Michael McDonald

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Michael McDonald Managing Partner 

BA, LL.B

Michael McDonald is the Managing Partner of mdp McDonald Partners and has over 25 years experience in corporate and commercial law, including business restructuring, corporate succession planning, commercial litigation, intellectual property and intellectual property licensing.

Michael has been Chairman and Director of a number of boards, both publicly listed and private companies, including aviation, financial services and environmental businesses.

Michael leads a team of energetic and commercially focussed lawyers. He and his team provide specialist trade mark services to a variety of Australian and international businesses including Kylie Minogue's business KDB Pty Ltd, Rinnai Australia Pty Ltd, First National Real Estate, eGroup Insurance Pty Ltd, CW Marketing Network, and some of the best known brands in the country.

In recent years Michael also acted for the consortium and chaired the company whom negotiated and secured the rights for the adaptation of the famous BBC "Walking with Dinosaurs" TV program. The show was adapted into the "Walking with Dinosaurs Arena Spectacular" which is the highest earning live show in the world today.

Michael has extensive experience in advising on the registrability of names and logos in both Australia and internationally.

Michael's expertise and experience also encompasses the protection of brands whenever litigation support is required. He has been involved in major litigation defending the brands of well-known Australian entities including the protection of the Barbie doll brand on behalf of Mattel Toys, and the Goulburn Valley brand on behalf of SPC against Berri, to name just a couple.

With over 25 years experience in succession planning, Michael regularly conducts workshops throughout Australia to assist businesses of all sizes in setting up an effective succession plan for both voluntary succession events such as retirement, and involuntary events such as death, illness or accident. Michael has provided these services for AXA Australia, First National Real Estate and has been a guest speaker at international and national conferences.

In addition to his legal experience Michael is a non executive Director of Leighton O'Brien (LOB) an emerging international Environmental Engineering firm based in Hawthorn Melbourne, which is the largest player in Australia of Specialised In-tank and Line Integrity Testing for the oil industry. LOB's international clients include Chevron, Exxon Mobil, BP, and Shell. Michael's commercial experience from LOB's global expansion plan to Asia, the US and Europe provide him with hands on knowledge of foreign investment, structuring and ownership issues.

A former exchange student to the Philippines, Michael maintains close ties with the Philippines and is a former Honorary Consul General for the Philippines in Victoria and a past President of Australia-Philippines Business Council for a period of four years.

Michael will inject new energy and insight into your business.

Michael McDonald can be contacted on +61 3 9620 9660 or via email at mmcdonald@mdplaw.com.au