Tom McDonald

Practice Areas

Education

• University of Minnesota Law School, J.D., 1979
• George Washington University, B.A., 1976

Bar & Court Admissions

• District of Columbia
• Ohio
• New York
• Admitted to practice law only in the states listed above.

Tom is a partner in the Vorys Washington, D.C. office and leads the firm’s administrative and regulatory law, and governmental policy practice.  He effectively mixes his high level legal and lobbying experiences on a daily basis for his clients.  A former U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe, he provides strategic business and government relations counsel both in Washington, D.C. and internationally.  Tom regularly advises corporate CEOs and chief legal officers on a variety of government relations issues in Washington, internationally, and in major U.S. state capitals.  He has an active federal agency and Capitol Hill practice.  Tom is a registered lobbyist before the U.S. Senate and House.  Additionally, he is a registered lobbyist in several states including New York and California.  The former ambassador’s long honed lobbying experiences include financial services, insurance products, U.S. departments of labor and state, environmental, tax, health care and foreign affairs.

Moreover, Tom assists clients with regulatory matters involving the U.S. Treasury and Justice Departments, including Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) issues.  In addition, he assists clients in regulatory compliance before the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  Tom has a particular understanding of legal, political and economic issues of Africa, Asia (including South Asia), the Middle East, Latin America, Cuba and Eastern Europe and has significant experience in international law and arbitration.  As a part of his international practice, Tom regularly negotiates the successful resolution of legal matters and other disputes for U.S. multinationals and major South African companies in various countries.

His career highlights include:

• Serving as U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe from 1997 to 2001
• Representing U.S. multinational corporations and manufacturers, consumer products companies, and major South African, United Kingdom, and Japanese banks, mutual fund companies, insurance companies and trade associations for nearly 35 years
• Advising multinational clients on issues surrounding Iran sanctions and sanctions involving Venezuela, Syria, Sudan, and Myanmar 
• Significant pro bono litigation work including, serving as lead counsel for all of the plaintiffs, in a national civil rights case to close a segregated public school, in Coalition for Education Reform, et al v. Indian River School District, in which the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware approved a settlement agreement, consent order and appointment of a special master
• Regularly working as legal counsel between companies and governmental agencies to resolve or mitigate issues, such as drafting a Memorandum of Understanding between the Drug Enforcement Administration and a large consumer products company after they faced U.S. import issues involving the shipment of raw materials and representing a major pet food manufacturer facing state regulatory issues

His lobbying experience includes:

• Registered federal lobbyist with Congress since 1985
• Drafting bills, proposing amendments, and working with Bill drafters, resulting in a number of legislative successes, including
• Dodd–Frank Amendments
• Stopping numerous bills in various states that would have negatively impacted companies, such as a Proposition 65 issue in California and various state chemical laws and regulations

Helping promote legislation at the state level by working with a coalition of paint companies and the trial bar to effectuate a mutually acceptable resolution

Tom represents clients from a variety of industries including manufacturing, financial services, insurance, and trade associations.

Tom received his J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School.  Throughout his legal career, he has had continued involvement with the law school.  He currently serves on its advisory board and regularly advises the law school regarding the admission of Somali American students.  Tom received his B.A. from George Washington University.

PRIOR POSITIONS

U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe, 1997 to 2001
Member of U.S. Presidential Delegations to South Africa, Ivory Coast, and Bosnia

Professional and Community Activities

• Corporate Council on Africa, Board of Directors, Member
• Council of American Ambassadors, Board of Directors, Member
• Council on Foreign Relations, Member
• International Foundation for Electoral Systems, Board of Directors, Member
• University of Minnesota Law School, Advisory Board, Member
• American Bar Foundation, Fellow

News

Events

Insights