Gus McDonald
Senior Partner | 30+ Years of Experience
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When a corporation puts profit over safety, we hold them accountable.
Gus McDonald has been a trial lawyer in Georgia since 1995. He is a second-generation attorney. His father, Doug McDonald, founded McDonald & Cody in 1969. Gus continued that legacy and, over three decades, built one of the most documented trial records in the region. His son, Jackson McDonald, has now joined the firm, carrying the practice into its third generation.
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Gus is a member of both the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, organizations recognized as among the most prestigious groups of trial lawyers in the United States. Fewer than 1% of U.S. lawyers qualify for membership. He has been recognized by Super Lawyers for more than 20 years. He is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association.
Since 1995, Gus has been a featured speaker on alcohol liability and impaired driving litigation in 19 states. He has published and lectured nationally, including for the State Bar of Georgia and ICLE. He lectures frequently for the State Bar of Georgia and ICLE. When he walks into a courtroom, he brings more trial experience than almost anyone else in the room.
Over his career, Gus has tried in excess of 90 jury trials. His cases have taken him to courts in Georgia, Texas, Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina, and North Carolina. He has represented judges, lawyers, and law enforcement officers, people who understand the legal system best and trusted Gus to represent them when it mattered most.
Gus has obtained record-setting verdicts across Georgia. Gus is transitioning to an advisory role, with Jackson McDonald and Bo Hatchett carrying the firm’s trial practice forward.
“If I’ve learned one thing in my 30-plus years of experience, it’s that powerful institutions typically won’t do the right thing. In high-stakes situations, we don’t back down.”
Gus McDonald
Notable Cases & Results
- $33,000,000—non-confidential settlement against a lithium-ion battery manufacturer, stemming from a fire that burned a local business.
- $14,500,000—confidential settlement against an auto manufacturer for defective airbags that improperly inflated.
- $13,100,000—confidential settlement for a defective furnace that caused a fire.
- $6,000,000—confidential settlement for a propane explosion.
- $5,200,000—DUI collision. (Verdict)
- $5,200,000—verdict stemming from a DUI collision.
- $3,400,000—Robert Elliot. Set the record for that North Georgia court. Over-served bar customer case. (Verdict)
- $1,200,000—Tractor-trailer collision. Ankle fusion. (Settlement)
- $1,100,000—High-speed collision. (Settlement)
- $1,000,000—Boating collision. (Settlement)
- $1,000,000—Tractor-trailer collision. Husband and wife. (Settlement)
Credentials and Recognition
- Million Dollar Advocates Forum (fewer than 1% of U.S. lawyers qualify)
- Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
- Super Lawyers, 20+ consecutive years
- State Bar of Georgia
- Georgia Trial Lawyers Association
- Featured speaker on alcohol liability and impaired driving in 19 states
- Published nationally on impaired driving and over-served bar customer litigation
- Frequent lecturer, State Bar of Georgia and ICLE
- 90+ jury trials
- Cases tried in Georgia, Texas, Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina, and North Carolina
- Practicing since 1995
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