Somach Simmons & Dunn

Profile

Ms. McDonald is a shareholder of the firm. Ms. McDonald focuses her legal practice on water, agricultural resources, and environmental law, and represents individuals, businesses, and public agencies throughout the Central Valley. Before coming to the firm, she interned for the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Department of Interior Solicitor's Office, and the California Department of Food and Agriculture. She is a member of Class 35 of the California Agricultural Leadership Program. Ms. McDonald earned a J.D. from the University of California at Davis, where she served as an editor and author for Environs, and was the founding president of the Agricultural Law Society. While at U.C. Davis, she received the Witkin Award for Academic Excellence in an Environmental Law Seminar and in Business Planning. Ms. McDonald graduated magna cum laude from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. She is a member of the State Bar of California and currently serves on the State Bar's Agribusiness Committee.

Areas of Practice Emphasis

Water, agricultural resources, and environmental law, including water supply, water quality, endangered species, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Williamson Act, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and all phases of state and federal civil litigation.

Prior Positions

Associate: Somach Simmons & Dunn, Sacramento, CA, 2003-2009

Law Clerk: Somach Simmons & Dunn, Sacramento, CA, 2002-2003.

Law Clerk: Kahn, Soares & Conway, Sacramento, CA, Summer 2002.

Law Clerk: California Department of Food and Agriculture, CA, 2001-2002.

Law Clerk: U.S. Department of Interior, Washington, D.C., Summer 2001.

Intern: California Rangeland Trust, Sacramento, CA, 1999-2000.

Education

California Agricultural Leadership Program, Class 35, 2006.
University of California, Davis, King Hall School of Law (J.D., 2003).
California Polytechnic State University (B.S., 2000).

Bar Admissions

State Bar of California, 2003.
U.S. Supreme Court, 2007.

Publications

Monthly Articles Contributor, California Water Law & Policy Reporter (a monthly periodical published by Argent Communications Group), 2003 to 2008.

McDonald, Rethinking the Endangered Species Act: Moving Beyond Conflicts and Promoting Positive Efforts for Conservation, Environs, Fall 2002.

Presentations

Panelist, California Association of Environmental Professionals, Spring Advanced CEQA Workshop, Fresno, California, May 2008.
Panelist, National Association of Environmental Professionals Annual Conference, San Diego, California, The Role of the Endangered Species Act in Delta Water Supply Planning, March 2008.
Speaker, Fresno County Bar Association, Agricultural Law Section, Fresno, California, Fish v. Farmers: Legal Issues and Competing Interests Surrounding Delta Water Supplies, February 2008.
Moderator, California State Bar, Environmental Law Section, Environmental Law Conference at Yosemite, Fish Camp, California, Agriculture and Water Quality, October 2007.
Speaker, Fresno County Bar Association, Agricultural Law Section, Fresno, California, Agricultural Water Quality Update: Recent Developments with the Central Valley Irrigated Lands Program, September 2006.
Panelist, California State Bar Environmental Law Section, Your Voice in Shaping the Sierra Conference, Kings Beach, California, Land Use Planning and Regulation, August 2006.
Panelist, California State Bar, Real Property Section, 25th Annual Real Property Retreat, Huntington Beach, California, Recent Developments Under CEQA, April 2006.
Panelist, California State Bar, Winter Section Education Institute, Santa Monica, California, Working with CEQA: A Practical Approach, January 2006.

Reported Cases

PCFFA v. Gutierrez, 606 F.Supp.2d 1195 (E.D. Cal. 2008); Kotrous v. Goss-Jewett, 523 F.3d 924 (9th Cir. 2008); United States v. Atl. Research Corp., 127 S.Ct. 2331 (2007); Vineyard Area Citizens for Responsible Growth v. City of Rancho Cordova, 40 Cal.4th 412 (2007); Calif. Farm Bureau v. California Wildlife Conservation Bd., 145 Cal.App.4th 637 (2007); American Canyon Community United for Responsible Growth v. City of American Canyon, 145 Cal.App.4th 1062 (2006); Calif. Farm Bureau v. California Wildlife Conservation Bd., 143 Cal.App.4th 173 (2006).