Featured Practices
Frances C. McDonald is an associate at Bird Marella. She focuses her practice primarily on complex civil litigation, arbitration, and mediation.
She has significant experience in antitrust, mass tort, breach of contract, intellectual property, and securities matters. Frances is also dedicated to her thriving pro bono practice and has particular expertise in civil rights and immigration-related matters.
Prior to joining Bird Marella, Frances was an associate at Cravath, Swaine & Moore in their New York office and was a Pro Bono Scholar Extern with Phillips Black. She was also a summer corporate legal intern with the National Football League.
Frances received her J.D. from New York University School of Law where she was a Pro Bono Scholar and a Fellow with the Birnbaum Women’s Leadership Center. She also served as President of the Sports Law Association and Article Selection Editor for the N.Y.U. Review of Law & Social Change. Frances received her B.A. from the University of Chicago, where she was Captain of the Women’s Volleyball team.
Education & Admissions
- New York University School of Law, J.D., 2021
- The University of Chicago, Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, Philosophy and Comparative Race and Ethnic Studies (double major), 2018
- New York, 2021
Awards & Recognition
- Pro Bono Publico Award, The Legal Aid Society, 2023
- Associate Leadership Institute (ALI) LITE Program, New York City Bar Association, 2022
Notable Matters
Representative Matters at Previous Firm
Represented Light & Wonder (formerly Scientific Games) in putative class action and individual antitrust litigation filed in Illinois federal court, and in an arbitration before the American Arbitration Association, involving Walker Process antitrust monopolization claims that concern automatic card shufflers used in casinos.
Secured dismissal of putative antitrust class action litigation filed against client Morgan Stanley and four other global financial institutions concerning the trading of U.K. government bonds.
Secured a substantial monetary settlement on behalf of a woman who was sexually assaulted by NYC Department of Correction officers while detained on Rikers Island.
Represented Forward Air Corporation in connection with an action filed by Omni Logistics, LLC in the Delaware Court of Chancery, which sought to compel Forward Air to close its proposed acquisition of Omni. On the day the trial was scheduled to begin, the parties announced a settlement, agreeing to amend the merger agreement on terms favorable to Forward Air and dismiss their claims.