James J. McDonald, Jr.

Partner

Irvine/Tampa

t:949.851.2424/813.769.7508

f:949.851.0152/813.769.7501

Overview

Recent Experience

Credentials

Recognitions

Affiliations

Insights

Jim McDonald is a partner in the Irvine and Tampa offices who 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.
Won numerous trials, arbitrations, summary judgments and motions to dismiss and obtained many favorable settlements in mediation.
Been designated 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 has advised employers on the labor and employment law aspects of mergers and acquisitions and corporate restructurings in the hospitality, manufacturing, technology, and services industries.

In addition, Jim advises employers on how to manage union strikes and picketing, has obtained injunctions against unlawful union picketing, and secured a six-figure settlement against a union for unlawful secondary boycott activity. He has counseled numerous employers regarding layoffs and “right-sizing” their workforces, provided advice on the Worker Adjustment Retraining and Notification (WARN) Act, and drafted severance agreements and conducted effects bargaining.

Jim is the 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. He has spoken before many trade and professional organizations on issues such as politics and religion in the workplace, accommodating 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 current issues in employment law.

Jim taught labor and employment law in the Human Resources Management Program at the University of California, Irvine for 16 years. He is a SHRM Senior Certified Professional in Human Resources (SHRM-SCP).

Experience

Obtained Unanimous Defense Verdict in ADA Title III and Unruh Act Case. The jury rejected the claim of a member of a country club who had a disability that the club’s policies restricting golf cart access on the golf course discriminated against him and caused other club members to harass him when the policies were not enforced against him. Briefed and argued the case in the court of appeal where the court affirmed the jury’s verdict, and successfully opposed the plaintiff’s petition for review before the California Supreme Court.
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.
Managed Defense of Major Union Strike with Three Strike Sites. The Carpenters Union simultaneously struck three construction sites across Southern California of our general contractor client, including two university buildings under construction. Led successful strike effort, including obtaining two picketing injunctions and prosecuting a section 303 lawsuit for unlawful secondary boycott activity that resulted in a six-figure settlement for our client. Striking workers were replaced, and all three projects remained on schedule and on budget.

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.

Education

J.D., 1984, cum laude, Georgetown University
B.A., 1981, New College of Florida

Bar Admissions

California
Florida

Court Admissions

U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America (2007 – 2025)
Listed in Lawdragon’s 500 Leading U.S. Corporate Employment Lawyers (2021, 2022, 2024, 2025)
Named Best Lawyers in America, "Lawyer of the Year" - Labor Law - Management - Orange County (2022)
Named Best Lawyers "Lawyer of the Year," Employment Law - Management - Orange County (2015-2016, 2016-2017)
Recipient of Burton Award for Legal Writing, 2006
"AV" rated by Martindale-Hubbell

Professional Activities

Member, Labor and Employment Law Section, American Bar Association
Member, Society for Human Resource Management

Community Activities

Vice-Chair, Board of Directors and Chair, Advancement Committee, New College Foundation (2024-present)
Professional-in-Residence, New College of Florida (2022 - 2024)
President (2023 - present) and Board Member (2018 - present), Inn on the Beach Association, Inc. (Owners Association at Resort at Longboat Key Club)
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)

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James J. McDonald, Jr.

Overview

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