Mr. McDonald is certified as a specialist in Aviation Law by the Florida Bar and is AV rated by Martindale Hubbell, its highest rating. He obtained a Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering degree from Auburn University in 1985 and a Juris Doctorate degree (Law) in 1990 from Nova University. He is admitted to practice in all State Courts in Florida, all State Courts in Colorado, the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Middle Districts of Florida, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. His experience has concentrated in aviation and marine litigation, defense of Federal Aviation Administration enforcement actions, and insurance litigation and insurance defense litigation for American and London insurers and syndicates. He has handled various admiralty matters including vessel seizures, forfeitures, seamen's claims, cargo claims, and personal injury and death litigation.
He is currently serving as a member of the Florida Bar Aviation Law Committee. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Bar Association, the Lawyer Pilots Bar Association, the American Association for Justice, the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, and The Dade County Bar Association.
Mr. McDonald has more than two years' actual work experience in the aeronautical engineering field concentrated in structural dynamics and aerodynamic testing and design. His aeronautical educational background includes training aeronautics and astronautics, structural analysis and design, vibrational dynamics, solid and liquid rocket propulsion, and jet propulsion.
Mr. McDonald holds a Private Pilot Certificate with Single and Multi-Engine Land, Single Engine Sea, and Instrument Airplane ratings. He has worked on single and multi-engine aircraft under the supervision of an Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic (A&P) or Authorized Inspector (AI) for a number of years. He is a 20-year member of the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA) and a member of the Aviation Insurance Association.
