Brian McDonald, Mediator and Attorney at Law
San Francisco Mediation Attorneys with McDonald & Mannion
San Francisco mediator and attorney Brian McDonald possesses nearly 40 years of legal experience, and currently focuses his practice on helping families amicably resolve disputes using mediation and mediation alternatives. Brian has successfully handled over 1000 mediations, and has trained hundreds of mediators, both at the trial court level and the First District Court of Appeals. Since 1981, he has been certified as a Specialist in Family Law by the California Board of Legal Specialization, and is a recipient of Martindale-Hubbell's prestigious "AV" rating, signifying the highest level of professional excellence and ethical standards. He has also been named to the Northern California edition of Super Lawyers every year since 2004. Brian has been selected from 2003 to the present as a panelist by ADRServices, one of the top commercial panels of distinguished mediators in the State of California.
In addition to his work with divorce mediation in San Francisco, Brian handles a wide variety of cases involving probate, estate planning, and trust administration matters. His significant litigation experience includes family and probate (including trusts, guardianships, and conservatorships) cases, and trial team management in negligence, personal injury, business, and real estate litigation. While Brian's practice currently focuses on civil matters, he also has experience with felony jury trials, preliminary hearings, and numerous misdemeanor trials.
Outside of his legal practice, Brian enjoys staying involved in the community and is dedicated to several local organizations.
Bar Admissions & Affiliations
- Supreme Court of the United States
- California State Bar, Certified Family Law Specialist by the Board of Legal Specialization, 1981-present
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court, Central District of California
- San Francisco Domestic Relations Court (Settlement Judge Pro-Tem, 1981)
Education
- 10 units earned towards Masters in Tax Law, Golden Gate University School of Law, 1988-1989
- J.D., University of San Francisco School of Law, 1970 (McAuliffe Honor Society; American Jurisprudence Awards in Contracts, Property, Civil Procedure, Taxation; Prentice Hall Award Recipient, Corporation and Estate and Gift Tax)
- B.S., University of Southern California, 1967
Memberships and Professional Affiliations
- Panelist, ADRServices
- Bar Association of San Francisco
- Consumer Attorneys of California
- Western Trial Lawyers Association
- Association of Certified Family Law Specialists
- San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association
- Mediation Society of San Francisco Bay Area
- Founding Member Family Law Panel, AAA Center for Mediation
- Premier Member, Mediate.com
Reported Case
- In re Marriage of Colvin 2 Cal.App.4th 1570, 4 Cal.Rptr.2d 323 (1992).
Mediation Training
- Elder Mediation (36 hours 2009)
- Victims of Violent Crimes (36 hours, 2002)
- PEER Mediation - Conflict Management (24 hours, 2000)
- First District Court of Appeals (20 hours, 2000)
- Academy of Family Mediators (Chicago, 1999)
- REDRESS Training - United States Postal Service (1998)
- Resourceful Mediation - Advanced Mediation Skills (20 hours, 1995)
- Mastering Conflict Resolution (40 hours, 1994)
- Northern California Mediation Center (40 hours, 1992)
- American Arbitration Association (1989)
- Numerous other four to eight hours training programs
