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Daniel McDonald, the Founder and Principal of McDonald Legal, leads a comprehensive legal practice, catering to a diverse clientele with an array of services across the legal spectrum. Esteemed for his versatility, Daniel renders proficient legal counsel in several domains. In commercial law, Daniel is adept at navigating the intricate waters of mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, capital raising, and managed investment schemes. His understanding of intellectual property law is equally comprehensive, where he assists clients in safeguarding and leveraging their intellectual assets. His service extends to drafting and negotiating licensing, distribution, and confidentiality agreements. Within the realm of franchising law, Daniel ensures his clients' compliance with the Franchising Code of Conduct and adeptly handles the preparation and negotiation of franchise agreements. His expansive knowledge in this area makes him a valuable asset to any franchisor or franchisee looking to solidify their legal framework and documentation. Daniel's expertise in property law is well acknowledged, with his leadership propelling a committed team handling property transactions and disputes. His proficiency covers property sales, acquisitions, subdivisions, unit development, and negotiating infrastructure agreements. Daniel skillfully manages disputes related to easements, caveats, restrictive covenants, and encroachments, thereby providing his clients with robust legal representation. Furthermore, Daniel's practice extends to the building and construction law sector, where he addresses issues ranging from building defects to professional negligence, ensuring adherence to the Building Act. He is well-versed in prosecuting and defending actions under the act, offering clients sound legal strategies. In addition to his commercial and property work, Daniel is seasoned in family law, adeptly guiding clients through divorce proceedings, child custody arrangements, spousal support negotiations, and property division matters. His approach is sensitive to the complexities of Australian family law and the emotional challenges faced by clients in these situations. Daniel is also well-versed in criminal law, offering defence to individuals facing a spectrum of charges. His competence spans from summary offences to more serious indictable charges, including assault, drug-related crimes, and traffic violations. His advocacy extends to tribunal and disciplinary matters, ensuring comprehensive representation for his clients. With a Master of Business Administration from the University of South Australia and a Juris Doctor from RMIT University, Daniel's qualifications underpin his legal acumen. As a member of the Law Institute of Victoria, he remains actively engaged with the legal community, continually enhancing his practice to meet the diverse needs of his clients.

Principal Lawyer / Managing Director
McDonald Legal
Jun 2018 - Present • 8 years 5 months

Chief Executive Officer
Best Hooper Lawyers
Aug 2016 - Jun 2018 • 1 year 10 months
Chairman Of The Board
Wyndham Health Foundation
Nov 2013 - Oct 2022 • 8 years 11 months
Chief Operating Officer
HR Tools.com.au
Feb 2013 - Aug 2016 • 3 years 6 months
Chief Operating & Finance Officer
ASPECT Studios
Feb 2013 - Aug 2016 • 3 years 6 months

Diploma of Legal Practice Management, Law
The College of Law Australia
2017

Company Directors Course, Directors / Fiduciary Duties / Roles and Responsibilities of company Directors
Australian Institute of Company Directors
2015

Juris Doctor (J.D.), Property, Criminal, Commercial Law
RMIT University
2013 - 2016
Revenue Assurance Practitioner's accreditation
TM Forum
2009

Master of Business Administration (MBA), Business
University of South Australia
2008 - 2009

Graduate Certificate in Business Administration, Business
University of South Australia
2007 - 2008
Advanced Consulting Skills, Consulting, Sales Consulting
Rogen SI
2007
Manage 2 Lead
Ericsson Education
2006 - 2007
Leadership Core Curriculum
Ericsson Education
2005
Advanced Presentation Skills, Presentation Skills
Rogen SI
2005
Network Operations Centre Management (Satellites), Satellite implementation and operation
Hughes Network Systems USA
2001
Netscreen Certified Professional, Firewall Maintenance and Implementation
Netscreen
2001
Proposing to win, Commercial proposal development
Lore International (USA)
2000
MCSE, Operating System
Microsoft
1999
Last checked: 15 May 2026 • Checked with Victorian Legal Services