Lisa Lynn McDonald

Lisa McDonald is currently taking a sabbatical and is inactive with the BAR and not practicing law.

“My passion for estate planning and estate administration began while dealing as a trustee for my family's estate, after the death of my beloved stepfather. My mother had to deal with many legal and emotional issues after his passing. Through this personal experience, I truly saw the consequences that an estate plan can have on the lives of all family members.” Throughout her experiences and work, Lisa realized that proper estate planning is essential if you want to ensure protection for your children as well as feel at ease about the preservation of your legacy and assets.

After earning her undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley in 1989, where she competed on the swim team and sailing team, Lisa worked as a paralegal at Morrison Foerster in San Francisco. She earned her law degree in 1995 from the University of San Diego, with part of her legal education at Trinity College, in Dublin Ireland. In 1996 she earned her Master of Business Administration from McLaren School of Business at the University of San Francisco. While in business school, she traveled to Argentina and Chile to immerse herself in the international business environment.

As an attorney, Lisa practiced civil litigation and maritime law at various law firms throughout the Bay Area. She is a long-standing member of the Trusts and Estates section of the California Bar, a member of the Santa Clara County Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and Wealth Counsel, a network of the top estate-planning attorneys in the nation.

Outside of helping others in estate planning matters, Lisa is dedicated to her family, including her two teenage children and her fiancée, Michael Thomas, as well as her extended family. In her spare time, she loves to cycle, swim, backpack and work out at Courtside Athletic Club. She also loves travelling to visit family and going on adventures around the world.