FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MIAMI – September 23, 2008 – Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart, one of Florida’s largest full-service law firms, has added James E. McDonald as shareholder in the Business Litigation Practice Group of its Miami office.
McDonald brings to the firm broad experience in business and construction litigation, including:
Serving as lead trial attorney for multinational manufacturer in a products liability case resulting in a defense verdict after a two-week trial, which was reduced to zero on appeal.
Serving as trial counsel in a three-month trial in federal court resulting in a verdict in favor of the client awarding a total of $78 million, which included $48 million compensatory damages and $30 million punitive damages.
Counseling an Alabama cancer clinic in a construction defect case against the contractor and engineer, resulting in a mediated settlement of $1.5 million.
Serving as a mediator for the 800 MHz Transition Administrator in connection with the movement of a major telecom to new frequency bands to eliminate interference to public safety and other licenses – the largest such realignment of radio spectrum in the history of the FCC.
McDonald was a former FBI agent, assistant U.S. attorney, congressional staff attorney, and counsel to the governor of Florida before he entered into private practice. He also has experience in the area of white-collar crime including Medicare and Medicaid fraud and government investigations.
McDonald is general counsel to the International Biofuels Commission and has lectured internationally on business and biofuel, including: “Breaking Business Barriers Towards A Rational Ethanol Marketplace,” Canning House, London, England, (2008);
“Opportunities for the Production of Biofuels in America,” SACC E-Day, Sweden,
(2007); and “Preparing for Cuba: Business Opportunities and Obstacles,” St. Thomas
University, (2007).
Author of Lawyers Co-Op Practice Guide, American Institute of Court Civil Procedure Series, Chapter 2, “Preliminary Considerations,” (1997), McDonald serves on the President’s Board of Advisors for St. Thomas University and the Board of Visitors for Catholic University Law School. A member of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, McDonald is also the current vice chairman of the Swedish American Chamber of Commerce.
McDonald earned a Juris Doctor from the Catholic University School of Law. A member of The Florida Bar, the Miami-Dade Bar and the American Bar Associations, he serves on the Florida Bar’s standing committee of Unlicensed Practice of Law.
Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart, P.A., established in 1925, offers a broad range of legal services to its client base of businesses, institutions, local governments and prominent individuals. Gunster Yoakley has offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Vero Beach and West Palm Beach. Gunster Yoakley is home to more than 130 attorneys and over 200 dedicated support staff. For more information, visit www.gunster.com or call (800) 749-1980.
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