawyers since 2007.
Recipient of Burton Award for Legal Writing, 2006.
"AV" rated by Martindale-Hubbell.

Professional Activities

Chairman, Board of Directors, Irvine Chamber of Commerce
Member, Editorial Board, Employee Relations Law Journal
Member, Labor and Employment Law Section, American Bar Association
Member, Society for Human Resource Management

Community Activities

Chairman of the Board of Directors, Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce (1998-1999 and 2017-2018)
Vice Chair and General Counsel, Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce (1999-2016)
Vice President, The Colony at Indian Wells Homeowners Association (2010-present)