News
Robert W. McDonald
Partner Cincinnati
- E rmcdonald@taftlaw.com
- T (513) 357-9626
- F (513) 381-0205
Summary
Rob is the Chair of Taft's Cincinnati Business practice group where he has garnered a reputation as a leading advisor to growth-minded companies, venture capital funds, family offices, government entities, research institutions, and sports franchises. Rob partners with his clients to develop and implement the appropriate strategies to achieve their organizational goals; whether it be growth, efficiency, or risk mitigation. In doing so, he leads mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity financings, securities offerings, and other strategic initiatives. In addition, Rob assists his clients with fund formation, IP commercialization and tech transfer, and on developing programs to manage recurrent litigation.
Most recently, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted has named Rob to the executive committee of InnovateOhio, a new state government innovation initiative where Rob Chairs the Ohio IP Promise workgroup. Civically, Rob is currently the Board Chair of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, a 125-year old institution, and serves on the executive committee of the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Cincinnati. He is also on the board of MORTAR Cincinnati and Main Street Ventures, which are creating opportunities to build communities through entrepreneurship.
Rob received his bachelor's degree from Duke University and his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. While an undergraduate, he completed comparative law course work at New College, Oxford University. He earned his J.D. from Washington University School of Law, and during his last term of law school, he clerked at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Rob grew up in the United States, Canada, the Philippines, Japan and Belgium.
Awards
Honoree, Best Lawyers in America, Mergers & Acquisitions, Securities/Capital Markets, Venture Capital
(2016 - present)
Honoree, Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers,® Securities / Capital Markets Law, Cincinnati
(2022)
Leading Lawyers Honoree, Cincy Magazine, Emerging Companies / Venture Capital
(2016 - present)
Honoree, Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Stars (2017 - 2019)
Innovation Award Honoree, Cincinnati Business Courier (2013)
Gentlemen of Style & Substance Award Honoree, Cincinnati Magazine, Saks Fifth Avenue and Cincinnati Parks Foundation (2013)
Dealmaker Award Honoree, Association for Corporate Growth (2012)
Forty Under 40 Honoree, Cincinnati Business Courier (2012)
All Service Areas
Education
- Washington University School of Law
- Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
- Duke University
Admissions
- State - Ohio
News
Dornette, Glover, McDonald, and Zimmerman Included in 2022 Cincy Magazine Power 100 Issue News
Forty-Seven Taft Attorneys Named 2022 Leading Lawyers by Cincy Magazine News
Taft Acts as Legal Counsel to Vndly, Inc. in Sale to Workday, Inc. News
14 Taft Attorneys Named “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers® 2022
Professional Affiliations
- Association for Corporate Growth
Member, Executive Committee
- The Brandery
Co-Founder
- InnovateOhio
Member, Executive Committee
- Main Street Ventures
Member, Board of Directors
- The Interlex Group
Taft Representative
Community Involvement
- Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
Board Chair
- MORTAR Cincinnati
Member, Board of Directors